During the operation the continue to move their wings, and cause an agreeable freshness which renders the sleep of the sleeper more profound.

They tell of people, unconsciously submitted to this hemorrhage for many hours, who have never awoke!" "Talk no more of things like that, Manoel," said Yaquita, "or neither Minha nor Lina will dare sleep to-night." "Never fear!" replied Manoel; "if necessary we will watch over them as they sleep." "Silence!" said Benito.
"What is the matter ?" asked Manoel.
"Do you not hear a very curious noise on that side ?" continued Benito, pointing to the right bank.
"Certainly," answered Yaquita.
"What causes the noise ?" asked Minha.

"One would think it was shingle rolling on the beach of the islands." "Good! I know what it is," answered Benito.

"Tomorrow, at daybreak, there will be a rare treat for those who like fresh turtle eggs and little turtles!" He was not deceived; the noise was produced by innumerable chelonians of all sizes, who were attracted to the islands to lay their eggs.
It is in the sand of the beach that these amphibians choose the most convenient places to deposit their eggs.

The operation commences with sunset and finishes with the dawn.
At this moment the chief turtle had left the bed of the river to reconnoiter for a favorable spot; the others, collected in thousands, were soon after occupied in digging with their hind paddles a trench six hundred feet long, a dozen wide, and six deep.