Telegram-herald., 1888-09-02

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sre166 sss xE< s<z \ sss Eaoess ~zso Sotas
s<z c1@s~os~.-Ek@a @eo~s f.ncsss @1e
s~ssss asvsAsV ~ -~x 4I~S oss of t1s
ss~r eoa-<,eco-s sx.EPlss ! svsT -sst va
IessllE sssTgy ar, ~ a-Fsord - ti-ne %
t~ssa io.eki1s sftsx Ne ~slsse - tss se.als
81 sae1h~n sEd sg1iJ J4Uz tas aaoi = 81 sas7ies.
1lzTtlss ~sr~ L-.s kS10y. Of tseza ~ tatAe.a
81 dss AL drs.-z-sa ~ AsSbs esvs 500
ths 90 l1aa st-<as SO tls asok q G-s : siLes~
soassoeat szrrs4s1sa by Ssft>ss dad and
alive. tSgtlas big 2aa tert1ss sasAA he
asa e0isss ssa ever torss spsaes q sse genus
turtle, al1 Il w4s tke dehsts u sAs ne 10
caG soxa<5ody VITO took t0s least p~Tncls q
interest IA Lls rsseaFcbes
Hs kRee e. sDeat ais sae1sct, could tel
sheD and ~k=ES aud kos saoA '-EssSaas :
oo1d cescfsos t1sir sgss, task fooas 40"
the young fogn2 I.elF way tsts t2e ~af a
frvtn the Aand bsak wasFs they had tsen
waruaed into b~isg by the Asst y The sun,
and foand thsnsslyss buried aaasr Uhe sand
sometimes several fset deep
He vas eoanoissear IA turtle meat and
eggs He ~'Ouli s.nzos his hss ever bowl
Of tartle sop azd rice, and Hseeed Einss
have nlleo their stoazAcAs with lsss ds4io21s
food
novelty in my interview with ths
naturalist WA that va could not spsak sny
language N cenlaoa, and sale IL the SER
vices ~ CAlnAl,an intsrpretsy.
Ths pTiest spoks. Ia addition 20 aus own
tongue. the Chinese language sp5xe only
ths Eaglish- Terough tie medium Of al in
terproter. therefore. be told me much about
bis hobby. / knew but little about turtles.
l could tell oLs when saw il, bat Knew all
spocies SIMPLY as turtles. Ths ecthusl2st
told me much about the dinereRt variotl -,
and I found myself much interested IN what
be had to say. de had followed ths trsclzs
Of the clumsy beings from their eiemsac.as
they had dragged their heavy bo<ises through
the sands 10 their nesting and feeslng
grounds. Some zpeclsS measure over six
feet in lsngtA. and when they creep over the
soft sand they leave track not unlike tie
impression made by a savlog being dra eyed
over tho ground. BE Ina followed thess With
Characteristics patience, and wa,chet hem
burrov into the sand and had 0iggss uo the
result in the shape Of no hess than.a hurdhred
eggs left at q single ''inaing." The fealaleof
most species digs into the earth and depossits
her eggs. IL Is not uncommon TO 8rr sa1ar-
rel OF eggs in single hole, where ore after
another has dug into ths samo pot 10
economic Abor. The eggs are about the
size Of that Of the guinea hen ana areas
round as marbles. They are much sou ght
after for food, and gathering those eggs
forms q large industry in all southern sea
islands.
j y Tartie hunting is also largely enrs sed in
| By the islanders. The hunter arms himpslf
| with a board about foot wide ard tx feet
long, and tracks noiselesSiy nlong the share
until be finds where one has left tho water
| for stroll on the shore The auinals arc
! very shy and their hearing is acute On tbs
| first warning of the approach of MN they
head for the ser, and TIE board Is pc down
before them, and when they get well over it,
Q sudden ''yaAk" lands them upon tAear backs,
asd they are unable 10 get away. Here they
arc left until daylight, when troy are
gathered in for slsughtering or sold in the
marketz-
The rna iority OF turtles are carnivorous,
although some arc vezethrians. Tiey sub
/ sist largely upon cruStaceaDs The scrf lines
the sksTs with beautiful shells.
Tho low orders Of animal life that build
| these vari-colored and many shaped shells
have fsllen victinss 10 the hunger Of turtles.
| They nip of tho leSby portions of copches,
| and leave TIE renai ader Of the carcass TO ds-
cay when the shells float 10 the surface and
are washed ashore Here they bleach in tho
sun until picked and sold, whsn they find
their place 10 the home of civilizsd peoples
where they take their place rs door props,
| ornaments or dinner horns, as the fates may
decree.
japanese waters abound with many large
varieties of turtles, and the delic8to carved
| jeweiy and ornaments Of japanese make are
! celebrated the world over.
The more Father de Vinci" discuurs -d upon
his tneme, the more interested became, and
really one might spend his spare hours in a
less entertaining way than in the study OF
the lie, habits and destiny of turtles.
| .xs., b. ToN.