Читать книгу Natural History: Reptiles - Philip Henry Gosse - Страница 13

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The one or two species which belong to this genus compose the whole Family. Their remaining characters may be thus summed up: the carapace has seven longitudinal ridges, the plastron live; the paddles have no distinct nails; the muzzle is pointed; the jaws are of great power; the upper has a sharp tooth on each side near the tip, behind which is a deep notch, and another triangular notch in front separates the two teeth, which receives the sharp up-turned point of the lower mandible; the opening of the eyelids is almost vertical, and when closed the edge of the posterior (answering to what is ordinarily the lower) overlaps that of the anterior; the fore limbs are much more developed than the hind, and are of great length and breadth.

The species that inhabits the Mediterranean (Sphargis coriacea, Linn.) has occasionally strayed to the shores of our own islands. Some of the specimens taken here have weighed seven hundred ​and eight hundred pounds. Pennant relates that one taken off the coast of Scarborough was purchased by a family, who invited several persons to partake of its flesh. A gentleman present told the guests that it was unwholesome, but one person persisting to eat of it was seized with violent

LEATHERY TURTLE.

purging and vomiting. This case, however, can hardly be considered conclusive as to its unwholesomeness, if what Pennant adds be correct, that the Carthusians are said to eat of the flesh of no other Turtle. The appearance of the meat is said to be coarse, and the flavour bad; though it is usually very fat.

​There is a species common on the tropical shores of the Atlantic Ocean, by some thought to be identical with the above, though distinguished by other zoologists. It regularly visits the Tortugas, or low sandy islets that lie off the point of Florida, for the purpose of depositing its eggs, arriving, according to Audubon, later than the other Turtles, and manifesting less caution in selecting a place adapted for their concealment. The number laid by each female amounts to about three hundred and fifty, deposited in two parcels. Individuals of this species, when sorely wounded, or hampered in nets, have been heard to utter loud bellowing cries, audible at the distance of nearly a mile.

This is the largest of all the Testudinata known, sometimes attaining a length of nine or ten feet, and a weight of sixteen hundred pounds. Its carapace is of a dusky hue, and is marked over its surface into five or six-sided subdivisions, small and obscure, so as not to detract from its general smoothness.