Show k VAST HERDS OF TURtLES I II I Concerning the great turtles of or the Indian IndIan ocean a traveler says lays The chelonian or green turtle Chel Chelone ne Is an animal of or considerable considerable con con- economic Importance to th the atoll for It sun still occurs In the vast bordes hordes which are so often described by farly voyagers in the tropics There appear to be two distinct groups one groups one t resident nt and small all in numbers th the other oth oth- er migratory and visiting the atoll to r f breed In nUl rs impossible impassible to La esThe es es- I f The latter arrives In December and from then to Apr April l the sea seems alive with turtles The females seek seek the small sand beaches and then ascend them with the rising tide pushing themselves laboriously above mark Holes Hales are then dug In the sand sandby sandi i by y means of or th the fore fare flippers until un un- til Ul a satisfactory one is is' obtained I and md the eggs In number are bur burled burr f r led the turtle returns to sea Imme Imme- Iah ly After 40 to days the eggs h hatch al 1 I mo most t simultaneously and the young oung turtles dig their way up out aut of at the thep p sand and go down to the sea in a a a- along long F procession in the course of which they offer an easy I j jey ey y to their en enemies ernies emles the frigate birds and herons Once In the sea sharks and other large fish eat them and only ten en per cent reach maturity |