CARETTA. 53 



denominations. Both names are now considered to indicate the same species, and one of 

 them ought to be retained for that species which is the most common in the Atlantic, and in 

 our collections. The name of Chelonia virgata has been given to specimens from the Red 

 Sea, which may be considered as identical with others from the Indian Ocean. Dumeril 

 and Bibron, however, apply it to Atlantic specimens as well as to Indian ones. 



Finally, Cuvier and Dumeril and Bibron distinguish two other species besides, namely Ch. 

 maculosa and Ch. marmorata, the former from the coast of Malabar, and the latter from the 

 Atlantic. Gray and Agassiz consider both of them as identical, and the former author as 

 even synonymous to Ch. virgata. 



The differences of the species named consist chiefly in modifications of the colours and in 

 the form of the shields, characters the constancy of which I have failed to recognize in the 

 specimens that I have examined. Two young specimens from Singapore (from Dr. Cantor's 

 collection) have been carefully compared with individuals of the same size from the Island of 

 Ascension, and although they differ from some of the latter in several points, there are others 

 which are perfectly intermediate. Only the central shield on the crown of the head appeared 

 to be a little larger in the Indian specimens than in those from Ascension. 



Agassiz, in his Natural History of the United States, has experienced the same difficulties, 

 and has retained, for the present, the name of Ch. midas for the Atlantic individuals, and 

 that of Cli. virgata for those from the Pacific. 



Chelonia virgata, as we will call the Indian Turtle, appears to be found on all the coasts of 

 the East Indies*. Cantor says that " it is at all seasons plentifully taken in fishing-stakes in 

 the Straits of Malacca ; it is the ' Green Turtle ' of the European inhabitants of our settle- 

 ments and of the seaports of India. In size it equals the Atlantic Turtle, which it rivals in 

 flavour. About December and January is the season when the female deposits her eggs, in 

 the sandy beach of some sequestered island, and then the fishermen watch during the moon- 

 light nights to ' turn turtles.' The eggs are of a spherical shape, about 1 inch in diameter, 

 covered by a soft semi transparent membrane of a pale-yellow colour. The expert eye of the 

 fisherman baffles the pains with which the turtle conceals her eggs, and prodigious numbers 

 are disinterred. They are very rich-flavoured, like marrow, and will keep for weeks although 

 exposed to the air." 



We have already mentioned that the flesh of this species is sometimes found to be poisonoixs. 



CARETTA. 



Caretta, [Merr.) Gray, Shield Rept. p. 73. 



Thirteen vertebral and costal shields, which are produced behind and 

 imbricate. Two claws to each foot. Shell of yonng animals with three 

 keels. — Carnivorous. 



* We have received one specimen from the Island of Formosa, through Mr. Swinhoe . 



