174 A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SEAS 



several hundred yards, with little effort. He emitted at 

 intervals a noise somewhat resembling the grunt of wild 

 boar." 



The true sea Turtle family, Cheloniidae, is represented 

 by the common Loggerhead Turtle {Caretta caretta), 

 Kemp's Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta fympii), the Green 

 Turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the Hawksbill Turtle (Chelonia 

 imbricatd). 



The Loggerhead, though generally similar to the Green 

 Turtle, is distinguished by a relatively larger head and the 

 presence of two well-defined claws on each of the front 

 flippers. Giant specimens have a shell 4 ft. long and 

 weigh over 500 lbs. Like that of the Green Turtle, 

 its flesh is edible, but is of inferior quality, dark red in 

 colour and flavoured not unlike beef. It is very prolific, 

 laying fifty to a thousand eggs. These like those of other 

 Turtles are both in shape, size and colour like ping-pong 

 balls, but with elastic leathery shells. They can even 

 bounce without breaking. Normally the eggs hatch in 

 about eight weeks, but large numbers are collected for 

 the market, the hunters " sounding " for them by probing 

 the sand with pointed sticks. The newly-hatched Turtles, 

 at birth about the size of half-crown pieces, frequent 

 inland shelters until strong enough to face the open seas. 



Like Tortoises, Turtles are very tenacious of life, and 

 can subsist for weeks without food. The jaws, enclosed 

 in razor-edged horny sheaths, are of enormous power, 

 a medium-sized Turtle being capable of severing a broom- 

 stick with no appreciable effort. 



As in Tortoises, the male is generally distinguished 

 by a slightly longer tail and a distinct hollow in the hinder 



