4 CHELONIAD^E. 



on mollusca, fish, Crustacea, sea-urchins, and various marine 

 plants." * 



Their jaws are strong, and firmly articulated. The 

 horny beak, which so much resembles that of some birds 

 as to have led to the application of the name of HawkV 

 billed Turtle to the species about to be described, is very 

 hard, but the edge is sharp, in most cases toothed, and that 

 of the lower jaw is received into a groove of the upper ; so 

 that the food taken between them is not only cut by the 

 external sharp edges passing each other, but bruised by the 

 pressure of the lower mandible against this upper groove 

 and its internal margin. When not engaged in feeding, 

 they are often seen floating without the slightest move- 

 ment on the surface of the sea, sometimes at considerable 

 distance from the land, apparently asleep ; for they are at 

 such times easily approached and taken. 



The annual resort of the various species of marine Tur- 

 tles 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 of Tur- 

 tles arrive at a period of the year differing somewhat in the 

 different species, but in all during the early part of the 

 summer. They resort to their favourite breeding-places 

 from various parts, some even from a great distance ; and 

 there is reason to believe that each individual returns year 

 after year to the same place. The following details of this 

 operation, from the graphic pen of my friend Audubon, are 

 so interesting that I offer no apology for inserting them 

 without mutilation. 



" On first nearing the shore, and mostly on fine calm 

 moonlight nights, the Turtle raises her head above the 



* Audub. Amer. Ornith. Biog. II. p. 374. 



