TURTLE IN THE SOUTH SEAS. 351 



marked by a number of pentagonal and sub-hexagonal 

 lineations, like a geometric pattern. Further : along the 

 entire length of this leathery shield are carried five pro- 

 minent tuberculated ridges, in addition to those which 

 border the sides. The colour is a dusky brown, but the 

 under part of the animal is of a paler hue. This species 

 belongs to the Mediterranean, but is found occasionally 

 on the coasts of Africa and South America. 



The largest as well as the most voracious of the thalas- 

 sites, or sea-turtles, is the Loggerhead (Caouana olivacea), 

 but it can hardly be said to possess any commercial value. 

 It is distinguished by having fifteen, instead of thirteen, 

 dorsal plates. 



The quantity of tortoise-shell imported into Great 

 Britain annually is about sixteen tons, of the value of 

 about 25,000. 



Turtles are very plentiful among the Polynesian archi- 

 pelago, and the inhabitants make fish-hooks of their shell. 

 At the Samoas are found two species, the hawksbill and 

 the green. Of the shell of the former the natives manu- 

 facture finger-rings, as well as fish-hooks, and neck and 

 ear ornaments \ it also forms an article of export. The 

 turtle was formerly considered by the Raratongans and 

 Tahitians as most sacred. A part of every one caught 

 was solemnly offered to the gods, and the remainder, 

 being cooked with " sacred fire," was set aside as a special 

 repast for the king and his principal chiefs. Prior to the 

 introduction of Christianity into these islands, it is sup- 

 posed that no woman ever tasted this aldermanic luxury.* 



* Williams, " Narrative of Missionary Enterprises," pp. 501 502. 

 (502) 23 



