191. _The GREEK TORTOISE_ (Testudo græca) _is a species of reptile of
dirty yellow and black colour; with four feet, and a somewhat
hemispherical shell, consisting of thirteen middle convex pieces, and
about twenty-five marginal ones._
_These animals are about eight inches long, and three or four pounds in
weight. They are found in woods of many of the countries of the
Continent, and in most of the islands of the Mediterranean._
In nearly all countries where these tortoises abound they are considered
valuable as food; and are cooked in various ways, but are chiefly used for
soup. By some people the _blood_ is eaten without any culinary preparation.
Each tortoise towards the end of June lays, in the sand, from thirty to
forty _eggs_, of round shape, and about the size of those of a pigeon.
These eggs, when boiled, are in particular esteem for the table. In some
parts of Italy it is customary to collect and bury them in places dug in
the earth; and when the young ones appear, they are fed and taken care of
until they are in a fit state to be killed for the table.
In their habits the animals are mild and peaceable; and, being furnished
with a house which they continually carry about with them, and into which
they can, in an instant, withdraw their head, legs, and tail, they have no
danger to fear from their enemies. So great is the strength of their shell
that instances have occurred of their having been run over, even by
waggons, without injury. Tortoises have been known to live to the age of
more than 100 years.
192. Several other kinds of tortoises serve for food as well as the
present; particularly the _ROUND TORTOISE (Testudo orbicularis)_, which is
in great request for the tables of the opulent inhabitants of Germany and
Hungary.
193. _The HAWK'S-BILL TURTLE_ (Testudo imbricata, Fig. 53) _is a marine
species of tortoise, of yellowish and brown colour, which has fin-shaped
feet each with two claws, thirteen plates in the middle of the shell, and
twenty-one round the margin, lying somewhat loosely over each other at
the edges._
_This animal, which is from two to three feet in length, is a native of
the American and Asiatic seas; and is also sometimes found in the
Mediterranean._
The plates or scales of the hawk's-bill turtle constitute that beautifully
variegated and semi-transparent substance called _tortoise-shell_. This,
after having been softened by means of boiling water, is capable of being
moulded into almost any form; and is in request by opticians and other
artists for many purposes both useful and ornamental. The ancient Greeks
and Romans were so partial to the use of tortoise-shell that they decorated
with it their doors, the pillars of their houses, and even their beds; and
the great consumption of it at Rome may be imagined by the relation of
Velleius Paterculus, who informs us that, when the city of Alexandria was
taken by Julius Cæsar, the magazines or warehouses were so full of this
article that he proposed to have it made the principal ornament of his
triumph.
The best tortoise-shell which is brought into this country pays an import
duty of 1s. 4½d. per pound; and the quantity vended at the East India
Company's sales in 1808 was no less than 13,728 pounds.
The _flesh_ of the hawk's-bill turtle is not only of bad flavour, but is
said to be even in some degree poisonous; persons who have partaken of it
having been seized with vomiting and other unpleasant symptoms. The _eggs_,
however, are esteemed peculiarly delicious.
194. _The COMMON, or GREEN TURTLE_ (Testudo mydas, Fig. 52), _is a marine
species of tortoise, distinguished by its oval shape; by the fore-feet
only having two claws, the scales neither folding upon each other, nor
having any ridge, and the middle scales being thirteen in number._
_These, which are the largest kind of tortoise that is known, are
sometimes six feet and upwards in length, and five or six hundred pounds
in weight._
_They are found, and generally in great numbers, on the unfrequented
sea-shores of most countries within the torrid zone._
This species of turtle is one of the most valuable gifts of Providence, to
the inhabitants of tropical climates, and to mariners frequenting those
climates. It affords them an abundant supply of agreeable and nutritive
food. So numerous are they, in some places, that instances have occurred of
forty or fifty having been obtained in the course of three hours. They are
generally caught whilst asleep on the shore. The seamen go gently to the
places where they are found, and successively turn them on their backs.
From this position they are unable to recover their feet, and thus are
perfectly secured until a sufficient number can be collected for conveyance
on ship-board. Turtles are sometimes killed with spears whilst lying at the
bottom of the sea in shallow water, or whilst swimming on the surface.
The females dig hollow places in the sand of the sea-shore, a little above
high water mark; and in these they deposit sometimes more than a hundred
eggs, carefully concealing them, from observation, by scratching over them
a thin layer of sand. These eggs, which are wholesome food, are nearly
globular, each two or three inches in diameter, and covered with a strong
membrane, somewhat like wet parchment. They consist of a yolk, which by
boiling hardens like that of other eggs, and of a white that is incapable
of being hardened by heat.
The parts of the turtle most in esteem are those about the belly, which are
of delicate white colour, somewhat resembling veal; and the green fat,
which possesses a very peculiar odour. The whole is extremely nutritious,
and of a soft gelatinous nature; but, as it contains a large proportion of
strong fat, it should not be eaten without salt and pepper, or other spice;
and should be carefully avoided in every form by invalids and persons whose
digestive powers are impaired. The flesh of the turtle is sometimes cut
into pieces and salted, and in this state forms an article of traffic in
the West Indies. Not only the flesh, but even the intestines and eggs are
salted. The _fat_ yields a greenish yellow oil, which is used in lamps for
burning, and when fresh with food. The inhabitants of some countries
convert the upper _shells_ of turtles into canoes, troughs, bucklers, and
other useful articles; and sometimes adopt them as a covering for houses.
