912 TESTUDO. 
tortoises by their very large and long fin-shaped feet, in 
which are inclosed the bones of the toes, the first and second 
on each foot being furnished with visible or projecting claws, 
the others not appearing beyond the edge. The shield, as 
in the land tortoises, consists of a strong bony covering, in 
which are imbedded the ribs, and which is coated externally 
by hard horny plates, in one or two species much thicker 
and stronger than those of the land tortoises. Mr. Schospf, 
cited by Dr. Shaw, observes, that the apparent number of 
claws or projecting extremities on the feet of the marine tor¬ 
toises, appears to be no certain criterion of the species; but, 
on the contrary, is found to vary so as to contradict the Lin- 
nsean specific characters. 
1. Testudo coriacea, or coriaceous tortoise. — Striated 
lengthwise; or brown turtle, paler beneath, with coriaceous 
shell, marked by five longitudinal tuberculated ribs. This is 
the largest of the marine tortoises, being found eight feet 
long, and one thousand pounds weight. It is larger than 
others of its tribe, and its external covering differs by not 
being horny, but resembling strong leather, marked over the 
surface into small, obscurely subhexagonal and pentagonal 
divisions, without destroying its general smoothness. The 
longitudinal ribs or ridges are five; and comprehending those 
that border the sides, the number is seven. It has no under 
or thoracic shell •, the head is large, and the upper mandible 
notched at the tip, so as to exhibit the appearance of two 
large teeth, between which, when the mouth is closed, is 
received the tip of the lower mandibles; the fins are large 
and long, and covered with a tough leathery skin ; the tail 
is rather short and sharp-pointed.—This species is a native of 
the Mediterranean, and has occasionally been taken on the 
coasts both of France and England. It is also found, not 
only in the European seas, but in those of South America, 
and about some of the African coasts. The Greeks, accord¬ 
ing to Cepede, were well acquainted with this specimen, and 
used it in the construction of the lyre or harp. Pennant 
says, that this species is extremely fat, but the flesh coarse 
and bad; but the Carthusians will eat no other species. The 
small sea tortoise described by Pennant in the Phil. Trans, 
for 1771, is said to be the young of this animal. Gmelin 
mentions this and another as varieties. 
2. Testudo imbricata.—The imbricated or variegated tur¬ 
tle with thirteen imbricated scales on the disk; these lap 
over each other at the extremities like tiles on the roof of a 
building. The head is smaller than in other turtles; the 
neck longer; and the beak narrower, sharper, and more 
curved, so as considerably to resemble the bill of a hawk, 
and from this circumstance the animal derives its popular 
name of the “ hawksbill turtle.”—This turtle is a native of 
the Asiatic and American seas, and is sometimes found in 
the Mediterranean. It has been often known to measure 
five feet in length, and to weigh 5 or 600 pounds. In the 
Indian Ocean it attains a prodigious size. Its shell was an¬ 
ciently used for a shield, and still serves for that purpose 
among barbarous nations. The flesh is not esteemed as a 
food; the lamellae or plates of the shell, being much stronger, 
thicker, and clearer than those of any other kind, constitute 
its sole value. 
3. Testudo Mydas.—Brownish turtle, with thirteen scales 
on the disk; the green turtle of some writers, with two 
nails on the fore-feet, and single ones on the hind-feet. 
This common green turtle (esculent turtle), is so named from 
the green tinge, derived from the vegetable substances on 
which it feeds, often exhibited by its fat, when the animal 
is in its highest perfection. It is one of the largest of this 
genus, often measuring above five feet in length (sometimes 
more than six), and weighing more than 500 or 600 pounds. 
