THE HAWKSBILL TURTLE. 



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they are known to frequent, there being none on the north continent of America farther 

 north than Florida. It being amphibious, and yet at so great a distance from land in 

 the breeding-time, makes it the more remarkable. They feed mostly on shell-fish, the 

 great strength of their beaks enabling them to break very large shells." Several other 

 species belong to the same genus. 



In general appearance this species is not unlike the common Green Turtle, which will 

 presently be described, but the shell is broader, deeper colored, and has two more plates 

 on the back. The plates along the upper part of the back are six-sided, rather square, 

 and keeled. There are two claws on each foot. 



THE well-known CARET, or HAWKSBILL TURTLE, so called from the formation of the 

 mouth, is a native of the warm American and Indian seas, and is common in many of 

 the islands of those oceans. One or two specimens have been taken on our coasts. 



HAWKSBILL TURTLE.-Carefta imbrieata. 



The Hawskbill Turtle is the animal which furnishes the valuable " tortoiseshell " of 

 commerce, and is therefore a creature of great importance. The scales of the back are 

 thirteen in number, and as they overlap each other for about one-third of their length, 

 they are larger than in any other species where the edges only meet. In this species, 

 too, the scales are thicker, stronger, and more beautifully clouded than in any other 

 Turtle. The removal of the plates is a very cruel process, the poor reptiles being exposed 

 to a strong heat which causes the plates to come easily off the back. In many cases the 

 natives are very rough in their mode of conducting this process, and get the plates away 

 by lighting a fire on the back of the animal. This mode of management, however, is 

 injurious to the quality of the tortoiseshell. After the plates have been removed, the 

 Turtle is permitted to go free, as its flesh is not eaten, and after a time it is furnished 

 with a second set of plates. These, however, are of inferior quality and not so thick as 

 the first set. 



When first removed., they are rather crumpled, dirty, opaque, brittle, and quite useless 

 for the purpose of manufacture, and have to undergo certain processes in order that 

 these defects may be corrected. Boiling water and steam are the two principal agents in 

 this part of the manufacture, the plates being boiled and steamed until they are soft 



