2,6o Life of Audubon. 



into them almost as into a lump of butter. This species 

 is therefore considered as the least valuable, and indeed 

 is seldom eaten, unless by the Indians, who, ever alert 

 when the turtle season commences, first carry off the eggs 

 which it lays in the season, and afterwards catch the tur- 

 tles themselves. The average number of eggs which it 

 lays at two sets may be three hundred and fifty. 



" The logger-head and the trunk turtles are the least 

 cautious in choosing the places in which to deposit their 

 eggs, whereas the two other species select the wildest and 

 most secluded spots. The green turtle resorts either to 

 the shores of the Main, between Cape Sable and Cape 

 Florida, or enters Indian, Halifax, and other large rivers 

 or inlets, from which it makes its retreat as speedily as 

 possible, and betakes itself to the oj^en sea. Great num- 

 bers, however, are killed by the turtlers and Indians, as 

 well as by various sjDCcies of carnivorous animals, as cou- 

 gars, lynxes, bears, and wolves. The hawk -bill, which is 

 still more wary, and is always the most difficult to surprise, 

 keeps to the sea-islands. All the species employ nearly 

 the same method in depositing their eggs in the sand, and 

 as I have sev^eral times obsei-ved them in the act, I am 

 enabled to present you with a circumstantial account of 

 them. 



" On first nearing the shores, and mostly on fine calm 

 moonlight nights, the turtle raises her head above the 

 water, being still distant thirty or forty yards from the 

 beach, looks around her, and attentively examines the 

 objects on the shore. Should she observe nothing likely 

 on the shore to disturb her intended operations, she emits 

 a loud hissing sound, by which such of her enemies as 

 are unaccustomed to it are startled, and so are apt to re- 

 move to another place, although unseen by her. Should 

 she hear any noise, or perceive indications of danger, she 

 instantly sinks and goes off to a considerable distance j 



