I4S OVIPAROUS QUADRUPEDS. 



The Trunk Turtle is commonly larger than the reft, and its bacl^ 

 higher and rounder. The flefh of this is rank, and not wholefome. 



The Loggerhead is fo called from the fize of its head, which is much 

 bigger in proportion than that of the other kinds. The flefh of this 

 is alfo very rank, oily, hard, and not eaten but in cafe of neceffity. 

 Yields an oil ufeful to preferve fhips from worms; its hind feet, as well 

 as its front feet, have two fharp nails among the toes j is bold, and even 

 voracious j is faid to feize young crocodiles by the tail, when in narrow 

 paflages, and bite it off. Eats fiih, and cracks the largcft Ihell-fifli ; iighta 

 hard when attacked. 



The Hawksbill is the leaft, and has a long and fmall mouth. The 

 fiefh of this is often dangerous eatingj but the {hell fupplies the torcoife- 

 fiiell, of which fuch variety of beautiful trinkets arc made. The fhells of 

 other turtles are porous; but this is firm, and, when poliflied, is beauti- 

 fully marbled. They generally weigh three or four pounds ; fometimes 

 fix or eight pounds. The (hell confifts-commonly of thirteen leaves, or 

 plates, placed like flates on the roofs of houfes, of which eight are flat, 

 and five hollow ; the border has twenty-five. They are raifcd and 

 taken off by means of fire made under the fhell, after the flelh is taken 

 out. As foon as the heat affedls the leaves, they ftart from the ribs, 

 and are eafily raifed with the point of a knife. Being fcrapcd and po-» 

 lilhed on both fides, they become beautifully tranfparentj or eafily take 

 any form, by making them foft and pliant in warm water, and tl:wrn 

 fcrewing them in a mould, like a medal: however, the fhell is moft beau- 

 tiful before it undergoes thrs lafl: operation. 



Is found in Afia as well as America; lays its eggs rather in gravel 

 than fand ; when turned on its back, can recover its feet. 



The Great Mediterranean Turtle, which fhould rather be called 

 the leather-coate4 turtle from its covering, is from five to eight fcec 

 long, and from fix to nine hundred pounds weight ; but is unfit for 

 food, and fometimes poifonous. The fhell, which is a tough ftrong in- 

 tegument, refembling an hide, is unfit for fcrvice. One of thefe, taken in 

 1729, atthemouth of the Loire, wasofenormousfl:rength, andby itsftrug- 

 gles involved in the nets; it appeared at firft terrible to the fifhermen; 

 but finding it impotent, they dragged it on fhore, where it made a moll; 

 horrible bellowing; and, when they began to kill ii with their gaffs, was 

 to be heard at half a mile's difiiance. They were fi:ill further intiaiidated 

 by its naufeousand pefi:ilential breath, which fo powerfully affefted them, 

 that they were' near fainting. This turtle wanted but four inches of eight 



feet 



