78 CORIACEOUS TURTLE. 



upper mandible notched at the tip in such a man- 

 ner as to give the appearance of two large teeth 

 or processes, between which, when the mouth is 

 closed, is received the tip of the lower mandible. 

 The fins or legs are large and long, and covered 

 with a tough leathery skin : the tail is rather short 

 and sharp-pointed. The general colour of the 

 whole animal is dusky brown, paler beneath. This 

 singular species is a native of the Mediterranean 

 sea, and has at different periods been taken on 

 the coasts both of France and England. In the 

 month of August, in the year 1729, a specimen 

 was taken about three leagues froiii^ Nantz, not 

 far from the mouth of the river Loire, and which 

 measured seven feet one inch in length, three 

 feet seven inches in breadth, and two feet in 

 thickness. It is said to have uttered a hideous 

 noise when taken, so that it might be heard to the 

 distance of a quarter of a league; its mouth at the 

 same time foaming with rage, and exhaling a noi- 

 some vapour. In the year 1778, a specimen was 

 taken on the coast of Languedoc, which measured 

 seven feet five inches in length. In July, 1756, 

 one was taken on the coast of Cornwall, which, 

 according to Dr. Borlace, " measured six feet 

 nine inches from the tip of the nose to the end of 

 the shell ; ten feet four inches from the extremities 

 of the fore fins extended ; and was adjudged to 

 weigh eight hundred pounds weight." The fine 

 specimen in the Leverian Museum was of similar 

 weight, and was taken on the coast of Dorset- 

 shire. 



