6 CHELONIADA. 
all possible dispatch, leaving the hatching of the eggs to 
the heat of the sand. When a Turtle, a Loggerhead for 
example, is in the act of dropping her eggs, she will not 
move although one should go up to her, or even seat 
himself on her back; for it seems at this moment she 
finds it necessary to proceed at all events, and is unable to 
intermit her labour. The moment it is finished, however, 
off she starts ; nor would it then be possible for one, unless 
he were as strong as a Hercules, to turn her over and 
secure her.”* 
Each Turtle has generally three Jayings in the season, 
at intervals of two or three weeks. The eggs are perfectly 
round, varying from two to three inches in diameter. The 
external membrane is flexible, very white, and contains 
a considerable quantity of calcareous matter. The yolk 
forms in general an exceedingly delicate article of food ; 
but that of the Loggerhead Turtle has a somewhat musky 
flavour. 
When the young ones are hatched, which takes place 
from a fortnight to three weeks after the eggs are depo- 
sited, according to the temperature, they have only that 
central part of each scale or plate formed which is termed 
the areola; and all the concentric layers which in ad- 
vanced age are seen to constitute the principal part of the 
plates are added afterwards at their margins. The shell is 
soft, and affords them but little protection from the attacks 
of their numerous enemies. In their attempts to gain the 
water for the first time, numbers of them fall a prey to 
birds of various kinds; and of those which are fortunate 
enough to escape from this danger, probably the greater 
part are seized and devoured by shoals of fish and of 
crocodiles. 
* Audub. Amer, Ornith. Biog. IT. 
