KEPTILES, SNAKES AND AMPHIBIANS EATEN AS FOOD. 231 



ago boats' loads of turtle eggs were taken to Moulmein ; 

 now a man thinks himself lucky to get a few small 

 basketfuls. The turtle eggeries are sold by auction in 

 the same manner as fisheries. 



Thalasmchelys cortioata is sold as coarse food in the 

 •markets of Southern Italy. 



The long necked tortoise {Chelodina longicoUis) is found 

 in considerable numbers in the Murray River, and its 

 tributaries, Australia. It affords food to the natives, 

 especially during the summer, when the lagoons are dry, 

 as it can then be procured in large numbers without 

 difficulty. 



The Testudo lutaria is found about the Ganges. They 

 are 18 inches in diameter, and weigh from thirty to forty 

 pounds when full grown. They are only eaten by the 

 lower orders, being a dirty, omnivorous sort of animal. 



The flesh of the Tyrse, or soft-shelled tortoise of the 

 Nile, is considered good food. That of the loggerhead, 

 or hawk's-bill turtle {Caretia imbrieata), is tasteless, and 

 considered unhealthy. The eggs are used for food, and 

 the oil obtained from the flesh is used in the preparation 

 of leather, etc. 



Dr. Browne (" History of Jamaica ") states he tasted 

 the flesh of the loggerhead turtle, which agreed pretty 

 well with his stomach ; it was fat and rich, but of a 

 strong rank fishy taste. 



The flesh of Sphargis luth is said to be excellent. 



We know not why the flesh of the vegetable-feeding 

 tortoises should not be adopted, as well as that of the 

 green turtle, among the various articles which are in 

 request for the table. There is much in habit and asso- 

 ciation of ideas ; and though persons who would not 

 refuse turtle might turn from tortoise with disgust, they, 

 may rest assured that, in Sicily and Italy, these land 

 tortoises are sold in the markets principally for being 

 made into soup, which is more esteemed than the flesh 

 prepared in any other way. 



Having dealt somewhat in detail with the Tortoises, 

 we come now to treat of some other reptiles. Alligators, 



