102 REPTILIAN WATER TRESPASSERS. 



There are many species of turtle, of which the 

 Green Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle are the best 

 known, and the most useful to man. The former is 

 the reptile which is so justly famous as a delicacy, 

 whether in the form of soup or cutlets. It is one of 

 the vegetable feeders. 



It has been noticed that most of the turtles which 

 are brought to this country are females. The reason 

 is evident. 



Although they can be chased and harpooned in 

 the manner that has been already described, such 

 captures are rather matters of sport than of business. 

 Those, therefore, who hunt the turtle by way of busi- 

 ness, choose the time when the reptiles are obliged to 

 come on shore to lay their eggs. They watch until 

 she has finished the operation ; and then, intercepting 

 her as she is making her way to the sea, turn her on 

 her back, and leave her. She cannot stir in this 

 position, and the men are set free to attack another. 

 The spots where the eggs have been laid are carefully 

 noted, as the eggs, when preserved, furnish an abun- 

 dant supply of excellent oil. 



As to the males, they seldom trouble themselves to 

 come to shore, and so it is that nearly all the turtles 

 brought to England are of the female sex. 



The Hawksbill Turtle, which is seen in the upper 

 right-hand corner of the illustration on Cut 5 pos- 

 sesses a very singular development of the shell. 

 As the reader may probably know, the shell of the 

 Turtle and Tortoise is formed of a development of the 

 vertebrae and the ribs, covered with a coating, more or 

 less thick, of a horny substance. In the Green Turtle, 



