REPTILES 173 



crabs, monkeys, racoons, and birds preying upon them, 

 and of those who successfully run this gauntlet few survive 

 the attentions of large predaceous fishes. 



The strength of the Leathery Turtle may be appreciated 

 by the following account which has been given by Mr. 

 G. W. Gourlay of the capture of a specimen at Santa 

 Barbara : " The turtle was first seen swimming on the 

 surface about two miles off shore. I went after it, accom- 

 panied by a boy, in an eighteen-foot sailing boat. On 

 approaching the turtle I dropped the tiller and got forward 

 with the gaff-hook, swung over the side, and got the hook 

 fast in the leathery part of his neck. He immediately 

 sounded, and ran out the full length of the line — about 

 two hundred feet — towing the boat about half a mile 

 further out to sea. He then came to the surface and 

 we pulled up close to him again. When he caught sight of 

 the boat he turned and came towards us and threw his 

 flippers over the gunwale of the boat, nearly capsizing 

 her. I climbed up on the upper side, and shoved him off 

 with an oar, the end of which he grabbed and bit off like 

 a piece of cheese. His movements were very swift ; 

 using his fore-fiipper he could turn almost instantly from 

 one side to the other, and his head would project about 

 eighteen inches from the body. I succeeded at last in 

 throwing a noose over his head, and later, by attracting his 

 attention in the opposite direction, got ropes round both 

 flippers. Finally, having five lines on him, I started to tow 

 him towards the shore. We were from 11.30 a.m. until 

 4 p.m. in finally landing him. When about half-way to 

 shore he suddenly turned, and made a break out to sea, 

 towing the boat stern first, with all sail drawing full, for 



