CRUSTACEOUS FISHES. 



ceeds the land-tortoise in the same propor- 

 tion. It is of different magnitudes, according 

 to its different kinds; some turtles being not 

 above tilty pounds weight, and some above 

 eight hundred. 



The Great Mediterranean Turtle is the 

 largest of the turtle kind with which we are 

 acquainted. It is found from five to eight 

 feet long, and from six to nine hundred pounds 

 weight. But, unluckily, its utility bears no 

 proportion to its size; as it is unfit for food, 

 and sometimes poisons those who eat it. The 

 shell also, which is a tough, strong integument, 

 resembling an hide, is unfit for all serviceable 

 purposes. One of these animals was taken 

 in the year 1729, at the month of the Loire, 

 in nets that were not designed for so large a 

 capture. This turtle, which was of enormous 

 strength, by its own struggles involved itself 

 in the nets in such a manner as to be incapa- 

 ble of doing mischief: yet, even thus shackled, 

 it appeared terrible to the fishermen, who 

 were at first for flying; but finding it impo- 

 tent, they gathered courage to drag it on shore, 

 where it made a most horrible bellowing ; and 

 when they began to knock it on the head with 

 their gaffs, it was to be heard at half a mile's 

 distance. They were still further intimidated 

 by its nauseous and pestilential breath, which 

 so powerfully affected them, that they were 

 near fainting. This animal wanted but four 

 inches of being eight feet long, and was above 

 two feet over: its shell more resembled lea- 

 ther than the shell of a tortoise; and, unlike 

 all other animals of this kind, it was furnished 

 with teeth in each jaw, one rank behind ano- 

 ther, like those of a shark: its feet also, dif- 

 ferent from the rest ofcthis kind, wanted claws; 

 and the tail was quite disengaged from the 

 shell, and fifteen inches long, more resembling 

 that of a quadruped than a tortoise. This 

 animal was then unknown upon the coasts of 

 France, and was supposed to have been 

 brought into the European seas, in some In- 

 dia ship that might be wrecked upon her re- 

 turn. Since that, however, two or three of 

 these animals have been taken upon the coasts: 

 two in particular upon those of Cornwall, in 

 the year 1756, the largest of which weighed 

 eight hundred pounds; and one upon the Isle 

 ofRhe, but two years before that, weighed 

 between seven and eight hundred. One, 



most probably of this kind also, was caught 

 about thirty years ago near Scarborough, and 

 a good deal of company was invited to feast 

 upon it: a gentleman, who was one of the 

 guests, told the company that it was a Medi- 

 terranean turtle, and not wholesome; but a 

 person, who was willing to satisfy his appetite 

 at the risk of his life, ate of it : he was seized 

 with a violent vomiting and purging; but his 

 constitution overpowered the malignity of the 

 poison. 



These are a formidable and useless kind, 

 if compared to the turtle caught in the South 

 Seas and the Indian Ocean. These are ot 

 different kinds; not only unlike each other 

 in form, but furnishing man with very differ- 

 ent advantages. They are usually distinguish- 

 ed by sailors into four kinds ; the Trunk Tur- 

 tle, the Loggerhead, the Hawksbill, and the 

 Green Turtle. : 



The Trunk Turtle is commonly larger than 

 the rest, and its back higher and rounder. The 

 flesh of this is rank, and not very wholesome. 



The Loggerhead is so called from the large- 

 ness of its head, which is much bigger in pro- 

 portion than that of the other kinds. The fle^h- 

 of this is also very rank, and not eaten but in 

 case of necessity. 



The Hawksbill Turtle is the least of the 

 four, and has a long and small mouth, s,ome- 

 what resembling the bill of a hawk. The 

 flesh of this also is very indifferent eating; but 

 the shell serves for the most valuable pur- 

 poses. This is the animal that supplies the 

 tortoise-shell, of which such a variety of beau- 

 tiful trinkets are made. The substance of 

 which the shells of other turtlesarecomposed, 

 is thin and porous; but that of the havvksbill 

 is firm, and, when polished, is beautifully mar- 

 bled. They generally carry about three 

 pounds ; but the largest of all six pounds. 

 The shell consists, as in all the kind, of thir- 

 teen leaves or plaits, of which eight are Hat, 

 and five hollow. They are raised and taken 

 ofFby means of fire, which is made under the 

 shell after the flesh is taken out. As soon as 

 the heat affects the leaves, they start from the 

 ribs, and are easily raised with the point of 

 a knife. By being scraped and polished on 

 both sides, they become beautifully transpa- 

 ' rent, or are easily cast into what form the 

 workman thinks proper, by making them soft 



