188 
SHREWSBURY. 
moments, remaining quiet and still, — that is, as still 
as the musquitoes will permit, for they are tolerably 
regnant in such a situation, — we soon see here and 
there the duckweed open, and bubbles of air ascend : 
presently a little black head projects, so little that 
you will hardly see it if you are not intently watch- 
ing; but if you watch you will observe the little 
creatures crawl up on their logs again, and sit as 
before. 
The flesh of these animals is esteemed superior 
even to that of the famed Green Turtle, by those 
who have abundant opportunities for judging of 
both ; hence many are caught for the table. The 
pond is, however, deep and boggy ; and recourse is 
had to the trap. As I entrapped two or three here 
myself, I will describe the mode of procedure. A 
long pole is prepared, such as the stem of a young 
tree in the contiguous forest, to one end of which is at- 
tached a flat piece of wood as a float. A common rat- 
gin is likewise lashed to the end of the pole, and baited 
with a piece of flesh. A small bird with the feathers 
singed in the Are is reckoned a very successful bait, its 
odour attracting the Turtles. The extremity of the 
pole thus armed is carefully pushed out into the deep 
water, and the other end is fastened with a line to 
some object on shore. The weight of the trap sinks 
the pole, but the float keeps it within a few inches of 
the surface. The attraction soon becomes apparent ; 
a loud snap announces that the iron jaws have 
closed, and a struggle in the water tells us that a 
prisoner is taken. We haul upon the line, and per- 
ceive an unfortunate Turtle, caught either by the 
