Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-06-07

On the COAST III A1eAlCO ABOUT luu
miles south Of here preparations
are being made for an annual af-
fair which furnishes one OF the most
unusual attractions in that repub-
lie, with the principal actors yet TO
come upon the scene.
This Is the annual "swarming" Of
turtles from the sea onto the beach
there to lay their eggs.
The enemies Of the turtles are be-
ginning to assemble now.
MeXicans who sell the eggs r
beginning TO assemble. and 10 camp
on the beach. waiting patiently for
the turtles. Coyotes which eat the
eggs are moving toward the coast.
Vultures are assembling to swoop
down and get their share OF the
loot.
But the main actors, entirely obi
Wcus Of these preparations. and in
different to them throughout the
entire procedure. are waiting for the
proper tide and moon. when they
will gather in such countless num-
bers as to resmble a solid beach,
miles long, Of moving turtles hour
by hour for three days.
Only a few Americans have ever
witnessed the scene, which they de-
clare to be one of the most inter-
esting they have ever beheld.
Apparently the turtles come 10
this point from almost the entire
waters OF the Gulf or Mexico. They
pick it out because it has reefs OF
rocks along the edge OF the water.
where the little turtles rush to safe
~ from the fish, if they are lucky
enough 10 get to the water alive.
The scene was described by q local
man who witnessed II two years ago.
he said the turtles ccme out and
Law their eggs during the early
part Of June. the time varying
with the tide and moon.
They come out in such droves as
to literally cover the beach. with
their shells clicking against each
other. There is a continuous click
ing noise as the vast army Of tur-
ties moves about on the beach. The
turtles are from one to two feet in
diameter.
They are SO thick when they come
out that the Mexican egg-hunters
frequently walk along on the turf
les backs without touching the
ground. and the turtles pay no at
tention 70 them.
The turtles come out OF the water
and 90 about their work with a
business-like atmosphere. similar 70
a bee being entirely oblivious Of the
egg-hunters, the vultureS. the COW
otes. and other animals or birds
which may be around.
They crawl along the beach until
they find a suitable place in the
sand. then carefully dig a hole 81
the sand, sit In this hole, and deposit
from go to rs eggs.
Then the turtle carefully covers
this nest with sand. and conceals
IL by scratching Up the surface II
the sand surrounding II for a num-
Der of feet, so that the exact SPOT
can not be found.
The turtle may do this concealing
work carefully while a man stands
a few feet away and watches II.
All the reptile is interested in is
hiding its eggs.
There are SC many thousands %
them that no matter how many
coyotes, egg-hunter humans. and
vultures there are around the turtle
succeeds In hiding enough OF its
eggs 10 increase its species. The
beach Is literally turned into one
rIre incubator for miles in each
d.-sction.
As soon as the first turtle LAYS
its eggs the fight is on. The Mexi-
can egg-hunters start digging. care
fully % as not to break the valu-
able egg. They collect them b. the
thousands and rush them rs Mex-
leo City. Monterrey. and other large
cities OF Mexico, where they bring
high prices as q delicacy on the
menus Of the leading restaurants
and dining rooms.
The coyotes start digging. and get
fat on eggs for weeks after h tur-
ties are through laying them.
The vultures swoop down and grab
q few eggs. frequently almost fight
ing with the coyotes over them.
Ali this lime the turtle tends
st-ictly 70 its business, and fills the
sid with eggs IL such numbers that
Is is impossible for the enemies Of