which they suspect danger, they dive to the bottom for security*.

The strength of this animal is so great as to allow it to move along with as many men on its back as can stand there. It sleeps upon its back on the surface of the water.-The legs are so far fin-shaped as to be of little other use than to swim with.

The inhabitants of the Bahama Islands are peculiarly dexterous in catching the Turtles. In the month of April, they go in their boats to the coasts of Cuba, and some of the neighbouring islands, where, in the evenings and moonlight nights, they watch the going and returning of the animals to and from the shore, where they lay their eggs. They turn them on their backs on the land and then leave them, to perforin the same operation on as many others as they can meet; for when once turned, they are unable again to get on their feet. Many are taken in the sea, at some distance from the shore: these are struck with a kind of spear, whose shaft is about four yards in length. For this work two men usually set out in a small light boat or canoe, one to paddle it gently along and steer, and the other to stand at the head with his weapon. Sometimes the Turtles are discovered swimming with their head and back out of water, but most commonly lying at the bottom where it is a fathom

or more deep. If the animal sees that he is discovered, he immediately attempts to escape: the men pursue and endeavour to keep him in sight; and, in the chase, generally so far tire him that, in the course of half an hour, he sinks to the bottom, which affords an opportunity to strike him with the spear through the shell. The head of the spear, which now slips off and is left in his body, is fastened with a string to the pole; and, by means of this apparatus, they are enabled to pursue him, if he should not be sufficiently spent without: if, however that is the case, he tamely submits to be taken into the boat or hauled ashore.-There are men who, by diving to the bottom, will get on the backs of the animals; and then, by pressing them down behind, and raising their fore part, bring them by force to the surface of the water, where some person is in waiting to slip a noose round their neck.

They very seldom go ashore, except for the purpose of depositing their eggs in the sand: this is done in April. They dig a hole at high-water mark, about two feet deep, and drop into it above a hundred eggs; and at this time they are so intent on the operation that they do not notice any one that approaches them, and they will even drop the eggs into a hat if held under them. If, however, they are disturbed before the commencement of their business, they always forsake the place. They lay their eggs at three, and sometimes four different times, fourteen days asunder, so that the young are hatched and come forth also at different times.

After having deposited the eggs, they scratch the hole up with sand, and leave them to be hatched by the heat of the sun, which is generally done in about three weeks. The eggs are each about the size of a tennis-ball, round, white, and covered with a parchment-like skin*.

Sir Hans Sloane has informed us that the inhabitants of Port Royal in Jamaica had formerly no fewer than forty vessels employed in catching these animals; their markets being supplied with Turtle, as ours are with butchers meat.

The introduction of the Turtle, as an article of luxury, into England, appears to have taken place within the last seventy years. We import them principally, if not entirely, from the West India islands.

THE LOGGERHEAD TURTLET.

This is one of the largest species, and in its general appearance has a great resemblance to the last the head however is larger, the shell broader, and the number of segments of the disk is fifteen, of which the middle range is gibbous or protuberant towards their tips. The fore legs are large and strong, and the hind ones broad and shorter. These Turtles inhabit the seas about the West India islands, and they are found in the Mediterranean,

* Catesby, ii. 38.

+ Testudo caretta. Linn.--Shaw's Gen. Zool, vol. 3. tab. 23, 24, 25.

but particularly about the coasts of Italy and Sicily.

They are very strong and fierce, defending themselves with great vigour with their legs, and being able to divide very strong substances with their mouth. Aldrovandus assures us, that on

offering a thick walking-stick to the gripe of one that he saw publicly exhibited at Bologna, the animal bit it in two in an instant*.-Their principal food is shell-fish, which their strong beak enables them to break from the rocks. But their voracity, it is said, even leads them to attack young Crocodiles, which they often mutilate of their limbs or tail. We are informed that, for this purpose, they frequently lurk in the bottom of Creeks along the shore, into which the Crocodiles sometimes retire backwards, because the length of their body prevents them from turning readily; and, taking advantage of this posture, the Loggerhead seizes them by the tail, having then nothing to fear from their formidable teethf.

They range very far over the ocean. One of them was seen in latitude 30° north, sleeping on the surface of the water, apparently about midway between the Azores and the Bahama Islands, and these were the nearest possible land. This circumstance was the more remarkable as it happened in the month of April, just at their breeding time.

* Shaw's Gen. Zool. iii. 87.

+ La Cepede, i. 132.

+ Catesby, ii. 40.

Rondeletius, who was a native of Languedoc, informs us, that he kept one of this species, which had been caught on the coast of Provence, for a considerable time. It emitted a confused kind of noise, and frequently sighed*.

Like the last species, they lay their eggs in the sand. Their flesh is coarse and rank; but their bodies afford a considerable quantity of oil, which may be used for various purposes, particularly for burning, or for dressing leather. The plates of the shell are not sufficiently thick to be of great use.

The substance that we call Tortoise-shell is the production of the Imbricated Turtlet, a species. considerably allied to the present, that is found in the Asiatic and American seas, and sometimes in the Mediterranean. The plates of this species are far more strong, thick, and clear, than in any other, and these constitute the sole value of the animal. They are semi-transparent, beautifully variegated with different colours, and, when properly prepared and polished, are used for a variety of ornamental purposes. They are first softened by steeping in boiling water, after which they may be moulded into almost any form.

* La Cepede. i. 131.

+ Testudo imbricata of Linnæus. Shaw's Gen. Zool, iii. 89.