6 CHELONIAD^l. 



all possible dispatch, leaving the hatching of the eggs to 

 the heat of the sand. When a Turtle, a Loggerhead for 

 example, is in the act of dropping her eggs, she will not 

 move although one should go up to her, or even seat 

 himself on her back; for it seems at this moment she 

 finds it necessary to proceed at all events, and is unable to 

 intermit her labour. The moment it is finished, however, 

 off she starts ; nor would it then be possible for one, unless 

 he were as strong as a Hercules, to turn her over and 

 secure her."* 



Each Turtle has generally three layings in the season, 

 at intervals of two or three weeks. The eggs are perfectly 

 round, varying from two to three inches in diameter. The 

 external membrane is flexible, very white, and contains 

 a considerable quantity of calcareous matter. The yolk 

 forms in general an exceedingly delicate article of food ; 

 but that of the Loggerhead Turtle has a somewhat musky 

 flavour. 



When the young ones are hatched, which takes place 

 from a fortnight to three weeks after the eggs are depo- 

 sited, according to the temperature, they have only that 

 central part of each scale or plate formed which is termed 

 the areola ; and all the concentric layers which in ad- 

 vanced age are seen to constitute the principal part of the 

 plates are added afterwards at their margins. The shell is 

 soft, and affords them but little protection from the attacks 

 of their numerous enemies. In their attempts to gain the 

 water for the first time, numbers of them fall a prey to 

 birds of various kinds; and of those which are fortunate 

 enough to escape from this danger, probably the greater 

 part are seized and devoured by shoals of fish and of 

 crocodiles. 



* Audub. Amer. Ornith. Biog. II. 



