The natural history of Barbados : in ten books . itted to go into the Sea, not onlylives, but hath its Armour or Shell foon renewed. Thus that induf-trious and learned Gentleman, whilft laudably defirous to give Man-kind as true a Defcription of this, as he does of almofi: every Thinghe treats of, was much impofed upon by his Informer. This Misfortune willfometimes happen, when our Informations come from Perfons, who arefond of aggrandizing, or lefTening what is, or is not, agreeable to theirown favourite Opinions, or groundlefs Imaginations. The Defcriptionof the Tortoife juft now mentioned,
The natural history of Barbados : in ten books . itted to go into the Sea, not onlylives, but hath its Armour or Shell foon renewed. Thus that induf-trious and learned Gentleman, whilft laudably defirous to give Man-kind as true a Defcription of this, as he does of almofi: every Thinghe treats of, was much impofed upon by his Informer. This Misfortune willfometimes happen, when our Informations come from Perfons, who arefond of aggrandizing, or lefTening what is, or is not, agreeable to theirown favourite Opinions, or groundlefs Imaginations. The Defcriptionof the Tortoife juft now mentioned, is fo far from being true, that thelower Shell, or what is fo called, is of no Manner of Ufe, the upperalone being of Service ; nor can this be come at till the Tortoife is notonly dead, but all the Flefli likcwife taken from the Ribs and Back; itis not till then that a Fire is madt under the infide of the Upper-Shell(as I fhall in Conformity to the received Opinion call it; thoughit is manifcft it is not a Shell from its elaftick Quality.) And. Book X. Ijlarid B A R B A D O S. when this Heat hath penetrated thro* the Ribs, and a criifliy hardSiibilance ^hich covers tliem, that the feveral fohaceoirs Lamina, gciic-rally about fixteen in Number, begin to exfoliate on the Outfide : thofeabout the Shoulders arc the thickcft and beft. The Back of a Tortoifeis convex, and the Belly-part flat; it is coverd all over, except near theNeck, the Anus, and under the Fins, with what we have called afhelly Subftance; the upper and the under Parts being both of themclofely joind together, by this ftrong Armour, The Penis of a MaleTortoife of any coniiderable Bignefs, is full twelve Inches long ; and itsTefticles are as delicious as thefe of Lambs: in Cooting-tin^.c, the Maleand Female remain in Coition, eight or nine Days, fome fay more; atthe Expiration of which Time the Male is fo reduced, that lie is fcarcc. able to fwim, his Callapee (being the Belly-part) becomes from a hard• horny Sub
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