10 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



... 



How taken iu the Bahama islands. 



air; but, as they are surrounded with many ene- 

 mies^ they are very cautious, and the instant they 

 perceive even the shadow of any object from 

 which they suspect danger, they dive to the bot- 

 tom for security. 



The natives of the Bahama islands are remark- 

 ably clever in catching turtles. In the month 

 of April, they go in their boats to the coasts of 

 Cuba, and some of the neighboring islands, 

 where, in the evenings and moonlight nights, 

 they watch the going and returning of the ani- 

 mals to and from the shore, where they lay their 

 eggs. They turn them on their backs on the 

 land, and then leave them to perform the same 

 operation on as many others as they can meet., 

 for, when once turned, they are unable again to 

 get on their feet. Many are taken in the sea, at 

 some distance from the shore ; these are struck 

 with a kind of spear, whose shaft is about four 

 yardi in length. For this work two men usually 

 set out in a small light boat, or canoe, one to 

 paddle it gently along and steer, and the other 

 to stand at the head with his weapon. Some- 

 times the turtles are discovered swimming with 

 their head and back out of water, but most com- 

 monly lying at ftie bottom where it is a fathom 

 or more deep. If die animal sees that he is 

 discovered, he immediatelyattem pts to escape; 

 the men pursue, and endeavor to keep him in 

 sight, and in the chase generally so far tire him, 

 that in the course of half an hour he sinks to the 



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