, 1877-03-24
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.

TUllTLE.EGaS.
Fortss and 4Stredm contains lively account OF
"Turtc-Egslng at tho Gulf Of Mexico" which
gives some nutcs regarding the habits Of turtles
nj what thcwrttcr terms the "craw1lng" season,
which one might hunt long for without finding
IN our ordinary manuals OF zoology. The sro-
ciea OF turtle nEout which tho account Is written
Ia popularity called tho Loggcrhcad (CdAonia
caouaaa) ltshome Is 10 the ocean, but It comes
up on the hcach In the summer to lay It's cg9s
III tho sand. It frcQuenta tho shores Of tho
United States oil along tho Gulf OF Mexico md
rs for north rs tho Curollnas. 1ts dcsh is CO.
tecmed good eating, and It's eggs aro much
sought US dc'icacy for tho table. The adult
Ioggcrheal weighs from $50 to 100 pounds, and
the shelf sometimes measures fosty.two inches
III lcng.h by thirty-tour In width.
Tho writer Of tho article on cgcing states that
hc hasfouna the nest Of the Loggerhcad In March,
but this was a. far south 10 Charlotte Itarbor.
Usualy this turtle docs not lay nbuulantly until
tho full moon Of June and July, Tho writer con-
ciutlet from bis observations that It deposits
three, aud sometimes four, littcrs OF eggs ln
.season,-a term al several weeks occurring le-
tween the ltt.crs. Each litter numbers from
spherical an Inch aud thrco-clghtl,s in diameter,
aiA inclosed In soft tough, leathcry shell.
Tue tu1tio crawls UP on the beach in tho night
'd1 d1It dsp0ss IT, tgs lsaslpE as trayel. .,l
"torn up much Us II would bo II a person had
pulled skill along on land with pair of scullo.
1ndccd that Is Just what THO turtle docs, only It
upon thc sand ncasiy all thu time, belug only
partially lifted at each stroks OF the tllpIwruh
W9 may retnark, ia passing, TINT the writer
falls into tho curious error VI invariably sueak-
ling OF thn turtis which comes on land % lay its
'eGgs, as bclougtng to tho masculine gender.
Tho !.ogscEhcad rhnosea q sl,ot luE Its nest
a!s1ye the reach Of the high tide, ard there digs
about foot IN .iiasnctcr and from Two to tiITco,
feet dcrP. 1t dcposils the entire litter oi eggs
within about halt-l,ous, after which IL covers
them over wish sand, whlcl. Is pressed down
tightly. During this operation, tho sautl IN
'aparc Of from ten to 'lirun feet In diameter Is
made IL present thu sallu disturbed appear
4nre. 50 that y Is impossible IL tell ty tho eve
Just where III tho area thy eggs ass buried. Al
sulmu!s lii the rtstou lloek u tls beach 10 feel
on tho Eggs, and, guided by Instinct,
l,s,,I,,, insa =" ttne In reashi9E The yet an,!
1acvsNHs a1c especially fond uf thta food, an.!,
WHERE .!,ry aipand, few !cats cssapc until duy-
light without rIsslg. Tbs turtle IL 30 prolific
Its eggs and newly Matched Try, 1t would snoa
osrrp'pn!asc ihs usc4u with its numerous OF
spriu.. but Satlrc takes caru to prevent any
generally even Ly providing Au af,Anslanse of
rasa.,ss u restricL llic excessive multiplication
ri eapcvialEy fceunl auInlaIs.
sKUSK-t1lTEs.
1t is stated hy Col. Dodgc, In his Plalns oi
the tirrat Vest" that, III tho trart OF country
between tie Republican River uld thy Indian
Territory, the skunk Is ,uorc feared on account
OF Its bite thaM ls'e must powerful "grlxzly.'
Tho nhlllsul IL nocturnal In lts habits, anl u
much given to rEowtn. around tunlps and tents
IN search Vt food. II Il finds ppthtn. more