HAWK'S-BILL TURTLE. 7 



The different species of marine Turtles are found in all 

 the seas of hot climates, and they are only seen in con- 

 siderable numbers within a certain distance from the land. 

 About the shores of several of the West India Islands, 

 " Cuba, Jamaica, St. Domingo ; in the Atlantic, at the 

 Cape de Verde and Ascension Islands ; again, in the 

 Indian Ocean, at the Isle of France, Madagascar, the 

 Seychelles, &c. ; at Vera Cruz, in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 and at the Sandwich and Gallapagos Islands, in the 

 Pacific, 1 ' * they are found in the greatest abundance. 



It is unnecessary, and it would be out of place here, to 

 enter at large upon the particular history of the different 

 species. Every one knows the value of the Green Turtle, 

 as it is commonly called, as an article of luxurious and 

 most nutritious food ; and all the species afford a large 

 quantity of oil, which is employed for various purposes. 

 But it may not be uninteresting to offer a few observations 

 on the particular utility of the species which is now to be 

 described. 



The Hawk's -billed Turtle, Chelonia imbricata, is not 

 generally used in food, as its flesh is far from being either 

 so wholesome or agreeable as that of the Green Turtle ; 

 but the large scales with which it is covered are so much 

 employed in the arts, both for purposes of ornament and 

 utility, as to constitute no unimportant object of mer- 

 chandize. It is the substance commonly called Tortoise- 

 shell. For the following short account of the mode of 

 obtaining and preparing it, I am principally indebted to 

 the admirable History of Reptiles by my excellent friends 

 M. Dumeril and M. Bibron.-f- 

 Although the greater number of the whole order of Tes- 



* Dumeril et Bibron, Hist, des Kept. II. p. 520. 

 t Hist, des Kept. II. p. 524, et seq. 



