340 



THE EDIBLE TURTLE. 



of their jaws enables them to crack the hardest shell with 

 much ease ; others live wholly upon sea- weed and aquatic 

 plants. The flesh of the carnivorous Chelonians is much 

 less esteemed than that of the vegetarian species. 



The turtle most valued for culinary purposes is the 

 Green or Edible Turtle (Chelonia my das) of the West 





THE GREEN OR EDIBLE TURTLE. 



Indies. It receives its distinguishing name from its fat, 

 which is of a green colour. In Jamaica the markets are 

 as freely supplied with turtle as ours are with butcher- 

 meat, and Scott, in his " Tom Cringle's Log," has several 

 allusions to its abundance as well as its excellence. The 



