vS2 CLASS REPTILIA. 



gives the palm of magnitude to another species, the logger- 

 head, or caretta. 



In his voyage to the Canary Islands, Lemaine assures us, 

 that near Cape Blanco, the tortoises are of such a bulk, that 

 their carapace is not less than fifteen feet in circumference, 

 and that the flesh of one of them would be a sufficient banquet 

 for thirty men. 



The green turtles are very common on the low arid sandy 

 shores of both continents, principally vinder the torrid zone. 

 They are never taken towards the north, or beyond the 

 fiftieth degree of latitude, but when driven there by tempests. 

 But they have been caught even towards the mouth of the 

 Loire. One mentioned by Count Lacepede was taken near 

 Dieppe, in 1762, of nine or ten pounds'" weight. Dr. Shaw 

 indeed thinks it probable that this was not a mydas, but a 

 caretta. However, M. Cloquet has seen within these fifteen 

 years two or three small ones which came from the same part. 



They seek the neighbourhood of islands and deserted coasts, 

 coming to land as seldom as possible, and remaining there but 

 a very short time. After remaining thus on shore, they find 

 great difficulty in sinking again in the water, either because 

 they are then filled with a considerable volume of air, or, 

 according to the opinion of M. de Lacepede, they become so 

 dry as to lose a sixth of their weight. 



At certain periods, the green turtles are observed to quit 

 the bottom of the sea, and repair in crowds towards the 

 mouths of great rivers. They are very timid, and neVer seek 

 to defend themselves except when in the act of coition. On 

 such occasions, they resist with fury, and brave every 

 danger. 



It is in the month of April that the females deposit their 

 eggs in a dry place on the shore. They first of all, without 

 being ever accompanied by the males, seek out a convenient 

 situation, quitting the water with many precautions after the 



