Page:Colnett - Voyage to the South Pacific (IA cihm 33242).djvu/86

 On the hore were Sea guanas and turtles; the latter, were of that kind, which bears a variegated hell. The guanas are mall, and of a ooty black, which, if poible, heightens their native uglines. Indeed, o diguting is their appearance, that no one on board could be prevailed on, to take them as food. I found the turtles, however, far uperior to any I had before tated. Their food, as well as that of the land tortoie, conits principally, of the bark and leaves of trees, particularly of the mangrove, which makes them very fat; though, in rainy eaons, when vegetation is more general, their food may be of a more promicuous nature. The green turtles are extremely fat, and would produce a large quantity of oil. Their hell is alo very beautiful; and if that hould be an article of any value, a mall veel, might make a very profitable voyage, to this place. The land tortoie was poor at this eaon, but made excellent broth. Their eggs are as large, and their hell as hard, as thoe of a gooe, and form a perfect globe. Their nets, are thrown up in a circular form, and never contain more than three eggs, which are heated by the Sun,