122 The Turtle 



an exceedingly pleasant life, basking in the tropical 

 sun, or cruising leisurely in the cool depths free from 

 all danger, when once he has attained a weight of about 

 five-and-twenty pounds, which is within the first year 

 usually. After, no fish or mammal, however ravenous, 

 however well armed with teeth, interferes with the 

 Turtle ; he is the chartered libertine of the ocean. 

 When once he has withdrawn his head from its position 

 of outlook into the folds of his neck between the two 

 shells, intending devourers may struggle in vain to 

 make an impression upon him, but will always fail. 



Now, this being the case, and considering the fecun- 

 dity of the Turtle (I counted over eight hundred eggs 

 once in the ovary of a Turtle turned by us in the Gulf 

 of Mexico), it seems strange at first sight that they are 

 not almost as plentiful as cod. So I believe they would 

 be, but for the fact that they lay their eggs where they 

 do, covered with a comparatively thin layer of sand, and 

 exposed to the ravages of many creatures, notably rats 

 and birds and crabs. Many a rich banquet do these 

 burglars have upon the fat mound of eggs deposited 

 by Mother Turtle, and it would be unpardonable over- 

 sight on their part to leave even one egg. This, of 

 course, accounts for a great many. As for the toll that 

 man takes, as in the case of nearly all deep-sea fish, it 

 may be neglected in taking into account the number 

 of Turtle which do not die of old age. It may be taken 

 for granted that what man gets of any deep-sea fish, 

 by comparison with what is eaten by the sea-people 

 themselves, is but as the crumbs of the banquet, the 

 skimming of the pot. But, by the operation of Nature's 

 own laws in thinning out any superfluity of any creature 

 anywhere, the Turtle is kept from becoming too numer- 

 ous, harmless as he is. No one really knows how large 

 a Turtle may grow, but certainly there does not appear 



