SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT. 121 



Nature, have survived to the present day, and the crocodilians, 

 the reptiles of to-day, when compared with their gigantic an- 

 cestors, are insignificant creatures. 



There are fourteen distinct species of giant tortoises. Six of 

 these inhabit the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Four 

 are found on the Aldabra Islands in the Indian Ocean, and four 

 inhabit the Mauritius-Rodriguez group of islands. All the spe- 

 cies are rapidly becoming extinct, and reputable scientific authori- 

 ties have declared that several species have disappeared during 

 the present century. On the continents of Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa these creatures are represented only by fossil remains. 



Of the giant tortoises now in captivity, all save a very few 

 have been obtained from the Galapagos Islands. This archipelago 

 is situated on the equator, about five hundred miles west of the 

 coast of South America, and belongs to Ecuador, The islands 

 are thirteen in number, and all are of volcanic origin. The larg- 

 est and most important are Albemarle, Indefatigable, Chatham, 

 Charles, James, Narborough, Hood, Barrington, Bindloes, and 

 Abingdon Islands. 



During the past ten years a number of expeditions have visited 

 the islands for the purpose of procuring tortoises. The first ex- 

 pedition resulting in the arrival of tortoises in this country, was 

 made by the United States ship Albatross, which touched at 

 the islands in 1888. Eighteen specimens were procured, and 

 shipped to Washington, D. C. Long prior to the visit of the 

 Albatross, however, the United States ship Essex explored the 

 islands of the Galapagos group in 1812. Two large tortoises 

 were captured. They were presented to a South Sea Island 

 chief. In 1898 these same tortoises were secured by the Hon. 

 Walter Rothschild, and shipped to London, where they now are. 



In 1897 Mr. Rothschild arranged an expedition to the Gala- 

 pagos Islands for giant tortoises. The total expenses for this 

 expedition were $15,500. Fifty-nine tortoises were captured, but 

 none exceeded two hundred pounds in weight. All the islands 

 were visited. On Duncan Island twenty-seven specimens were 

 captured, representing a species known technically as Testudo 

 ephippium. The collection reached London in 1898, and figured 

 as a special exhibit in the Zoological Conference then in progress. 

 They were finally distributed by their owner among the zoological 

 gardens of Europe. 



