( 619 ) 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF GIGANTIC LAND- 

 TORTOISE FROM THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. 



By the Hon. WALTER ROTHSCHILD, Ph.D. 



THE specimen ou which this species is founded formed part of the famous 

 museum of Mr. Bullock, and is mentioned on page 101 of the catalogue as 

 the "Indian Tortoise" {TestuJo im/ica). It consists of a carapace and plastron 

 with epidermal scutes. This specimen was j}urchased at the Bullock sale by the 

 late Mr. Wallace, and passed into the Tring Museum ou the dispersal of the 

 museum of the latter at Distington, Cumberland. 



Testudo wallacei sp. nov. 



This species belongs to the section including Testudo vicina—i.ti. the section 

 with )ion-sa(hlle-shaped carapaces, but seems to be nearer related in other resjiects 

 to Testudo gnlapagensis of Charles Island than any other ; from the latter it differs 

 at first sight by its greater depth, much narrower anterior ])ortion of carajiace, 

 convex marginal jilates, and being strongly declivous in front. The last vertebral 

 plate at its anterior portion is convex and the centre flat, while in T. galapageiuis 

 the anterior portion of this i)late is concave and the centre convex. The caudal 

 plate of the new species is also somewliat diflTerent in proportion, being 'h-'lh in. 

 wide by 3-75 in. high ; whih' in T. galapagensis it is 6-375 in. wide by 4-8-'.> in. 

 high. The costal scutes in T. umllacei are also more convex. The praogiilar 

 scutes in the jilastron of T. wallacei are much longer and the praecandals much 

 shorter than the same scutes in T. galapagensis ; also the end of the plastron is 

 much wider and less recurved than in galapagensis. Total length in straight 

 line, 32-25 in. 



From the fact that between 1800 and 1835 most of the giant tortoises were got 

 on James and Chatham Islands, and that Captain Porter says the James Islaml 

 ones were round, I am of opinion that this carapace is the only existing specimen 

 of the extinct Chatham Island species. 



