58 



HELLER 



Rather common on the higher parts of Duncan Island especially 

 about the fertile basins of the old craters. The exact locality of 

 the type is unknown. Giinther has referred it, at different times, 

 to both Charles and Indefatigable Islands for various reasons, none 

 of which are very convincing. The Indefatigable form as de- 

 scribed by Ecuadorians is a much larger and more symmetric- 

 ally shaped species. The Tropidui-i of the two islands are so 

 different that we would be surprised to find the Testudo showing no 

 differences. 



Duncan Island is comparatively low and, being centrally situated, 

 is robbed of a good deal of moisture by the weather islands. Though 

 without living water and subject to drought for several consecutive 

 seasons yet it has supported many tortoises. When we visited the 

 island in May, 1899, in the height of the rainy season, we found the 

 crater dry and the deep soil fissured in all directions by the heat, indi- 

 cating little rainfall that season. The tortoises evidently find enough 

 moisture in the Opuntia^ or other vegetation, to supply their wants 

 during these dry seasons. 



The species has a longer carapace and limbs than T. microphyes 

 which may be attributed to climatic conditions, still dryer than those 

 which prevail at Tagus Cove. It is readily distinguishable from 

 either of the Albemarle species by its peculiar flaring and elongate 

 carapace and its slightly reddish coloration. Its size is considerably 

 less, the largest males found weighing only about fifty pounds. 



MEASUREMENTS OF Tcstudo ephippUim. ALL ADULT. 



Cat. No. Stan. Univ. Mus. 



4802 



4803 



Carapace, length 



" " over curve 



" width 



" '* posteriorly at 8th 

 marginal 



" height at nuchal notch 



" " median 



Gular plate to nuchal notch 



Anal plate to last marginal 



Plastron, length 



" *' bridge 



width 



" concavity 



Fore limb from elbow, length 



Mind limb from knee, length 



Male. 



mm. 



750 



% 



114 



65 



66 

 42 

 49 

 37 

 13 

 80 



39 

 63 



Male. 



Male. 



mm. 

 640 



80 



84 

 53 

 55 

 42 

 20 

 93 

 47 

 77 

 16 



38 

 41 



mm. 

 720 



73 



77 

 54 

 57 

 44 

 21 



85 

 44 

 68 

 16 

 40 

 40 



Female. 



Female. 



mm. 

 600 



117 

 70 



72 

 46 

 52 

 30 

 15 

 82 



42 

 66 

 04 



mm. 

 512 



75 



75 

 52 

 54 

 39 

 19 

 91 

 46 

 72 

 II 



35 

 39 



Female. 



mm. 

 530 



8r 



51 



53 

 38 

 13 

 92 



50 



77 

 10 



39 

 38 



