CHAPTER II: THE SEA TURTLES 



Largest of the Chelonians. These Strictly Aquatic Reptiles may be 

 Recognised by their Seal-like Flippers 



All of the tropical and semi-tropical seas of the globe are 

 inhabited by huge turtles, but with this great distribution, we 

 find a peculiar condition relating to the number of species. Over 

 these vast stretches of ocean, stupenduously rich in their variety 

 of life — invertebrates, fishes, a large number of marine serpents, 

 innumerable birds and many mammals — the chelonians are 

 limited to five species ; with the exception of one, each spe- 

 cies occurs in the warmer waters of both the Old and the 

 New World; thus a list of the North American reptiles must 

 include those marine turtles that are found in the vicinity of 

 our coasts. 



While normally inhabiting the waters of the warmer lati- 

 tudes, the sea turtles are often enticed northward, along our 

 eastern coast, by the mild currents of the Gulf Stream; during 

 the mid-summer months they enter the northern harbours and 

 live comfortably enough, but during the approach of cold weather 

 these wanderers become chilled and stupefied, and fall an easy 

 prey to fishermen. Benumbed during the fall hurricanes, they 

 are battered and cast lifeless upon the beaches of Long Island, 

 Connecticut and Massachusetts, and by the very storms that 

 originated over their native seas. Most of the big Leather- 

 back Turtles in our northern museums, have met a fate like 

 this. 



Classification. — The marine turtles are divided into two 

 families. From a standpoint of relationship, these families 

 are widely separated; the classified list of the families and genera 

 of North American turtles and tortoises, in the preceding 

 pages, will show the proper standing of these reptiles. The 

 Leather-back Turtle, (Sphargis), seems to be the survivor 

 of an extinct group, and must be placed in a family by 

 itself, while the Loggerheads, the Green Turtle and the 



4 



