l8 THE LOGGERHEAD TURTLE. 



After having deposited the eggs they scratch the 

 hole up with sand, and leave them to be hatched 

 by the heat of the sun, which is generally done in 

 about three weeks. The eggs are each about the 

 size of a tennis-ball, round, white, and covered with 

 a parchment-like skin*. 



Sir Hans Sloane has informed us that the inha- 

 bitants of Port Royal in Jamaica had formerly no 

 fewer than forty vessels employed in catching these 

 animals; their markets being supplied with Turtle, 

 as ours are with butchers meat. 



The introduction of the Turtle, as an article of 

 luxury, into England, appears to have taken place 

 within the last seventy years. We import them 

 principally, if not entirely, from the West India 

 islands. 



THE LOGGERHEAD TURTLEf. 



This is one of the largest species, and in its ge- 

 neral appearance has a great resemblance to the 

 last : the head however is larger, the shell broader, 

 and the number of segments of the disk is fifteen, of 

 which the middle range is gibbous or protuberant 

 towards their tips. The fore-legs are large and 

 strong, and the hind ones broad and shorter. These 

 Turtles inhabit the seas about the West India 

 islands, and they are found in the Mediterranean, 



* Catesby, ii. 38. 



t Tcstudo caretta. Linn,- ■ Shaw's Gen. Zoo!. vtJ. 3. tab. aj. 



