298 EEPTILES OF BERMUDA. 



it earlier, but it does not fix an exact date for the arrival of the turtles 

 on the shore. In regard to Sphargis, however, I find something more 

 conflicting, and, it being so definite as to dates, locality, &c., am inclined 

 to believe it entitled to consideration. The item is copied from the 

 Morning Journal of April 30, 184C, by Gosse in " The Naturalist's So- 

 journ in Jamaica," 1859, p. 30C, and bears the marks of its origin in 

 evidence of desire to make the most of it, yet, as Mr. Gosse snggests, 

 it has sufficient appearance of accuracy to warrant preservation. The 

 locality of the occurrence is Negril Bay, at the west end of Jamaica : 



" The anxiety of the fishermen in this little village was aroused on 

 the 30th of last month by the track of a huge Sea-monster, called a 

 Trunk-turtle, which came on the sea-beach for the purpose of laying 

 her eggs. A search was made, when a hole in the sand was discovered, 

 about 4 feet in depth, and as wide as the mouth of a half-barrel, whence 

 five or six dozen white eggs were taken out. The eggs were of difier- 

 ent sizes, the largest the size of a duck's egg. On the morning of the 

 10th of this month, at half-past five o'clock, she was discovered by Mr. 

 Crow on the beach, near the spot where she first came np. He gave 

 the alarm, when all the neighbors assembled and got her turned on her 

 back. She took twelve men to haul her about 200 yards. I went and 

 measured her, and found her dimensions as follows : From head to tail, 

 G feet 6 inches ; from the outer part of her fore fin to the other end (to 

 the tip of the other?), 9 feet 2 inches; the circumference round her back 

 and chest, 7 feet 9 inches ; circumference of her neck, 3 feet 3 inches ; 

 the widest part of her fore fins, 18 inches ; her hind fins, 2 feet 4 inches 

 in length. Her back is formed like a round top of a trunk, with small 

 white bumps in straight lines, resembling the nails on a trunk ; her 

 color is variegated like the rainbow (probably the living skin displayed 

 opaline reflections); there is no shell on her back, but a thick skin, like 

 pump leather." 



The date given woidd place the time of laying in the latter part of 

 March instead of as early as claimed by the fisbermen and turtlers, 

 December, January, and February, for this genus. Sphargis is the most 

 rare and least known of the sea turtles. 



In early times turtles were so numerous around the Bermudas that 

 two boats were able to take forty in a day; now they are so rare that 

 this number more nearly represents what are taken in a season. To 

 any one who takes the trouble to look into the matter the fact is patent 

 enough that unless their enemies are restrained these animals are des- 



