it is said, that the shell procured from the creature while alive is the finest.

The mode in which the shell is separated from the bone of the carapace, is by presenting its convex surface to a glowing fire, which causes the scales to rise up and separate from the bone, to such a degree, that their complete detachment is easily effected. It appears that in Easter Island, and other places where the fishing of this species is carried on, the animal is subjected while alive to this barbarous operation, and that after being stripped it is set at liberty; the shell grows again, and it sometimes happens, that on a future year the same individual is re-captured, and subjected to a second ordeal; but the shell then obtained is very thin.

The coast of Darien, and several adjacent islets, are celebrated for the fishery of this Tortoise. At San Blass, a colony of indians is established for the sole purpose of taking these animals; and fifteen thousand pounds weight of shell is collected, on the average, annually.

As the tortoise-shell, in its original condition, is in plates, many of our readers may have been surprised to find boxes, and various articles of a similar character, manufactured from this substance, and which appear to be cut out of a thick and solid body. A beautiful tortoise-shell snuff-box, for example, is now before us; it is thick, solid, and without any trace of joining, and appears as if carved out of a block of shining semi-transparent material. The mode of working tortoise-shell being very interesting, and but little known, the following account, taken from MM. Dumeril and Bibron's "Epétologie Générale," may not be unacceptable; it will at once explain the difficulty in the case of the snuff-box, and similar articles.

"The substance of the scale, considered as rough material, is unfortunately brittle, and liable to split; on the other hand, it possesses the most valuable properties. The fineness of its texture, its compactness, the admirable polish, and the carving which it is capable of receiving; the facility with which it may be moulded, its frag

ments soldered together, melted, or amalgamated by the aid of powder of the same material-these qualities give to it its value.

"The scales of the Turtle in question, when detached from the carapace, are bent in different ways; their thickness, besides, is not uniform, and often it happens that they are too thin, at least throughout a great portion of their substance.

"In order to straighten them, it is sufficient to steep them in boiling water for a few minutes, and then take them out, and place them between plates of metal, or smooth blocks of hard wood, leaving them to cool; great pressure being applied at the same time. They then retain the flatness desired. They are next scraped and filed; a smooth surface being obtained with as little loss as possible. When these shells, or scales, are brought to a proper thickness and size, they may be then used separately; but they are generally submitted to a still further preparation. When, for instance, they are too thin, or when they are not sufficiently long, or broad, the following processes are employed. In order to obtain single plates of great size, two are soldered together, the thin part of one being laid upon the thin part of the other; or, as is sometimes done, the edges of each plate are delicately bevelled, and fitted together. In each case, they are then put between metallic plates; to these a certain degree of pressure is given, which, when the whole is plunged into boiling water, is increased; and by this mode, they are so intimately joined together, that the slightest trace of their union cannot be detected.

"It is almost exclusively by the means of boiling water, that the effects upon tortoise-shell are obtained. The substance of the scales becomes so softened by the action of the heat, that it may be acted upon like a soft mass, or a flexible and ductile paste, which by pressure in metallic moulds will assume every variety of form required.

"The soldering of two pieces together, is effected by

means of hot pincers, which while they compress, at the same time soften the opposed edges of each piece, and amalgamate them into one. No portion of the scales is worthless; the raspings and powder produced by the file, mixed with small. fragments, are put into moulds, and subjected to the action of boiling water; and thus made into plates of the desired thickness, or into various articles, which appear as if cut out of a solid block."

Such, then, is a summary of the mode in which tortoise-shell is worked: by means of heat and pressure, it can be made to assume any form; and thus it becomes manageable in the hands of the workman for the many purposes of use or luxury to which it is applied.

The food of the Hawk's-bill Turtle consists not only of marine plants, but also of crustacea and fishes; and hence, perhaps, the disagreeable flavour of its flesh. It never attains to so large a size as the Green Turtle.

There are a few instances on record, of this species having been captured on the British coasts, driven there undoubtedly by storms. Sibbald was in possession of the shell of one which came into Orkney. Dr. Fleming states, that an individual was captured at Papa Stour, one of the West Zetland isles; and in the year 1774, one was taken in the Severn, as affirmed by Dr. Turton, whose father placed it in his fish-pond, where it lived till the winter. In the "Magazine of Natural History," for March, 1840, we find the notice of a specimen taken on the 28th of January of the same year, at the mouth of the river Tor, in Devonshire. When first discovered it was in a very torpid state, and died ten days afterwards.

The third section of this genus is characterized by the plates of the carapace being fifteen in number, and not imbricated. The LOGGERHEAD TURTLE (C. caouana) is an example.

The Loggerhead Turtle attains to very huge dimensions; its head is thick, its jaws strong, the skin of the neck is wrinkled and rough, with scales; the form of