It does not appear that the turtle has been introduced into England, as an
article of luxury for the table, more than seventy or eighty years. We
import these animals chiefly from the West Indies.
195. _The EDIBLE FROG_ (Rana esculenta) _is distinguished by its back
being angular, and by having three yellowish stripes which extend from
the muzzle almost to the hind legs._
_These animals are not only common in England, but are found in ponds,
ditches, and fens, in nearly all the temperate parts of Europe._
As an article of luxury for the table the Edible frogs are in great request
in France, Germany, and other countries of the Continent. They are
generally caught, in the autumn, by rakes with long close-set teeth, by
nets, and in numerous other ways. Some persons amuse themselves by catching
them with lines and hooks baited with insects or worms. At this season they
are collected in thousands, and sold to the wholesale dealers, who have
large conservatories for them. These are holes dug in the ground, to the
depth of four or five feet, covered at the mouth with a board, and over
this, in winter, with straw. We are informed, by Dr. Townson that at
Vienna, in the year 1793, there were only three great dealers in frogs; by
whom most of those persons were supplied who carried them to the markets
for sale.
The parts that are eaten are chiefly the hind quarters.
196. In America the species called _BULL-FROGS_, which sometimes measure
eighteen inches and upwards in length, from the nose to the hind feet, are
not unfrequently adopted as food.
197. _The CROCODILE and ALLIGATOR_ (Lacerta crocodilus _and_ alligator)
_are two immense animals of the lizard tribe, the principal distinction
between which is founded on the head and part of the neck of the former
being more smooth than those of the latter; and in the snout being
proportionally more wide and flat, as well as more rounded at the
extremity._
_The length of the crocodile, when full grown, is from eighteen to about
twenty-five feet; and that of the alligator somewhat less. Crocodiles are
chiefly found in the river Nile; and alligators in rivers and lakes of
some parts of America._
The _flesh_ of both these animals has a strong, unpleasant, and somewhat
musky flavour; yet it is eaten by the natives of most of the countries in
which they are found. It is white and juicy; and the parts that are
preferred are those about the belly and tail. The flesh of the young ones
is, however, said to be devoid of any unpleasant taste, and to be
sufficiently palatable even to Europeans. The _eggs_ also are eaten. Of the
_teeth_ of the alligator, which are as white as ivory, the Americans make
snuff-boxes, charges for guns, and several kinds of toys.
There is an unfounded opinion that the upper jaws of these animals are
moveable; and that they have no tongue. They swim with great velocity, and
sometimes float asleep on the rivers, like immense logs of wood. Their
voracity is excessive; springing in a very surprising manner upon animals
on which they prey, they instantly drag them into the water, sink to the
bottom, and there devour them. The females deposit their eggs, from eighty
to a hundred in number, in the sand, and leave them to be hatched by the
heat of the sun.
198. _The GUANA_ (Lacerta iguana, Fig. 55) _is a species of lizard, four
or five feet in length, which has a round and long tail; the back with an
elevated ridge of scales; and the throat with a pouch that is capable of
being inflated to a large size._
_These animals are found among rocks, or in woods, in several parts of
India and America. In Surinam, Guiana, and Cayenne, they are very
numerous: and they are occasionally caught in the West Indian islands._
Scarcely any species of animal food is so much admired by epicures in hot
climates as the _flesh_ of the guana. It is preferred even to that of the
turtle, and is cooked in various ways, being roasted, boiled, or converted
into soup. The fat of these animals, after having been melted and
clarified, is applicable to many uses. The flesh is sometimes salted, and
exported for sale to distant countries.
There are several modes of catching guanas. In many parts of America they
are chased by dogs, which are trained purposely to this pursuit. Frequently
they are caught with snares placed near their haunts, and sometimes by a
noose of cord affixed to the end of a long rod.
The _eggs_ of the guana, which are generally found in the sand near the
sea-shore, are said to be preferable for sauces and other purposes of
cookery to the eggs of poultry; but, when eaten alone, they are viscid in
the mouth, and to an European palate have at first a very disagreeable
taste.
199. _SERPENTS._--Several kinds of serpents are adopted as food by the
inhabitants of countries in which they are found. The American Indians
often regale themselves on _RATTLE-SNAKES_ (_Crotalus horridus_), skinning
and eating them as we do eels. The _GREAT BOA_ (_Boa constrictor_), which
sometimes measures more than thirty feet in length, is a favourite food
with the negroes of some countries. The flesh of the _COMMON VIPER_
(_Coluber berus_) has been strongly recommended as a medicine in several
complaints, such as leprosy, scurvy, rheumatism, and consumptions, but its
virtues have been much exaggerated.
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