162 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
just emerging from their sandy 
nest. The majority were assisted 
to the sea, and a few, reserved 
in the interests of science, were 
liberated in a bath of sea-water 
to have their first swim.  Snap- 
shot photographs were taken, one 
of which, reproduced on page 561, 
serves toillustrate the great relative 
length of the paddle-like limbs at 
this early stage and the variety of 
postures assumed during natation. 
Of the typical Marine Turtles 
‘ three distinctly characterised 
Photo by York & Son] ; [Noting Hut SPeCiesare recognised by zoologists. 
TEMMINCK’S SNAPPER These are the GREEN TURTLE, 
indispensable for soup at alder- 
manic banquets; the HAWKSBILL, 
or tortoiseshell-producing turtle; 
and the LOGGERHEAD. Of these three, the green turtle and the loggerhead more nearly 
resemble one another, and are apt to be confounded by the uninitiated. Such an error is very 
readily detected when the Chelonian comes to the table, the flesh of the loggerhead being 
rank and utterly unfit for food. In order, however, to be wise before the event, and to avoid 
a grievous misdirection of culinary energy — turtle being a standard dish in the coral seas — 
it is only necessary to count the number of large shield-like plates that flank each side of the 
central series in the creature’s carapace. In the true green or edible turtle there are only 
four pairs of these large lateral shields, while in the loggerhead there are never less than five, 
and sometimes more. The loggerhead-turtle also, as its name implies, has a conspicuously 
larger and coarser head than the esculent species. The fact that while the green turtle is a 
strict vegetarian, feeding entirely on seaweeds, the loggerhead is altogether carnivorous, readily 
accounts for the diametrically diverse gastronomic properties of these two Chelonians. Both 
species attain to a considerable size, over 3 feet in length (the loggerhead being the larger), 
and are found inhabiting the same waters throughout the tropics. 
The HAWKSBILL, or true tortoiseshell-producing turtle, never attains to quite as large 
dimensions as the two preceding species, though its carapace may measure as much as 2 feet 
6 or 8 inches long. The structural feature that at once distinguishes the hawksbill from 
either the green or loggerhead species is the character of the horny shields developed on 
the surface of the carapace. Instead of the edges meeting in juxtaposition, as in those two 
forms, they overlap one another, like the scales of a fish, and are notable for their thickness 
and their exceedingly beautiful but variably marbled patterns. It is these marbled horny plates 
which constitute the tortoise-shell of commerce. In young individuals the substance is thin 
and very transparent, but thickens with advancing age, until in old individuals the plates 
may vary from } to } inch in thickness. Like the two preceding species, the hawksbill, within 
tropical seas, enjoys a cosmopolitan distribution. Its habits, like the loggerhead’s, are essentially 
carnivorous; but while the flesh is coarse and rank, the eggs are valued for the table. 
A remaining member of the Marine Turtle series is the so-called LUTH or LEATHERY 
TuRTLE. This Chelonian differs so materially in structure from the foregoing species as 
to be referred to a distinct family. The horny plates, so conspicuous in all the other 
types, are entirely absent, the bony carapace, which is distinctly seven-ridged longitudinally, 
being covered with a homogeneous leather-like skin. Both jaws are formidably hooked and 
cutting throughout their edges, and the paddles are destitute of the two rudimentary claws 
found in the preceding species. The leathery turtle grows to an immense size; specimens 
The two white points visible on the lower jaw represent the pair of worm-like appen- 
dages which the creature uses as a bait to attract or capture fish 
