Frank Radcliffe; a story of travel and adventure in the forests of Venezuela . strangecreatures collect in vast numbers between the mouthof the Apure and the falls of the Orinoco; and it isat several localities between these points that theIndians meet in order to collect the eggs. The arrau or tortoise which lays the eggs sohighly valued is the large fresh-water species. Thereis another kind found above the cataracts of theOrinoco; but this is smaller, and its eggs are soughtafter even more eagerly by the Indians than those ofthe arrau. The latter is readily distinguished by itswebbed feet; f
Frank Radcliffe; a story of travel and adventure in the forests of Venezuela . strangecreatures collect in vast numbers between the mouthof the Apure and the falls of the Orinoco; and it isat several localities between these points that theIndians meet in order to collect the eggs. The arrau or tortoise which lays the eggs sohighly valued is the large fresh-water species. Thereis another kind found above the cataracts of theOrinoco; but this is smaller, and its eggs are soughtafter even more eagerly by the Indians than those ofthe arrau. The latter is readily distinguished by itswebbed feet; flat head, which is deeply channelledbetween the eyes; and by its shell being composedof five plates in the centre, eight on the sides, andtwenty-four marginal plates. This creature is of amuddy gray colour above, changing to orange be-neath. Its eggs are about the size of those of abantam fowl, and are coated exteriorly with a kindof limy crust. The arrau or tortuga, when fullgrown, will turn the scale at about fifty pounds. The other kind of tortoise is called the terekay,. HERON-SHOOTING. 169 and is of a different colour, being an olive green, withspots of red and yellow on its cranium. Under thechin there is a curious appendage covered with sharpspines. In February (when the rivers are lowest) theseanimals issue from the water to deposit their eggs inthe sands. In March the proceedings are at theirheight: at this time thousands of them line theshores, busily engaged in excavating the holes whichare to serve as nests. These holes are a yard indiameter and two feet deep. The abundance of theharvest is ascertained by thrusting a pole into thesands, when the depth of the Qgg deposit becomes atonce apparent. The harvest is ready for gathering in April, atwhich time the eggs are collected and thrown into alarge trough filled with water. In this they arestirred up with sticks until the yolk becomes fit forboiling: from this a very excellent oil is obtained forburning in the lamps i
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1884
