TORTOISES 
My fair readers may be interested to know what kind 
of animal supplies the material for the beautiful combs 
and other ornaments formed of tortoise-shell. The tortoise- 
shell of commerce is produced by a large marine species 
known to naturalists as the Chdone imhricata. The cap- 
ture of this animal and of other marine species by the 
use of the sucking fish {Echends) has been well described 
by several well-known travellers. It may, however, be of 
interest to some of my readers to learn by what contrivance 
fishes can be employed to capture animals that do not 
feed upon fish. 
The mode of proceeding is easily understood by any 
one having a knowledge of the power possessed by the 
sucking-fish of attaching itself to other bodies. These 
fish are kept in tubs and tanks ready for use, and the 
fishermen upon seeing the turtles floating asleep at a dis- 
tance, attach a line to the sucking-fish, the sucker of 
which is on the top of the head. This done, the fish is 
allowed to swim to the turtles, and it quietly fixes itself 
by its sucking disc upon the unsuspecting turtle so 
tightly that the turtle is drawn towards the boat and 
easily taken. 
The flesh of turtles and of most tortoises forms a very 
excellent and highly nutritious food, and is much valued 
and sought after by our wealthy citizens. It nevertheless 
soon becomes distasteful to the Englishman’s palate, that 
is, supposing him to be placed from home and in the 
country in which turtle in high perfection could be had, 
and no other food available. He is then, generally, soon 
reduced to the condition of the confectioner’s apprentice, 
who after the first year could not be persuaded to taste 
anything that was sweet. 
Having sent to Dr. Gunther some living water tortoises 
for identification, the porter to whom they were entrusted 
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