AQUATIC TORTOISES. 193 



there is no place where eggs can be collected in 

 abundance ; and the only three spots Avhere the 

 turtles assemble annually in great numbers are situ- 

 ated between the mouth of the A pure and the great 

 cataracts. These animals do not seem to pass be- 

 yond the falls, the species found above Atures and 

 Maypures being different. 



The arrau or tortuga, which deposites the eggs 

 that are so much valued on the Lower Orinoco, is 

 a large fresh-water tortoise, with webbed feet, a 

 very flat head, a deep groove between the eyes, and 

 an upper shell composed of five central, eight lateral, 

 and twenty-four marginal scutella or plates. The 

 colour is dark-gray above and orange beneath. 

 When of full size it weighs from forty to fifty pounds. 

 The eggs are much larger than those of a pigeon, 

 and are covered with a calcareous crust. 



The terekay, the species which occurs above the 

 cataracts, is much smaller. It has the same num- 

 ber of dorsal plates, but the colour is oUve green, 

 with two spots of red mixed with yehow on the top of 

 the head, and a prickly appendage under the chin. 

 The eggs have an agreeable taste, and are much 

 sought after, but are not deposited in masses like 

 those of the tortuga. This variety is found below 

 the cataracts as well as in the Apure, the Urituco, 

 the Guarico, and the small rivers of the llanos of 

 Caraccas. 



The period at which the arrau deposites its eggs 

 is when the river is lowest. About the beginning 

 of February these creatures issue from the water 

 and warm themselves on the beach, remaining there 

 a great part of the day. Early in the month of 

 March they assemble on the islands where they 

 breed, when thousands are to be seen ranged in files 

 along the shores. The Indians place sentinels at 

 certain distances to prevent them from being dis- 

 turbed, and the people who pass in boats are told to 

 keep in the middle of the river. The laying of the 



R 



