284 LEAVES FROM THE 



danger. The male and female, tie says, usually remain 

 together about fourteen days. 



After describing the structure of the limbs as more 

 fitted for swimming than walking, he remarks, that 



They never go on shore but to lay their eggs, which is in April ; 

 they then crawl up from the sea, above the flowing of high water, 

 and dig a hole above two feet deep in the sand, into which they 

 drop in one night above an hundred eggs : at which time they are 

 so intent on nature's work, that they regard none that approach 

 them, but will drop their eggs in a hat if held under them ; but if 

 they are disturbed before they begin to lay, they will forsake the 

 place and seek another. They lay their eggs at three, and some- 

 times at four, different times, there being fourteen days between 

 every time. * * "\Vlien they have laid their compliment of eggs, 

 they fill the hole with sand^ and leave them to be hatched by the 

 heat of the sun, which is usually performed in about three weeks. 



His description of the mode of capture varies little 

 from that of Labat, except that he says nothing of nets. 



The inhabitants of the Bahama Islands, by often practice, are 

 very dexterous in catching them, particularly the green turtle. In 

 April they go in little boats to the coast of Cuba, and other neigh- 

 bouring islands, where, in the evening, esjiecially in moonlight 

 nights, they watch the going and returning of the turtle to and 

 from their nests; at which time they turn them on their backs, 

 where they leave them and proceed on turning all they meet, for 

 they cannot get on their feet again when once turned. Some are 

 so large that it requires three men to turn one of them. The 

 way by which turtle are most commonly taken at the Bahama 

 Islands, is by striking them with a small iron peg of two inches 

 long; this peg is put in a socket at the end of a staff twelve feet 

 long. Two men usually set out for this work in a little light boat 

 or canoe ; one to row and gently steer the boat, while the other 

 stands at the head of it with his striker. The turtle are some- 

 times discovered by their swimming with their head and back out 

 of the water ; but they are oftenest discovered lying at the bottom, 

 a fathom or more deep. If the turtle perceives he is discovered, 

 he starts up to make his escape, the men in the boat, pursuing him, 

 endeavour to keep sight of him, which they often lose, and recover 

 again by the turtle putting his nose out of the water to breathe ; 

 thus they pursue him, one paddling or rowing, while the other 

 stands ready with his striker. It is sometimes half-an-hour before 

 he is tired ; then he sinks at once to the bottom, which gives them 



