THE GREEN TURTLE. T" 



food, tliey flock peaceably together. They do not 

 however appear, like many other herding animals, 

 to have any kind of association together: they 

 merely collect, as if by accident, and they remain 

 without disturbance. 



Their length is often five feet or upwards ; and 

 they sometimes exceed five or six hundred pounds 

 in weight. Their shell is broader before than be- 

 hind, where it is somewhat pointed. It consists of 

 thirteen brownish divisions, surrounded by twenty- 

 five marginal ones. The mouth is so large as to 

 open beyond the ears on each side. This is not 

 armed with teeth, but the bones of which the jaws 

 are composed are very hard and strong, and fur- 

 nished with points or asperities that serve in some 

 degree the same purpose. With these powerful 

 jaws they brouse on the grass, sea-weed, and other 

 plants which grow on the shoals and sand-banks, 

 and with them they are likewise able to crush the 

 shell-fish on which they sometimes feed. 



After having satisfied their appetites with ma- 

 rine plants, they often retire to the fresh water, at 

 the mouth of the great rivers, where they float on 

 the surface, holding their heads above water, appa- 

 rently for the purpose of breathing the fresh air. 

 But as they are surrounded with many dangers, 

 both from their natural enemies, and from mankind, 

 they are necessitated to use great precaution, in 

 thus indulging themselves with cool air, and with 

 the refreshing streams of river water. The instant 

 they perceive even the shadow of any object, from 



