Learning the Korn Shell, 2nd Edition

Colophon

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The animal on the cover of Learning the Korn Shell is a hawksbill turtle. The name “hawksbill” refers to its prominent hooked beak. This marine reptile is one of the smaller sea turtles, having a carapace (upper shell) length of about two feet and weighing about one hundred pounds. Among pelagic turtles, the hawksbill alone has the tendency to feed and breed in the same area, preferring the tropical shoals and reefs of the world’s oceans.

Primarily carnivorous, the hawksbill feeds on crabs, fish, sponges, and jellyfish. The turtle’s flesh can be poisonous; in some places, fisherman test for poison by throwing the turtle’s liver to the crows. If the birds reject the liver, the hawksbill is toxic.

The hawksbill turtle is the sole source of authentic “tortoiseshell,” which comes from the scutes, or outer layer of the carapace. Tortoiseshell has been harvested through the years-from ancient Egypt to the present-and is highly valued for its beauty and plasticity. As a result, the hawksbill is endangered. Illegal trade continues to threaten this species’ existence.

Leanne Soylemez was the production editor and proofreader for Learning the Korn Shell, Second Edition. Kate Briggs was the copyeditor. Mary Brady and Jane Ellin provided quality ...