THE SCHOOL OF THE SHORE 55 
meant by a fitness or adaptation—some pecu- 
liarity of structure or habit which is particu- 
larly well suited for special conditions of life; 
and one of the pleasures of Natural History 
lies in the discovery of these fitnesses. 
The turtles come ashore from the warm seas 
and lay their eggs in the sand, and the mothers 
linger till their young ones are hatched. The 
Edible Turtle is a vegetarian, living on sea- 
weeds, and must therefore keep within the 
shore-area in the wide sense. It has not far 
to migrate when the time of egg-laying draws 
near. But the fish-eating turtles of the Open 
Sea, like the Hawksbill Turtle and the Snap- 
ping Turtle, often make long journeys before 
they find suitable places for egg-laying on the 
shores of island or continent. 
The venomous sea-snakes, well known in the 
Indian Ocean, are tenants of the Open Sea, 
but some of them at least come to the shores 
at the breeding season. They do not lay eggs 
as the turtles do, but bring forth their young 
as fully formed little snakes, and it is interest- 
ing to know that the mother often remains for 
a while with her children, until they are able 
to fend for themselves and follow her out to 
sea. This is what we mean by “ love” on the 
