I 37 1 
homy scales, but is covered by a hard leathery skin. This 
turtle is very fertile, and is said to lay as many as 350 eggs at 
a time. It Is therefore rather surprising that it is nowhere 
abundant, although it occurs in all tropical seas and occasionally 
finds its way as far north as England. It is carnivorous* and 
its flesh is Jike that of the other turtles which indulge in such 
diet, not edible, Tickell describes in the Journal, Asiatic 
Society of Bengal, Vol. XXXI (1862), p. 36;, the capture of 
such a Turtle near the Ye river, Tenasserim. She had laid 
about a hundred eggs in the sandy beach when she was sur- 
prised by a number of Burmese fishermen. Her entire length 
was 6 feet 21-2 inches, and her strength was so great that she 
dragged six men endeavouring to stop her, down the slope of 
the beach, until she was overpowered by increased numbers 
Ticket] describes the eggs as sphericaU I| inches in diametei, 
and as palatable, whilst only a few of the natives would ejt the 
flesh. — The specimen in the Museum measures 5 feet 9 inches 
in its entire length. It was caught at Siglap, Singapore, in 1883 
and presented by the Hon'ble A. M. Skinner, (see pi. XtV, fig. 2). 
Much more common are the other turtles which, as 
indicated, differ from the Leather>' Turtle, by having their bony 
shell fused with the thoracic vertebrae and the ribs, and having 
it covered by horny scales* Specially conspicuous are those 
scales in the Hawksbill-Turtle (Chehne imbrkata), the * sisek 
lilin ' of the Malays, a form which occurs in all tropical and 
subtropical seas. It is the chief source of the ' tortoise-shell ' 
of commerce. In young specimens the shields overlap like the 
slates on a roof and only fuse in old age. It grows to 3 feet 
in length. Besides half-grown and nearly full-grown specimens 
also some quite young ones are exhibited, their shell being only 
about 2 inches in length. It is carnivorous too and not edible. 
Tortoise shell has been known from antiquity, and the Romans 
greatly prized it as veneer for their more costly furniture. 
Small pieces of it may by heat and pressure be welded into 
larger pieces and moulded into almost any shape. 
The Green or Edible Turtle { C ketone rnydash Malay name 
' Penyu,* the turtle of civic banquets, occurs also in all tropical 
and subtropical seas, but the most famous place for it is 
Ascension Island. It has a shorter and a weaker beak than 
the other turtles, as it feeds on seaweed only, It may reach 
a length of 4 feet. Besides being edible it is also useful through 
its shell. However, according to Saville Kent ('Great Barrier 
Reef of Australia') its shell is worth only about 4&. to 5s. per lb., 
against 20s. to 25s, per lb. of that of the HawksbiU'Turtlc 
