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Testudo (Roman antiquity a cover) (II)

in Roman antiquity, a cover or screen used in assaults on fortified towns. In cases where the town was of small size and accessible on every side, while the force at the disposal of the besiegers was large, a ring of soldiers was drawn round the walls, a portion of whom kept up a constant disshields joined above their heads so as to the battlements, while the rest, advancing form a continuous covering like a shell coals. shields joined above their heads so as to form a continuous covering like a shell of a tortoise (testudine facta), planted scaling ladders against a number of dif- ferent points, and, at the same time, en- deavored to burst open the gates. Also scaling ladders against a number of different points, and, at the same time, endeavored to burst open the gates. Also applied to a movable structure, on wheels or rollers, used to protect sappers.

In mining, a shelter similar in shape and design employed as a defense for miners , etc. , when working in ground or rock which is liable to cave in.

In medicine, an encysted tumor, from a supposed resemblance to the shell of a In medicine, an encysted tumor, from a tortoise.

In music, a name applied to a species of lyre, because, according to the legend recounted at full length in the Homeric hymn, the frame of the first lyre was formed by Hermes out of the shell of a tortoise.

In zoology, the tortoise; the type genus of Testudinidæ, with 25 species.

Most abundant in the Ethiopian region, but also extending over the Oriental region, into the S. of Europe and the Eastern States of North America. Thorax convex, rather globular, and solid; breast-bone solid, with 12 shields, those of the throat separated; five toes on fore feet, four on the hinder pair.