第42章 A VISIT TO SOME STRANGE PLACES(7)

I had some big turtle around the cays of the Gulf of Mexico, but this creature dwarfed them all.We had no means of actually measuring him, and had to keep clear of his formidable-looking jaws, but roughly, and within the mark, he was four feet long by two feet six inches wide.Of course he was much more dome-shaped than the turtle are, and consequently looked a great deal bigger than a turtle of the same measurement would, besides being much thicker through.As he was loth to stay with us, we made up our minds to go with him, for he was evidently making for some definite spot, by the tracks he was following, which showed plainly how many years that same road had been used.Well, Imounted on his back, keeping well astern, out of the reach of that serious-looking head, which having rather a long neck, looked as if it might be able to reach round and take a piece out of a fellow without any trouble.He was perfectly amicable, continuing his journey as if nothing had happened, and really getting over the ground at a good rate, considering the bulk and shape of him.Except for the novelty of the thing, this sort of ride had nothing to recommend it; so I soon tired of it, and let him waddle along in peace.By following the tracks aforesaid, we arrived at a fine stream of water sparkling out of a hillside, and running down a little ravine.The sides of this gully were worn quite smooth by the innumerable feet of the tortoises, about a dozen of which were now quietly crouching at the water's edge, filling themselves up with the cooling fluid.I did not see the patriarch upon whom a sailor once reported that he had read the legend carved, "The Ark, Captain Noah, Ararat for orders";perhaps he had at last closed his peaceful career.But strange, and quaint as this exhibition of ancient reptiles was, we had other and better employment for the limited time at our disposal.

There were innumerable curious things to see, and, unless we were to run the risk of going on board again and stopping there, dinner must be obtained.Eggs of various kinds were exceedingly plentiful; in many places the flats were almost impassable for sitting birds, mostly "boobies."But previous experience of boobies' eggs in other places had not disposed me to seek them where others were to be obtained, and as I had seen many of the well-known frigate or man-o'-war birds hovering about, we set out to the other side of the island in search of the breeding-place.

These peculiar birds are, I think, misnamed.They should be called pirate or buccaneer birds, from their marauding habits.

Seldom or never do they condescend to fish for themselves, preferring to hover high in the blue, their tails opening and closing like a pair of scissors as they hang poised above the sea.Presently booby--like some honest housewife who has been a-marketing--comes flapping noisily home, her maw laden with fish for the chicks.Down comes the black watcher from above with a swoop like an eagle.Booby puts all she knows into her flight, but vainly; escape is impossible, so with a despairing shriek she drops her load.Before it has touched the water the graceful thief has intercepted it, and soared slowly aloft again, to repeat the performance as occasion serves.

When we arrived on the outer shore of the island, we found a large breeding-place of these birds, but totally different to the haunt of the boobies.The nests, if they might be so called, being at best a few twigs, were mostly in the hollows of the rocks, the number of eggs being two to a nest, on an average.The eggs were nearly as large as a turkey's.But I am reminded of the range of size among turkeys' eggs, so I must say they were considerably larger than a small turkey's egg.Their flavour was most delicate, as much so as the eggs of a moor-fed fowl.We saw no birds sitting, but here and there the gaunt skeleton forms of birds, who by reason of sickness or old age were unable to provide for themselves, and so sat waiting for death, appealed most mournfully to us.We went up to some of these poor creatures, and ended their long agony; but there were many of them that we were obliged to leave to Nature.