TURTLES. 



163 



former species. The Hawk's-bill Turtle is met with in the Indian 

 Ocean, and also on the American shores. It feeds on marine plants, 

 or molluscs, and small fishes, and is chiefly sought after for its shell, 

 which is the finest known. Its flesh is unpalatable, from its musky 

 flavour. On the other hand, its eggs are excellent when fresh, and 

 are eagerly sought after. 



In order to prepare the shell for use. it is softened by means of 

 boiling ; it is then flattened by being passed through a press ; in 



Fig. 40. — Loggerhead Turtle. 



this condition it is ready to be manufactured into all sorts of orna- 

 mental work. The Loggerhead Turtle (Chelonia caretta, Fig. 40), 

 like the Green Turtle, has its scales placed side by side. Its colour 

 is brownish or deep maroon. It is found incidentally on the French 

 and English coasts, but abounds in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. 

 Its length is about four feet ; its weight, from 300 to 400 pounds. 

 It is very voracious, and feeds principally on molluscs. Its shell 

 is much valued, but its flesh is indifferent, and its fat altogether 

 uneatable. 



The Leathery Turtle (Sphargis coriacea, Fig. 41) differs from every 

 other genus, its body being enveloped in a coriaceous hide ; tuber- 

 culous in the young, perfectly smooth in adults. The feet are with- 



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