The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE WIGGLING TURTLE MEAT

BACK WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS A LITTLE GIRL (SOME 60-ODD
YEARS AGO), SHE WAS WALKING WITH HER BROTHERS BY THEIR
HOME IN KENTUCKY WHEN THEY SPOTTED A HUGE TURTLE.
WHERE SHE LIVED, TURTLE MEAT WAS A GREAT DELICACY, SO
SHE GOT A NEIGHBORING FARMER WHO RAN OUT OF HIS HOUSE
CARRYING AN AX. HE KNOCKED THE TURTLE ON THE SHELL AND
AS IT STUCK ITS HEAD OUT, HE CHOPPED IT OFF WITH THE AX.
THEN HE TURNED IT OVER AND SLICED THE UNDERBELLY AROUND
FROM END TO END. HE FOUND THAT THE TURTLE'S INSIDES
CONTAINED 40 EGGS. WHEN THE FARMER CUT OFF THE TURTLE'S
HEAD, THE REST OF THE BODY BEGAN TO WIGGLE. WHEN THE
INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER PREPARED THE MEAT IN THE PAN
IT STILL WIGGLED, AND IT DIDN'T STOP WIGGLING UNTIL SHE
TOOK IT OUT OF THE PAN. THAT WASN'T THE END OF THE
TURTLE, HOWEVER, FOR THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY USED TO EAT
POPCORN OUT OF THAT TURTLE'S SHELL FOR MANY YEARS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KENTUCKY

Date learned: 11-29-1971 ; 00-00-1911