HOME SICK TURTLES. 



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the green turtle in the Caribbean Sea, and are also much 

 more valuable. At the time of our visit the " laird " 

 told me that the shell was fetching eight dollars a pound. 

 It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that an eager look 

 out was kept for the arrival of these turtles during the 

 breeding season, and that they were regarded as a valuable 

 item in the natural productions of the island. What 

 surprised us, however, was the small amount of shell 

 that an adult hawksbill supplies. This only averages 

 from two and a half to four pounds, although an 

 extra good one will produce as much as six pounds. 

 When, however, one reflects that the " shell " simply 

 exists as more or less thin scales or " plates," which 

 form merely an outer epidermic covering to the bony 

 skeleton, which constitutes the dome-like carapace, it 

 is not so surprising. For those who are curious in 

 such matters, it may be stated that there are three rows 

 of such " plates," viz., a central and two lateral, the 

 central row containing five plates and each lateral four. 

 In addition, the margin of the carapace is occupied by 

 twenty-five small fringing plates. In the " trade " the 

 plates of the three rows covering the back are known as 

 " blades," while the small marginal ones are called "noses." 

 Those which have the highest market value are the two 

 middle " blades " on each lateral row, for the simple 

 reason that they happen to have the greatest thickness 

 and £ ize. Plates are of more value if the patches of colour 

 are of nearly equal size and occupy about the same 

 position on both sides. 



