/7//: r. i /;/;/. ,n; // ill A~ .-/,//./. /TI.TLJS. 



as nearly unknown on the Atlantic coast. Tin <>nly -[,,., irn.-n then known to hare been awn 

 and cai-tm.-d ii. MI- tin- American Atlantic -dores. was an enormous one now preserved in the 

 lu ,-i.,n Mil --U ii i I- u.,> . .,; .,,. -i . ' ti,. !ii..n!ii ,.f Boston harboi |i- l.-n_-tli u.i- . i_-|,t f.,.i .,i,,| 

 mi.- inch. in c<>lo r, j.-i -I. lark. This was purchased at a large price, and it continues to occu| \ 

 :!i. -.in.-- i !.H ..-..!,.-..:'. most notable flf MM I BfaftiMol lli< Museum for MB] Mm 

 tins spades remained unknown mi ..ur shotes, excepting aa represented U ih.- ir 

 mena. Somewhat later examples came to be more numerous. At the present time it is not 

 .111 iniusual thing to M? a Leathery Tortoise when, in sumiii.'r.crii: n. distance, off shore. 



\\ . mat several in the waters of the (Julf of Mexico, while resident ,, M i|,,- l-'lorida Keef. 

 Those we li..\.- OHBined ..... f :i <li us.' black roloi and Bjflhaj rifoy, Ufa BM -Kin ->f a |H,I 

 j-.i.se. This is probably the most l)iilky <.f living Turtles. Tlie enormous f..il Turil.- \\hirh 

 was found iu inie of tht- \V. i ritnrit-s is alli.sl to tli- pn-M-nt -,j^ i, > 



AJTOTHKK well-known species of Turtle deserves a passing notice. This is the LOOOKR- 

 HKAD TUBTLK, or CAorANK (Thalag$ochflys carrtta), sometimes rall.sl tin- Kins,., KI.OS 



Tl IITLE. 



This fine species has a wide range of locality, l-in- found in tin- most warm seas. It is 

 ni.-ly |t\M-rfiil. fierce, and vonn-ious. bitin.ir with great for.-,., and cutting hanl substation 

 without inin-li diilii-nli\. According to Cate^bv, the Loggerhead Turtles an- th.- l..,|d.-t and 

 ino-t voncioiis of all other Turtles. Their flesh is rank and little sought for, which occasions 

 them to U moiv nuiiuTous than any other kind. They range the ocean over, an instance of 

 "liii-h, among many others that I have known, hapi-.-n.-d in latitude :tn north, when our Utut 

 xsas Ii,.i~i.-d out, :uid .. Lpggerhead Turtle ntnii-k, u.v i' wa.s nleepin^ on tli.- -nrfa.-.- ..f id.- 

 water. 



"This, by our nvkoning, ap])eared to be midway between the Azores and the Hahama 

 l-l:md-. --iili'-i i >f which p!:i'.-- l"'in_ the nearesl Isjad i' BOttld hKVNM f:"in. .-i thai ili.-\ 

 are known to frequent, there being none on the north continent of America farther north than 

 Hoi ida. It being amphibious, and yet at so great a distance from land in the breeding-time, 

 makes it the more remarkable. They feed mostly on shell-fish, the great strength of their 

 beaks enabling them to break very large shells." Several other species belong to the wine 

 genus. 



In general appearance this species is not unlike the common Green Turtle, which will 

 presently be described, but the shell is broader, deeper colored, and has two more plates on 

 the back. The plates along the upper part of the back are six-sided, rather square, and 

 keeled. There are two claws on each foot. 



THE LOGGERHEAD TURTLE is so abundant in the waters about the Dry Tortugas, on the 

 Florida Reef, that one of the principal islands or keys is named from it. This creature 

 attains a large size ; some measuring quite five feet in length. It is no named from the great 

 fxmiparative size of its head. Considerable difference i- -n between this and the Green 

 Turtle in this respect. 



The Loggerheads make their appearance in the shoal waters near the keys in early 

 summer. On the first moonlight night they are ready to go on shore to de]M>sit their .-1:^-. 

 On these occasions people living near, mostly wreckers and tishenix-n. I. .M to the region and 

 watch for the creatures, to secure their eggs first, and then the carcases. Bef-m- leaving the 

 wat.-r the reptiles are exceedingly shy and cautious, but once fairly at work digging holes 

 alioxe the high-water mark, they heed nothing until the eggs are all liejKwiti-d. So intent 

 an- they on this business it is a common practice t,. sit on the creatures' shell and take the 

 eggs as they are dejiosited. The patient n-ptil.-s then can-fully draw the sand over the empty 

 linl>- with as much care as if the compl.-m.-nt of eggs was yet there. This accomplished, they 

 hurry off to sea again. 



Tut well-known CARRT, or HAWK'S-BILL TURTLE (Bretmockdy\ to called from the 

 formation of the mouth, is a native of the warm American and Indian seas, and is common in 

 many of th.- islands of those oceans. 