Its colour is a dull palish brown, variegated with deeper 
undulations, but not exhibiting the beautiful colours which 
distinguish the testudo imbricata. Its flesh, however, is in 
such estimation, that the inhabitants of the West Indian islands 
have long considered it as one of the most excellent articles 
of food, and have introduced a similar taste into some of 
the European nations. In our own country it is much 
esteemed, and considerable quantities of it are imported to 
supply the luxury of the metropolis. Its introduction, 
however, cannot be traced farther than about 50 or 60 years 
backward. Sir Hans Sloane informs us in his History of 
Jamaica, that forty sloops were employed by the inhabitants 
of Port Royal, in Jamaica, for catching them, and that the 
markets there are supplied with turtle, as ours are with 
butcher’s meat. The method of taking them at the Ba¬ 
hama islands, is by striking them with a small iron peg 
two inches long, put in a socket at the end of a start' 
twelve feet long. Two men usually set out for this work 
in a little light boat or canoe, one to row and gently steer 
the boat, while the other stands at the head of it with his 
striker. The turtle are sometimes discovered by their swim¬ 
ming with their head and back out of the water, but they 
are oftenest discovered lying at the bottom, a fathom or 
more deep. If a turtle perceives he is discovered, he starts 
up to make his escape, the men. in the boat pursuing him, 
endeavour to keep sight of him, which they often lose, and 
recover again by the turtle putting his nose out of the water 
to breathe : thus they pursue him, one paddling or rowing ; 
while the other stands ready with his striker. It is some¬ 
times half an hour before he is tired; then he sinks at once 
to the bottom, which gives them an opportunity of striking 
him, which is by piercingj’him with an iron peg, which 
slips out of the socket, but is fastened with a string to the 
pole. If he is spent and tired by being long pursued, he 
tamely submits, when struck, to be taken into] the .boat or 
hauled ashore. There are men who by diving will get on 
their backs, and by pressing down their hind parts, and 
raising the fore-part of them by force, bring them to the 
top of the water, while another slips a noose about their 
necks. 
The sea tortoises or turtles, says Catesby, never go on 
shore but to lay their eggs, which they do in April: they 
then crawl up from the sea above the flowing of high water, 
and dig a hole above two feet deep in the sand, into which 
they drop in one night above an hundred eggs, at which 
time they are so intent on nature’s work, that they regard 
none that approach them; but will drop their eggs into a 
hat if held under them; but if they are disturbed before 
they begin to lay, they will forsake the place, and seek 
another. They lay their eggs at three, and sometimes at 
four different times; there being fourteen days between 
every time; so that they hatch and creep from their holes 
into the sea, at different times also. When they have laid 
their compliment of eggs, they fill the hole with sand, and 
leave them to be hatched by the heat of the sun, which 
is usually performed in about three weeks. It may be 
proper to add, that the eggs are about the size of ten¬ 
nis-balls, round, white, and covered with a smooth parch¬ 
ment-like skin. Gmelin mentions several varieties of this 
species. 
4. Testudo caretta.—The variegated turtle with fifteen 
dorsal scales, those of the middle range gibbous towards 
their tips. This species is larger than any yet discovered, 
except perhaps, the coriacea. It is called the “ loggerhead 
turtle;” and though it resembles the last species, or green 
turtle, it is distinguished by the superior size of the head, 
the proportional breadth of the shell, and by its deeper and 
more variegated colours: but the principal distinction con¬ 
sists in the number of dorsal segments or scutella of the 
shell, which amount constantly to fifteen. The fore-feet 
are very large and long; the hind feet much shorter, though 
broad. In a commercial view, this species is of little im¬ 
portance; its flesh being rank and coarse, and the laminae 
of the shell too thin for general use. It is said, however, 
to afford a good quantity of oil, which may be used for 
lamps, &c. This turtle is very strong and fierce, and even 
dangerous.—It is an inhabitant of the same seas with the 
green turtle, but has been found in remote latitudes, even in 
the Mediterranean, and particularly about the coasts of Italy 
and Sicily. 
5. Testudo macropus.—With an ovate, carinate, emar- 
ginate shield, and the feet very large and hilariously un- 
gulated. 
II.—Fluviati. 
