1671 ] of the Island of Bourbon , &c. 81 
are quite round, & have the shell white; they are not very 
good, because they are too dry. One of these Turtles may 
suffice for the dinner of one hundred persons of good 
appetite. 
The plastron of these Turtles is a very delicate morsel. 
They take it off, &, being taken off, there remain at least 
thirty pounds of meat & fat. They cook this plastron 
before a good fire, &, being nearly cooked, they throw on 
it salt & fish, & overlay it with Turtles’ eggs. Being 
cooked, they take it off the fire, & they can put a dozen 
persons around to have of it more than is need’d for a 
repast, & to well finish it. This plastron serves for table, 
cloth, dishes & plates. These only need some good knives 
& a good appetite to eat it. 
The land-Tortoises lay their eggs like L those of the sea. 
They hatch in the same way. 
There are some Flitter-Mice in this island of an extra- Bats. 
ordinary size, as there are in Madagascar. The blacks call 
them Fany ; they have a body little differing in size from 
that of a cat; the head is made like that of a fox, except 
that they have the nose cloven. They have no tail. 
The males have their privy parts made, without compari¬ 
son, like those of a man. The females have a teat under 
each wing, with which they suckle their young, as, without 
comparison, a reasonable creature might do. They carry 
their little ones under their wings & fly with them. Their 
feet & wings are made like other bats ; they hang to the 
trees by their feet, & have their heads downwards. They 
enwrap themselves with their wings, which are at least 
each half an ell long. The skin of these bats is black, 
russet, & yellow. ’Tis the most ugly animal that I have 
seen in my life. It smells extremely strong of boucassin. 
Nevertheless there are plenty of persons who have eaten 
of them, & have found them good. 
The said Island burns incessantly, the same as Sicily. 
F 
