148 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



It occurs aloiig the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Guiana aiid Brazil, and is common everywhere 

 in the Gulf of Mexico and among the West Indies. It is also found in the Mediterranean, where 

 formerly it was very abundant, and specimens have been taken on the coasts o( England and Scot- 

 land. Thus it appears th.it the Loggerhead inhabits generally somewhat more northerly localities 

 than most other species of Marine Turtles. 



SIZE OF THE LOGGERHEAD. lu size the Loggerhead is second only to the huge Leather 

 Turtle, previously mentioned. A specimen of moderate size, captured in 1871, measured six feet 

 in length, and nine feet across the back to the extremities of the fore-feet or "flippers." The head 

 was eleven inches long and eight inches broad. Its weight was about 850 pounds. In the more 

 southern localities the species sometimes attains a weight of 1,500 or 1,000 pounds. The specimens 

 taken on our coast about Beaufort and Morehead City, N. C., which enter into commerce, are 

 undoubtedly young animals. Their average weight, according to Mr. Earll. is not more than fifty 

 pounds. 



FOOD. The Loggerhead is one of the most powerful of the Marine Turtles. It swims with 

 very considerable speed and not ungracefully. It is frequently seen far from land, floating on the 

 waves and apparently asleep or resting. Unlike fuost of the members of the group, it is generally 

 considered carnivorous, feeding upon crabs, various shells, and fishes. It i said to be particularly 

 fond of a large con eh (Strombus), which it breaks with its powerful jaws and devours in great quantity. 1 



BREEDING- HABITS OF THE LOGGERHEAD. On our shores this Turtle breeds in April, May, 

 and June, during which months the female comes to laud and deposits its eggs in the sand, usually 

 selecting a spot on the southern side of a shoal. She scoops out a shallow pit with her hind legs, 

 and deposits a number of eggs, varying from 150 to 200. Having laid this large number, the Turtle 

 covers them with sand and leaves them to be hatched by the heat of the sun. While these animals 

 are engaged in this operation they seem unconscious of the presence of intruders, and from this 

 fact, and because they are very helpless on land, they are frequently captured while so engaged. 

 They breed sometimes as far north as Virginia, and commonly in Georgia, Florida, and the eastern 

 Gulf States. The young make their way to the water as soon as hatched. 



RATE OF GROWTH. Like all other species of Turtles, the Loggerhead is probably very slow 

 in coming to maturity, and many years must elapse before it is fully grown. One <>!' the small 

 Marsh Terrapins is said to be ten or eleven years old before it breeds, 2 and it would seem that in 

 marine species, which are many times larger, the period must be much longer. 



ECONOMIC VALUE. The economic value of the Loggerhead, aside from that of its eggs, is 

 very small. The flesh of the adult is leathery and oily, and smells very strongly of musk; it is, 

 therefore, not generally eaten, although some pretend that they have partaken of it when fresh 

 without nausea. Formerly it was salted in the West Indies and given to the slaves for food. 

 Young Loggerheads are considered tolerably esculent and are eaten to a limited extent in the 

 United States. They are captured from time to time on the coast of North Carolina, and sold in 

 the markets of the interior cities. 



A large amount of oil can be obtained from this Turtle, but its rank odor unfits it for use in 

 cooking. It has been employed, however, to smear on the sides of vessels, which it is said to pre- 

 serve from worms; and to soften certain kinds of leathers. Its scales, although larger than those 

 of the Tortoise-shell Turtle, are very thin, and apt to be wrinkled and filled with impurities, and 

 therefore are uot used to any considerable extent in the arts. 



The eggs of the Loggerhead are larger than those of other species, and are not inferior in 

 flavor. They are highly esteemed as food, and also furnish a considerable quantity of oil. 



'IlOLBKOOK: North Ameriraii Hurpetology, ii, lH4:i, p. 37. 



'A(i,\ssi7. : Ccmtributiou* to the Natural History ut' the United States, ii, 1857, p. 496. 



