Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-02-27

GREEN TURTLE AND How CAUGHT.
The tortoises and turtles all agree in
having the soft parts oftheir bodies COW
cred BY shells; The upper she'll is really
the aattened ribs, while the lower
corresponds 10 the breastbone in other
animals. They reproduce their young
from eggs. which they lay in holes in
the ground, leaving them to be hatched
by the sun without their care. Natural
lists divide these animals into groups or
families, according to certain dIfeFen-
ces which III them for various modes Of
life. One OF these families, called
CheiOnians {from the Greek word Tor
turtle includes those that live in the
sea; rs these rarely leave the water ex-
cept TO lay .heir eggs, they are quite
different in several respects from those
that live on land, or in the rivers
Their feet, or fippers. and other parts,
are well adapted to the "sea-faring life"
they lead, and though they move rap
idly in the water. they are exceeding
ly clumsy. indeed almost helpless. on
land. There are 4 number Of Sea Tur:
ties besides the one called Green, one
Of them growing TO an enormous size;
some live on other ANIMALS, while 9th :
ers. like the Green Turtle, feed solely
upon plants, and vary in size from a
few pounds in weight up 10 800 10 500
lbs. or more. The under part of this
turtle Is white, while the upper part is
usually light brown; the name "Green"
10 said TO be from the color oil the tat,
rather than from that ofth animal itself.
These turtles are generally 10 be found
in the markets OF seaboard cities, where
they are kept in tanks Of salt water,
and fed upon cabbage leaves and other
vegetables. The Green Turtle belongs
20 the waters Of the warmer parts OF
this Continent; it is especially abun-
dant IN the West Indies, and on the
coast Of Florida; now and then one has
been taken in the waters Of New York
bay, but such have only strayed or
driited from home. The flesh OF this
turtle is by many much esteemed as
food, but il is chiefly used to make
Green Turtle Soup. The turtles are
generally caught when they 60 on shore
20 lay their eggs, though they are some
times taken at sea.
The turtles leave the water on moon
light nights, and after carefully looking
10 zee that there 10 no danger, slowly
crawl about TO find proper place: they
then, by working with their hind flip
pers, make hole in the sand about two
feet across, and each deposit about 900
eggs. Their eggs like those ofour land
tortoises. have 4 soft parchment like
shell, with little dent at one side; they
are about the same weight as hen'segg.
and are highly esteemd as food. Though
the turtle neglects her eggs, she is very
careful in covering them, patting the
sand down upon them with her Aippers
and then bringing the weight OF her
body down over the spot. Though very
shy when they first leave the water,
when they get fairly at work at their
nests they do not care Tor the presence
otsirangers. Then is the hunters time:
they can 60 directly up TO the turtle $
without disturbing them. turn them upon
their back and they are caught. When
. thrown upon its back the turtle is una
bic TO turn over; the poor creature Is
quite helpless. and must remain until
II is carried Of. II requires some skil'
20 turn over large turtle, rs the AMI
NAL makes q great struggle, and il one
is q new hand at IL, he Is very likely 10
be bruised BY blows from the powerful
fippers. or be blinded by the showers
of sand that are thrown up in the strug-
gle. The turtle-hunters have pens
placed where the tide will fow into
.hem. where they keep great numbers
until they have a chance to send them
to market. A great many are sent to
Europe. The turtle that furnishes the
beautiful shell Of which combs and or
namental articles are made is found in
the Pacific aud Indian Oceans. The
great Loggerhead Turtle is sometimes
found as far north as Virgins: when
full-grOwn il weighs 1900 to 1900 lbs.,
hut j. of little use except for the oil il
Yields.