HAWK’S-BILL TURTLE. 9 
following manner :—The edges are bevelled off to the space 
of two or three lines, and the margins when placed together 
overlap each other to that extent. They are then pressed 
together by a metallic press, and the whole is submitted to 
the action of boiling water; and by this means the two 
pieces are so perfectly soldered together, as to leave no 
indication of the line of union. By the application of heat, 
also, the tortoise-shell may be made to receive any impres- 
sion by being pressed between metallic moulds. 
No portion of this precious substance is lost or useless. 
The filings and powder, which remain after these and the 
other processes to which the shell is submitted, are placed 
with any small fragments in metallic moulds, and by means 
of pressure, exercised whilst they are exposed to the heat of 
boiling water, they are formed into plates of any thickness 
which may be required. 
Such is a very hasty and general sketch of the manner 
in which this beautiful substance is rendered available to 
the many purposes of ornament and use in which it is 
constantly employed. 
The history of this species as a British visitant is eon- 
fined to the mere notice of its accidental occurrence on 
three different occasions on the shores of Great Britain. 
Sibbald states that he received the shell of one which 
“came into Orkney ;” Dr. Fleming says, ‘I have credible 
testimony of its having been taken at Papa Stour, one of 
the West Zetland Islands;” and the late Dr. Turton has 
mentioned an instance of one which “in the year 1774 
was taken in the Severn, and placed in the fish-ponds of 
the author’s father, where it lived till winter.” 
It is found about the islands and coasts both of the 
Indian and Atlantic Oceans, where it occurs in consider- 
able abundance; its flesh is said to be unpalatable, but 
