Crocodiles, Turtles, and Lizards. 1 7 



ever, with it in the poetical conceit of the young turtle 

 born on the dry land longing for the water. "The sad 

 tortoise for the sea doth moan," says Marvell. Another has, 

 " Sighing for the deeps like the turtle." Byron thus notices 

 the contrast : 



" Here the young turtle, crawling from his shell, 

 Steals to the deep wherein his parents dwell. 

 Chipped by the beam, a nursling of the day, 

 But hatched for ocean by the fostering ray." 



Montgomery also, after telling how the parent reptile " steals 

 out at eve," explores the shore " with trembling heart," and 

 lays her eggs in the loose warm sand, goes on to describe 

 the escape of the happy youngsters that " by instinct seek 

 the sea : " 



" Nature herself with her own gentle hand 

 Drops them one by one into the flood, 

 And laughs to behold their antic joy 

 When launched in th" element." 



This is all pleasant reading, for it shows a tender appreci- 

 ation of the creature's natural life, "where, in fleshy mail the 

 tortoise climbs the rocks." 



More than one poet makes the curious error of thinking 

 that turtles shed their shells, as, for instance, Garth, who 

 has, " There the tortoise hung her coat of mail." 



As the creature that gives to civic feasts what Southey 

 calls " the fat of verdant hue," so dear to the aldeimanic 

 palate 



"Gorgonius sits, abdominous and wan, 

 Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. 

 He snuffs far off the anticipated joy ; 

 Turtle and venison all his thoughts employ." Cowper. 



it cannot escape favourable recognition. Says Byron 

 "The turtle-shell which bore, A banquet in the flesh it 

 cover'd o'er ; " and Churchill 



B 



