ORDER CHELONIA. 87 



the last century. The discrepant accounts of navigators 

 respecting the flavour and wholesomeness of the turtle's flesh 

 as food, must be entirely attributed to their ignorance con- 

 cerning the distinction of species. In fact, the introduction 

 of the green turtle as an article of luxury into this country 

 dates at no very distant period. In the part called the His- 

 torical Chronicle of the Gentleman's Magazine for 1753, is 

 recorded : — " Friday, Aug. 31 , a turtle, weighing 350 pounds, 

 was eat at the King's Arms Tavern, Pall-Mall ; the mouth 

 of an oven was taken down to admit the part to be baked." 

 Again, in the same work for the same year is noticed : — 

 " Saturday, Sept. 29, the Turtler, Capt. Crayton, lately 

 arrived from the Island of Ascension, has brought in several 

 turtles of above 300 pounds weight, which have been sold at 

 a very high price. It may be noted, that which is common 

 in the West Indies is a luxury here." And, once more, in 

 the same publication, for 1754, we read, " Saturday, July 

 13, the Right Hon. the Lord Anson, made a present to the 

 gentlemen of Wkite'^s chocolate house, of a turtle, which 

 weighed 300 pounds weight, and which laid five eggs since 

 in their possession. Its shell was four feet three inches long, 

 and about three feet wide. When its head was cut off, at 

 least five gallons of blood issued from it, and so full was it 

 of life, that the mouth opened and shut for an hour after it 

 was cut off." 



All these paragraphs show how recent an article of luxury 

 the turtle must have been at the period in which they were 

 written. 



We shall conclude this sketch of the history of the testudo 

 mydus, with an extract concerning it from Catesby. 



" Of the sea-turtles, the most in request is ihe green turtle, 

 which is esteemed a most wholesome and delicious food. It 

 receives its name from the fat, which is of a green colour. 

 Sir Hans Sloane informs us, in his History of Jamaica, that 



