276 INTEODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



with considerable force and velocity."* "The Green and 

 Hawk-billed in particular," says Audubon, " remind you, by 

 their celerity, and the ease of their motions, of the progress 

 of a bird in the air." They feed on sea-weeds, fishes, mol- 

 lusca, and Crustacea. The jaws are strong and firmly arti- 

 culated ; the horny beak, which bears some resemblance to 

 the bill of a Hawk, is very hard, and the edge sharp. 



The annual resort of the various species of marine Turtles 

 to the land, for the purpose of depositing their eggs, is one of 

 the most interesting points of their history. On the island of 

 Ascension, on the shores of the Gulf of Florida, and in many 

 other places, innumerable multitudes arrive for this purpose 

 during the early part of the summer. The eggs, amounting 

 to one hundred and fifty or two hundred, are laid in a hole 

 scraped on the beach, they are then covered with saud ; and 

 the Turtle, having accomplished the object of her mission, 

 retreats with all speed to the water.f 



As the flesh of this species is not considered very palatable, 

 the Tortoise is pursued and captured solely for the value of its 

 shell. It is taken on the west coast of New Guinea, at Cuba, 

 and at various other localities ; but the Tortoise-shell which 

 comes from the Pacific Ocean is considered much more valu- 

 able than that of the Atlantic. 



The Eiver Tortoises {Trionyddce) are exclusively carnivo- 

 rous, and eat their food in the water. They are without 

 scales, and are hence called " soft Tortoises." In the Ganges 

 they are very numerous, and prey like the Gavials on the 

 bodies of the natives floating down the stream. J The feet 

 are webbed. The Marsh Tortoises {EmydcB} are found about 

 lakes, ponds, and small rivers, and swim with considerable 



* Bell's British Reptiles, p. 2. 



f The description given by the poet is too appropriate to be omitted : — 



" The pregnant Turtle, stealing out at eve. 



With anxious eye and trembling heart, explored 

 The loneliest coves, and in the loose warm sand 

 Deposited her eggs, which the sun hatched ; 

 Hence the young brood, that never knew a parent, 

 Unburrowed, and by instinct sought the sea; 

 Nature herself, with her own gentle liand, 

 Drojiping them, one by one, into the tJood, 

 And laugliing to behold their antic joy, 

 When launched in their materr.al element." 

 { fciwainson, p. 11 G. Montgomery's "Pelican Island" 



