20 THE LOGGERHEAD TURTLE. 



Rondeletius, who was a native of Languedoc, 

 informs us that he kept one of this species, which 

 had been caught on the coast of Provence, for a 

 considerable time. It emitted a confused kind of 

 noise, and frequently sighed*. 



Like the last species, they lay their eggs in the 

 sand. Their flesh is course and rank ; but their bo- 

 dies afford a considerable quantity of oil, which may 

 be used for various purposes, particularly tor burn- 

 ing, or for dressing leather. The plates of the shell 

 are not sufficiently thick to be of great use. 



The substance that we call Tortoise-shell is the 

 production of the Imbricated Turtlef, a species 

 considerably allied to the present, that is found in 

 the Asiatic and American seas, and sometimes in 

 the Mediterranean. The plates of this species are 

 far more strong, thick, and clear, than in any other, 

 and these constitute the sole value of the animal. 

 They are semi-transparent, beautifully variegated 

 with different colours, and, when properly prepared 

 and polished, are used for a variety of ornamental 

 purposes. They are first softened by steeping in 

 boiling water, after which they may be moulded 

 into almost any formj. 



* La Cepede, i. 131. t Testudo imbricata of Linnxus. 

 % Shaw's Gen. Zool. iii. 89. 



