284 A. FE. Verrili—The Bermuda Islands. 696 
it is quite probable that some of the largest ones referred to by 
them were Loggerheads, especially as their eggs were said to have 
been as large as goose-eggs, which would apply to this species better 
than to the others, for it has the largest eggs. In the West Indies 
and at Florida Keys it is sometimes of very large size, specimens 
weighing 450 pounds having been taken not infrequently. Mr. True 
states that it sometimes weighs 1500 or 1600 pounds, and that one 
which was taken in 1871, weighing about 850 pounds, was 6 feet in 
length and 9 feet across the outstretched flippers ; the head was 11 
inches long and 8 broad. Mr. Garman could get no positive evi- 
dence of any weighing over 850 pounds. 
‘ ‘ )) 
a 
Ow 
Figure 49.—Loggerhead. Figure 50.—Leather-back. 
The Loggerhead has a wide range; it is common from Virginia 
to Brazil, and occasionally crosses the Atlantic to the Mediterranean 
and the coasts of England. It breeds commonly on the coasts of 
Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and rarely as far north as Vir- 
ginia, while small specimens, weighing 30 to 40 pounds, are common 
off the North Carolina coast. Occasionally it has been taken off the 
New England coast, coming north in the Gulf Stream. 
A similar species (7. Japonica (Thern.)=olivacea Esch.) occurs 
in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 
The flesh of the Loggerhead is not valued as food, though small 
ones are sent to the markets, but the old ones become so tough, 
musky, and oily, that they are undesirable. The eggs are as good 
as those of the other species, and are equally numerous. The shelly 
plates are thin and not well colored, so that they are of little value 
in the arts. 
Its food is similar to that of the Hawksbill, but in the West Indies 
it has the habit of feeding also on a large massive sponge, which is 
therefore called the ‘“ logger-head sponge,” and gives its name to 
