Page 103
An. 1684
Sea-Tortoise, and their Kinds.
Necks and little Heads. There are some green Snakes on these Islands, but no other Land Animal that I did ever see. There are great plenty of Turtle- Doves so tame, that a Man may kill 5 or 6 dozen in a forenoon with a Stick. They are somewhat less than a Pigeon, and are very good Meat and commonly fat.
There are good wide Channels between these Islands fit for Ships to pass; and in some places shoal Water, where there grows plenty of Turtle-grass; therefore these Islands are plentifully stored with Sea-Turtle of that sort which is called the Green- Turtle: I have hitherto deferred the Description of these Creatures, therefore I shall give it here. There are 4 sorts of Sea-turtle, viz. the Trunk-turtle, the Log- gerhead, the Hawksbill, and the Green Turtle. The Trunk-turtle is commonly bigger than the other, their backs are higher and rounder, and their flesh rank, and not wholsome. The Loggerhead is so called, because it hath a great Head, much bigger than the other sorts; their flesh is likewise very rank, and sel- dom eaten but in case of necessity; they feed on Moss that grows about Rocks. The Hawksbill Tur- tle is the least kind; they are so called because their mouths are long and small, somewhat resembling the Bill of a Hawk: On the backs of these Hawks- bill Turtle grows that Shell which is so much esteem'd for making Cabinets, Combs, and other things. The largest of them may have 3 pound and an half of Shell; I have taken some that have had 3 pound 10 ounces; but they commonly have a pound and half, or two pound; some not so much; these are but ordinary food, but generally sweeter than the Loggerhead: yet these Hawksbills in some places are unwholsome, causing them that eat them to purge and vomit excessivly, especially those be- tween the Samboloes and Portabel. We meet with other Fish in the West Indies, of the same malignant nature; but I shall describe them in the Appendix. These Hawksbill Turtles are better or worse accord- ing