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5 to 7), and ate luncli on the top of the only hill near. Around the base of this 

 hill the vegetation was unite tropical — green and tliick hnish, trees covered with 

 long hanging moss, and long creepers hanging down from their tops and inter- 

 lacing the wliule. After lunch we went over the hill on the north side to the edge 

 of some green trees. There were two kinds of trees, one with a long narrow pointed 

 leaf, the other with a leaf smaller and l)roader. The former was very dark green 

 in colour, and the other a light green. There was considerable soil here, and a 

 cattle trail going throngh. We saw but one bunch of cattle, which ran by us on 

 our way up. We were delayed a great deal by our tortoise investigations, and it 

 was quite late when we started back. Beck carried the gun, machete, and a bag 

 of tortoise eggs. I had a live tortoise (perhaps 15 lb.) in one hand and a basket 

 of tortoise eggs and birds in the other, and a lot of tortoise eggs tied up in my 

 undershirt over my shoulder. We started back at a lively pace, and by the time 

 that we got within a mile or less of the shore it became necessary to increase it still 

 more in order to reach the shore before dark. The ground was covered with long 

 creeping vines, which every step would catch about the feet and triji ns. In spite of 

 this we reached a point within a few hundred yards of tlie shore in fair time. 

 There our trouble commenced. We got into a thick patch of green vegetation, 

 which in our tired condition it was almost impossible to get through ; but we finally 

 reached the edge of the mangroves, where we expected to find a path, but we were 

 sadly mistaken : when <at the very edge of the mangroves, we were walking ten feet 

 above the ground, supported by the matted brush. By tliis time we could hear the 

 rest of the jiarty in the skiti' not far oti', and we tried to go through the mangroves 

 to meet them. AVe finally did so, by wading through the water up to our hips, and 

 by climbing over the mangrove roots ten feet high — a very ticklish travelling after 

 dark 1 Once more aboard, a change of clothes made life more comfortable. To-day 

 some information was obtained in regard to the breeding of the tortoise. The 

 interest of K. H. Beck and myself was first aroused by finding considerable quantities 

 of broken eggshells scattered around about a small hole in the ground, as if they 

 had been dug up and the contents eaten by some animal — probably dogs. Mr. Beck 

 found the first fresh nest. It was situated in a little patch of dirt at the foot of a 

 rocky bluff, and contained eight eggs. After this several such nests were found, 

 containing eight to twelve, and in one instance seventeen eggs, nine or ten being tlie 

 usual number. With one or two exceptions, the eggs were deposited in well-beaten 

 cattle trails, sheltered from the direct heat of the sun by the thick vegetation on 

 both sides. There were slight signs of the holes ; a very slight rise from tlie 

 surrounding level, and a somewhat fresher look to the dirt, was all that dis- 

 tinguished them. They were about a foot in width and dej>th, and were round in 

 shape. The dirt immediately around the eggs was soft, but the upper crust, of 3 or 

 4 in., was extremely hard, as though matted down by some heavy weight, perhaps the 

 body of the tortoise. The eggs were laid in layers, and closely together; from 3 to 

 eggs comprised a layer, which was sej>arated from the next by a lining of dirt. 

 All eggs secured were fresh. It is very possible, although not certain, that one 

 tortoise lays in several holes. The finding of 4 or o holes witJiin the radius of 10 ft- 

 or so in many instances leads to the conclusion that one tortoise lays from 40 to 50 

 eggs, some of whicli thus are likely to escape the ravages of enemies. Tortoises 

 were found in close proximity to several nests. 



jS'oc. 13. — llemaiued aboard all day. Finished skinning the iguanas, and 

 blew tortoise eggs. It was hard work blowing the eggs. We had some of 



