100 RB00BD8 OF THE ATJSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



of the species as a young male " inasmuch as the sternum shows 

 a slight concavity." It will be noticed that between 1893 and 

 1896, the female had lost weight to the extent of about 47 fts., 

 and that in thirty years the male had lost 67 lbs. It is to be 

 regretted that such little data is available from which to draw 

 deductions. There is no doubt, however, that under Mr. 

 Rothschild's care, future developments of the male will be 

 carefully recorded. 



Eggs. 



Porter* (fide Giinther j writing on the tortoises of the Galapagos 

 Islands, remarks : — " The eggs are perfectly round, white, and of 

 2| inches diameter." A glance at the following table shows that 

 the eggs of T. nigrita are not far removed from the spherical, the 

 accompanying cut representing the shape of the egg marked 

 F. Reduced to inches, the longest diameter of the largest example 

 is barely 2|. Darwinf measured an egg having a circumference 

 of 7| inches. Specimen measures 7^ inches in circumference. 



The egg marked F is the largest, but its weight was dispropor- 

 tionate and actually less than the others. On emptying this egg, 

 the contents were found to be abnormal. It has a very rough 

 surface ; all the others are tolerably smooth. Specimens B and 

 E were returned to Dr. Sinclair ; the others are in the Museum 

 collection. 



* Porter — Journal of a Cruise made to the Pacific Ocean, New York, 

 1822, pp. 215. 216. 



t Darwin — Voyage of the " Beagle," iii., 1839, p. 464. 



