Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-14
NEW NATURAL HISTORY.
The Turtle-Its Habits, Attachments
and Characteristics Defined.
From the Philadelphia Tunes.

From the Philadelphia Times
In good old days before the great Christie
pher braved the unknown sea in quest of
equally unknown things the word turtle always
meant bird the kind We now call turtle
dove; and il was not until after the discovery of
America that the appellation was applied 10
those marine chelomans found in the West In
dies. The turtle dove in outward appearance
has very little to remind one of his namesake,
the sea turtle, but in mental characteristics
they are very much alike. Il was due TO the
discovery of the quality Of constancy in the
general makeup of the sea turtle and his dispo-
sition 10 hold fast to whatever he got that in
duced the sailors to give him the pretty name
OF turtle. The turtle Is an amphiblan and the
scientists tell us that he is nothing but reptile
after all, but you shouldn't think of IL when
you are eating turtle soup or il might have a
damaging effect on your appetite. The turtle
has no teeth, yet he can hold on with a grip
that no brindle bull dog has ever been able 10
successfully copy. The turtle can't talk and
make stump speeches or give Caudle lectures,
but he manages TO live all the same, and his
life is pretty long one if the accounts Of GER
tam navlgators be true 1t is related on good
authority that several large turtles are TO be
seen daily swimming around among the Ba-
hama Islands that have huge shells decorated
with the initials &C, 1892" evidently en-
graved on them by Christopher Columbus and
his men during their little visit to San SALIVA
dor in 1892
Turtles may truly be said 70 be living skele-
tons, for they have nearly all Of their bones
exposed to view on the outside of their bodies
and it is a great blessing 20 them that they
are tuilt that way, especially during tho
mosquito season. The turtle looks like a for
midable and very substantial auimal. but on "A
close examination you find him 20 be but the
merest shell, yet be is greatly priced by cor
tain aldermen at state dinners aud epicures
willing to shell out handsomely to obtain him.
Turtles do not drink bad whisky, chew tobacco
or smoke a pipe, yet a great many OF them,
not having been enervated by civilized vices.
could shell town, but 1t seems our generals
have never thought to use them that
way. The turtle is not much like
other animals except that he has four feet
and TAIL but his tail, like that of rabbit,
doesn't count for much. He is supposed TO
have ordinary common sense, but he is not
astute enough to prevent his getting lin the
soup sometimes. Generally speaking, the
| turtle is rather an indifferent hind of a cook
| He can't make bread. Ice tlt. m, bake pies or
properly roast a turkey. but he makes a good
soup. His culinary skill in making that latter
dish particularly has never been disputed.
Some French cooks and other inferior chefs
have made a base imitation of this famous
soup called mock turtle soup, but il always
takes genuine turtle to make genuine turtle
soup.
The character the average turtle acquires
while growing up he manages to retain all
through life, which is more than some Of US
bipeds can boast of.