THE HAWK'S-BILL TURTLE. 181 



intimately joined together that the slightest trace 

 of their union cannot be detected. 



It is almost exclusively by means of boiling water 

 that the effects upon tortoise-shell are obtained. 

 The substance of the scales becomes so softened by 

 the action of the heat, that it may be acted upon 

 like a soft mass, or a flexible and ductile paste, 

 which, by pressure in metallic moulds, will assume 

 every variety of form required. The soldering of 

 two pieces together is effected by means of hot 

 pincers, which, while they compress, at the same 

 time soften the opposed edges of each piece, and 

 amalgamate them into one. No portion of the 

 scales is worthless ; the raspings and powder pro- 

 duced by the file, mixed with small fragments, are 

 put into moulds, and subjected to the action of 

 boiling water, and thus made into plates of the 

 desired thickness, or into various articles which 

 appear as if cut out of the solid block. 



The following is Dr. Turton's description of the 

 present species : — 



" Body roundish-ovate, slightly heart-shaped, 

 slightly carinated down the back; head small, 

 prominent, with the upper mandible curved over 

 the lower ; two claws on each foot ; plates of the 

 disk imbricated, thirteen in number, rather square, 

 semi-transparent, variegated ; of the circumference 

 twenty-five, pointed, and incumbent on each 



