42 TESTUDINATA. — CHELONIAD^. 



structure, arranged in two regular rows, some- 

 what resembling the laths of Venetian blinds. 

 In different species the number of these plates 

 is varied, some not containing above fifteen, 

 others as many as thirty-six. By muscular ac- 

 tion, they are turned on their axis at the pleasure 

 of the fish, and their free edges are provided with 

 small hooks, which are raised all together like the 

 points of a wool card. The tail of each of the 

 trained fishes in the tubs is furnished with a ring, 

 and to this is fastened a cord of fine texture but 

 strong, and of considerable length. When the 

 fishermen discover the Turtles basking on the sur- 

 face of the water, not daring to disturb their in- 

 tended prey, by making the least noise, they slip 

 overboard one of their Remoras, secured bv the 

 long cord, and pay out the line according to their 

 distance. The fish soon perceives the Turtle, 

 and hastening to it, fixes itself so firmly on the 

 floating reptile, that the fishermen can draw both 

 together into their boat, where there is no diffi- 

 culty in detaching the fish by pushing forw^ards 

 its head from behind. 



The deposition of eggs by the female of this 

 species has been carefully watched and minutely 

 recorded by an accurate observer of nature, who 

 thus describes the process. " On nearing the 

 shore," says Mr. Audubon, " and mostly on fine 

 calm moonliofht nio^hts, the Turtle raises her head 



... . o 



above the water, being still distant thirty or forty 

 yards from the beach, looks around her, and at- 

 tentively examines the objects on shore. Should 

 she observe nothing likely to disturb her intended 

 operations, she emits a loud hissing sound, by 

 which such of her many enemies as are unaccus- 



