HAWK'S-BILL TURTLE. 9 



following manner : The edges are bevelled off to the space 

 of two or three lines, and the margins when placed together 

 overlap each other to that extent. They are then pressed 

 together by a metallic press, and the whole is submitted to 

 the action of boiling water ; and by this means the two 

 pieces are so perfectly soldered together, as to leave no 

 indication of the line of union. By the application of heat, 

 also, the tortoise-shell may be made to receive any impres- 

 sion by being pressed between metallic moulds. 



No portion of this precious substance is lost or useless. 

 The filings and powder, which remain after these and the 

 other processes to which the shell is submitted, are placed 

 with any small fragments in metallic moulds, and by means 

 of pressure, exercised whilst they are exposed to the heat of 

 boiling water, they are formed into plates of any thickness 

 which may be required. 



Such is a very hasty and general sketch of the manner 

 in which this beautiful substance is rendered available to 

 the many purposes of ornament and use in which it is 

 constantly employed. 



The history of this species as a British visitant is con- 

 fined to the mere notice of its accidental occurrence on 

 three different occasions on the shores of Great Britain. 

 Sibbald states that he received the shell of one which 

 " came into Orkney;" Dr. Fleming says, " I have credible 

 testimony of its having been taken at Papa Stour, one of 

 the West Zetland Islands ; " and the late Dr. Turton has 

 mentioned an instance of one which " in the year 1774 

 was taken in the Severn, and placed in the fish-ponds of 

 the author's father, where it lived till winter." 



It is found about the islands and coasts both of the 

 Indian and Atlantic Oceans, where it occurs in consider- 

 able abundance ; its flesh is said to be unpalatable, but 



