HABITS OF TURTLES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 3

HABITS OF TURTLES

Wonderful Cunning And Ingenuity

The very unusual influx of turtles to British shores during the recent wintryweather is of more than ordinary interest, writes Mr. E. G. Boulenger in ‘‘The Tinies.” It is a matter for regret that of all the cosmopolitan sea-going reptiles, the famed and delectable green turtle, inseparable from banqueting at its zenith, has so far avoided our coasts.

Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the soup capacity of a green turtle ts highly deceptive owing to the weight of the shell and massive skeleton.

A giant turtle weighing 4001 b., nevertheless, represents 1500 soup plates of the liquid delicacy.

Aquarium visitors may infer from the turtles’ general demeanour that their intelligence is not great, but on the annual occasions when these huge sea tortoises come ashore on tropical beaches to lay their hundreds of eggs, they display wonderful cunning and ingenuity.

The reptile labours, with short intervals for rest, throughout a long night, excavating a pit in the sand well above the high-water mark.

Having deposifeil its eggs in this excavation, it covers them over with such nicety tliat the shai'l>esl eye would not detect tell-tale signs of their whereabouts beueatli the unruffled sand .surface.

The eggs, almost, spherical, in size and shape are scarcely distinguishable from tabic-tennis balls. They are elaslie. will bounce without breaking, and while extremely palatable, refuse to set, however perseveriug'l.v boiled. The eggs hatch in a few weeks, and Hie baby turtles immediately make foi the sea. Attacked by Enemies. In running the gauntlet to the water possibly not more than 10 per cent, gain their objective, being caught and devoured by crirbs. seabirds, racoons and various other mammals. Once in Ihe sea. .where they tisk Hie allaek of innumerable marine animal.-, the lliinniiu process continues.

Last t'al.-o bop, s are rai-ed as to the liir'ie beeoimiig an animal Hurt may one day lie Died as "Brilisli," it is only fair Io say ■ji.-ii Giese reptiles arc not more likely to become a 'resident species" (Imn any ..f 'lie ulmle- ■vliL’l: nt time’. :m. agrouml upon unr beaches

Like many >pecies of whole. the turtles, as a class, are eosmopolitati, though travelling only in warm walers They ar.- powerful swimmers, but, like the whales, tire largely at the mercy of sfiil more imworljil ocean ‘.'iirrents.

In pursuit of it- food it can be taken far out of its course ami once in the grip of the sea may turn up anywhere.

The Mansion House, therefore, is never likely Io rely on "home caught" spommeiis to enlerl.’iin its dtsi incui-li-id guests, bin will depend Hil fnriln.’i notice on <ncli well-tried sources of

supply as the West Indies. Ascension Island and similar well-known beaching grounds.