TURTLES. 31 



ocean, many hundred miles from land. They 

 are supposed on such occasions to be asleep, but 

 they are very vigilant, and will rarely allow a 

 near approach without disappearing by diving. 

 They remain a long time under water, as might 

 be expected from the volume of their arbitrary 

 lungs, enabling them to retain a sufficient quan- 

 tity of air, while submerged. 



The very peculiarities of conformation, how- 

 ever, which adapt them for swift progression in 

 their own element, render them awkward and 

 almost helpless when out of it. It is only with 

 laborious efforts that they are enabled to shuffle 

 along on land ; and if once turned over on their 

 backs, their great width and flattened form pre- . 

 vent their ever being able to regain their natural 

 position. 



The flesh of the herbivorous kinds is well 

 known as an article of luxury in this country : 

 to voyagers, however, it fills a much more im- 

 portant position, as it affords a most valuable 

 resource in tropical climates, being abundant, 

 easily kept fresh, and as nutritious as it is agree- 

 able. The eggs of all the species are excellent, 

 and are procured in immense numbers ; the al- 

 bumen, or that part which answers to the white, 

 does not grow hard by the application of heat. 



The various species seem to have no settled 

 habitat, but are widely scattered over the whole 

 ocean of the warmer regions of the globe. There 

 are, however, favourite resorts, where they are 

 procured in greater abundance, as low sandy coasts 

 of uninhabited islands, or lonely spots on other 

 shores. Thus in the Atlantic, the Cape Verd 

 Isles, Ascension, and the Isles of the West In- 



