112 Philippine Journal of Science * 1920 
probable that some species of aquatic turtle is present in Agusan 
River. 
The small land turtles already mentioned are seemingly of 
small economic value. They feed on insects, fruit, what flesh 
they can And, and sometimes on plants. I do not know that 
these turtles are ever eaten by man. 
The soft-shelled turtle, which occurs in Luzon and very prob- 
ably in other large islands, is very rare. This is eaten when 
found, but the number taken is probably so small that its eco- 
nomic food value is scarcely worthy of mention. Individuals of 
this species are said to attain nearly a meter in length. 
Four species of marine turtles are known from Philippine 
seas. All of these are widely distributed in the Paciflc Ocean, 
the Indian Ocean, and the tropical waters bordering these. The 
identity of these turtles is in doubt. Boulenger ^ has lumped 
many of the names, not differentiating between Pacific and At- 
lantic species. Stejneger and Garman on the other hand recog- 
nize the Pacific species as distinct from those in the Atlantic. 
My treatment of this group is of a preliminary and superficial 
nature. An examination of numerous carapaces of the green 
turtle shows three different forms and colors of the shells; but 
without head, legs, and plastron it is futile to generalize or to 
attempt a separation of the varieties. 
HISTORICAL 
One of the earlier writers on the Philippines says : 
There are also very large sea turtles in all the islands. Their shells 
are utilized by the natives, and sold as an article of commerce to the 
Chinese and Portuguese, and other nations who go after them and esteem 
them highly, because of the beautiful things made from them.* 
Other writers say: 
The fisheries of fine-shelled turtles are also abundant, and they also 
form a conspicuous product. Some of the shells have markings as deep 
red as a fine garnet; and the four principal shells are of an extraordinary 
size.® 
In this land are very many turtles, of great size; they are larger than 
a shield. Here is a marvellous thing: when the male and the female 
have intercourse, they remain thus joined together for twenty or twenty- 
® Cat. Chel. Rhyn. Croc. Brit. Mus. (1889). 
* Morga’s Sucesos (1609). From Blair and Robertson, The Philippine 
Islands. The Arthur H. Clark Company, Cleveland, Ohio 16 (1904) 103. 
’Early Recollect Missions (1624). Translated by Blair and Robertson, 
op. cit. 21 (1905) 308. 
