114 Philippine Journal of Science 1920 
De Rooij, NBa^LiE. Reptiles of the Indo-Australian Archipelago 1 (1915) 
283-332 (turtles). 
Most of the species listed by Casto de Elera are also attributed to 
the Philippine Islands by de Rooij. 
Gray, John Edward. Catalogue of the Tortoises, Crocodiles and Amphis- 
basnians in the collection of the British Museum London (1844). 
The following species are attributed to the Philippines: Caouana 
olivacea {— Chelonia olivacea Eschscholtz) , Chitra indica Gray 
( = Pelochelys cantorii ) , Testudo stellatus var. ( = Testudo elegans 
Gray), Cistudo amboinensis Gray (= Cyclemys amboinensis (Gray). 
Testudo stellatus is a doubtful record. Boulenger does not recognize 
it." 
Gunther, Albert. List of mammals, reptiles and batrachians sent by Mr. 
Everett from the Philippine Islands. Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1879) 
74-79. 
Records Cuora amboinensis ( = Cyclemys amboinensis Daudin) from 
Dinagat. 
SlEBENROCK, F. Synopsis der rezenten Schildkroten. Zool. Jahrb. Suppl. 
10 (1909) 427-618. 
Attributes a number of species to the Philippine Islands, probably 
on the strength of Casto de Elera’s records. 
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF TURTLES 
The sea turtles are of distinct economic importance to the 
Philippines, the export of the shell amounting to several thou- 
sand pesos annually. During the fiscal year 1909 the export of 
tortoise shell reached 2,040 kilograms valued at 34,942 pesos. 
The tortoise shell of commerce consists of the hard, bony plates 
taken from the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, Eremochelys 
imbricata Linnaeus. The two largest costals are the most 
valuable, as they are thicker and heavier than the other shields. 
Practically all the Philippine tortoise-shell is brought into the market 
by native fishermen. Now, while a small number of these turtles is captured 
by fair means, with hook, net, spear, or trap, by far the greater number 
is taken when they come ashore to deposit their eggs. The fishermen are 
so eager to secure their prizes that as a rule they do not give the poor 
turtle a chance to deposit her eggs before they kill her. This short- 
sighted policy eventually will result in the destruction of the fisheries 
unless the turtles are protected during the breeding season, which is from 
May to August. The turtle fishermen go to small, uninhabited islands, 
frequently many miles from the large islands surrounding the Sulu Sea, 
and wait perhaps days for the turtles to come ashore to deposit their eggs. 
" There is a carapace in the Santo Tomas collection belonging to a 
species of Testudo, and there is a living specimen in the Mehan Gardens 
in Manila. Very probably these are not Philippine specimens. 
