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health of the animal, and that it's exposure to 

 the Sun favours the laying- of the eggs. The 

 arraus are found on the beach a great part of 

 the day during the whole month of February. 

 At the beginning of March the straggling troops 

 assemble, and swim toward the small number of 

 islands, where they habitually deposit their eggs. 

 It is probable, that the same tortoise visits every 

 year the same shores. At this period, a few 

 days before they lay their eggs, thousands of 

 these animals appear ranged in long files on the 

 borders of the islands of Cu curuparu, Uruana, and 

 Pararuma, stretching out their necks and hold- 

 ing their heads above water, to see whether they 

 have nothing to dread from tigers or men. The 

 Indians, much interested that the bands already 

 assembled should remain complete, that the tor- 

 toises should not disperse, and that the laying of 

 the eggs should be performed tranquilly, place 

 centinels at certain distances along the shore. 

 The people who pass in boats are told to keep in 

 the middle of the river, and not frighten the tor- 

 toises by cries. The laying of the eggs takes place 

 always during the night. It begins soon after 

 sunset. With it's hind feet, which are very long, 

 and furnished with crooked claws, the animal 

 digs a hole of three feet in diameter and two 

 feet in depth. The Indians assert, that the tor- 

 toise, to harden the sand of the beach, moistens 

 it with it's urine. This they think they perceive 



