TORTOISES 



My fair readers may be interested to know what kind 

 of animal supplies the material for the beautiful combs 

 and other ornaments formed of tortoise-shell. The tortoise^ 

 shell of commerce is produced by a large marine species 

 known to naturalists as the Chelone imbricata. The cap- 

 ture of this animal and of other marine species by the 

 use of the sucking fish (Ucheneis) has been well described 

 by several well-known travellers. It may, however, be of 

 interest to some of my readers to learn by what contrivance 

 fishes can be employed to capture animals that do not 

 feed upon fish. 



The mode of proceeding is easily understood by any 

 one having a knowledge of the power possessed by the 

 sucking-fish of attaching itself to other bodies. These 

 fish are kept in tubs and tanks ready for use, and the 

 fishermen upon seeing the turtles floating asleep at a dis- 

 tance, attach a line to the sucking-fish, the sucker of 

 which is on the top of the head. This done, the fish is 

 allowed to swim to the turtles, and it quietly fixes itself 

 by its sucking disc upon the unsuspecting turtle so 

 tightly that the turtle is drawn towards the boat and 

 easily taken. 



The flesh of turtles and of most tortoises forms a very 

 excellent and highly nutritious food, and is much valued 

 and sought after by our wealthy citizens. It nevertheless 

 soon becomes distasteful to the Englishman's palate, that 

 is, supposing him to be placed from home and in the 

 country in which turtle in high perfection could be had, 

 and no other food available. He is then, generally, soon 

 reduced to the condition of the confectioner's apprentice, 

 who after the first year could not be persuaded to taste 

 anything that was sweet. 



Having sent to Dr. Giinther some living water tortoises 

 for identification, the porter to whom they were entrusted 



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