dexterity that the sides seldom if ever fall in. The sand is raised alternately
with each flapper, as with a large ladle, until it has accumulated
behind her, when supporting herself with her head and fore part on the
ground fronting her body, she with a spring from each flapper, sends the
sand around her, scattering it to the distance of several feet. In this
manner the hole is dug to the depth of eighteen inches or sometimes more
than two feet. This labour I have seen performed in the short period of
nine minutes. The eggs are then dropped one by one, and disposed in
regular layers, to the number of a hundred and fifty, or sometimes nearly
two hundred. The whole time spent in this part of the operation may be
about twenty minutes. She now scrapes the loose sand back over the
eggs, and so levels and smooths the surface, that few persons on seeing the
spot could imagine any thing had been done to it. This accomplished to
her mind, she retreats to the water with all possible dispatch, leaving the
hatching of the eggs to the heat of the sand. When a turtle, a loggerhead
for example, is in the act of dropping her eggs, she will not move
although one should go up to her, or even seat himself on her back, for it
seems that at this moment she finds it necessary to proceed at all events,
and is unable to intermit her labour. The moment it is finished, however,
off she starts ; nor would it then be possible for one, unless he were
as strong as a Hercules, to turn her over and secure her.
To upset a turtle on the shore, one is obliged to fall on his knees,
and, placing his shoulder behind her forearm, gradually raise her up by
pushing with great force, and then with a jerk throw her over. Sometimes
it requires the united strength of several men to accomplish this;
and, if the turtle should be of very great size, as often happens on that
coast, even hand-spikes are employed. Some turtlers are so daring as to
swim up to them while lying asleep on the surface of the water, and turn
them over in their own element, when, however, a boat must be at hand
to enable them to secure their prize. Few turtles can bite beyond the
reach of their fore legs, and few, when once turned over, can, without
assistance, regain their natural position ; but, notwithstanding this, their
flappers are generally secured by ropes so as to render their escape impossible.
Persons who search for turtles1 eggs are provided with a light stiff
cane or a gun-rod, with which they go along the shores, probing the sand
near the tracks of the animals, which, however, cannot always be seen, on
account of the winds and heavy rains, that often obliterate them. The
is about three hundred. The Loggerhead visits the Tortugas in April,
and lays from that period until late in June three sets of eggs, each set
averaging a hundred and seventy. The Trunk Turtle, which is sometimes
of an enormous size, and which has a pouch like a pelican, reaches
the shores latest. The shell and flesh are so soft that one may push
his finger into them, almost as into a lump of butter. This species is
therefore considered as the least valuable, and indeed is seldom eaten,
unless by the Indians, who, ever alert when the turtle season commences,
first carry off the eggs, and afterwards catch the Turtles themselves. The
average number of eggs which it lays in the season, in two sets, may be
three hundred and fifty.
The Loggerhead and the Trunk Turtles are the least cautious in
choosing the places in which to deposit their eggs, whereas the two other
species select the wildest and most secluded spots. The Green Turtle
resorts either to the shores of the Main, between Cape Sable and Cape
Florida, or enters Indian, Halifax, and other large rivers or inlets, from
which it makes its retreat as speedily as possible, and betakes itself to the
open sea. Great numbers, however, are killed by the Turtlers and Indians,
as well as by various species of carnivorous animals, as cougars,
lynxes, bears and wolves. The Hawkbill, which is still more wary, and
is always the most difficult to surprise, keeps to the sea islands. All the
species employ nearly the same method in depositing their eggs in the
sand, and as I have several times observed them in the act, I am enabled
to present you with a circumstantial account of it.
On first nearing the shores, and mostly on fine calm moonlight nights,
the Turtle raises her head above the water, being still distant thirty or
forty yards from the beach, looks around her, and attentively examines
the objects on the shore. Should she observe nothing likely to disturb
her intended operations, she emits a loud hissing sound, by which such of
her many enemies as are unaccustomed to it, are startled, and so are apt
to remove to another place, although unseen by her. Should she hear
any noise, or perceive indications of danger, she instantly sinks and goes
off to a considerable distance; but should every thing be quiet, she adr
vances slowly towards the beach, crawls over it, her head raised to the
full stretch of her neck, and when she has reached a place fitted for her
purpose, she gazes all round in silence. Finding " all well," she proceeds
to form a hole in the sand, which she effects by removing it from
under her body with her hind flappers, scooping it out with so much