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FIELD-NOTES ON THE TORTOISES OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, 



Bt E. H. Beck. 



" Our first search for tortoise was on Duncan Island, wliere we had taken 

 nearly tliirty in 18it7. We thought then that not more than a dozen or so were 

 left, as we had jiretty well cleared out the northern and central portions of the 

 island, whicli were the most likely-Iooldno; j)laces for them. All of those taken 

 then were in the crater and a small valley on the top of the island, the sides 

 being too rocky and rongh. Our time was so limited this year that only the 

 valley on top was visited, being the easier to reach. Here we secured twelve — 



Citiwloplnix (LfinrMi^'uana) suimiaj^ iUelf. 



all tliat were seen in a three-days' search. The crater was much dryer than in 

 1897, and it was quite likely no tortoise were in it, as they could climb to the 

 to]i, and probably did so. Several pools of water were on top in a hollow, and 

 ail the tortoise fonnd were in the vicinity of these pools. A large flat rock, 

 a foot or two above the surface of the ground, was hollowed on top, and contained 

 several gallons of water. There were three distinct trails leading to it, which 

 probably furnished water during the summer, when the heavy fog or mist occurred 

 during the night. 



On Indefatigable a tortoise was found a few miles from Conway Bay, in a 

 suitable location, where cacti were abundant. Three of us had taken the skiff and 

 gone up the shore to hunt for flamingos at some ponds discovered in "'.»T. I struck 



