SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 161 
on the sandstone rocks, where they were cut over 75 years 
ago. 
In the last five years several expeditions have visited the 
Galapagos Archipelago, and over 150 tortoises, dead and alive, 
have been taken away. ‘The last lot contained over fifty speci- 
mens, and was brought to San Francisco in August, 1902, in the 
schooner Mary Sachs, and taken across to London for the Hon- 
orable Walter Rothschild. 
The largest tortoise in that shipment was obtained near the 
top of a large crater, 18 miles from the shore, and 12 men were 
required to carry it the last 6 miles of the distance. So far as 
known this specimen is the largest ever taken from the Galapagos 
Islands, and is larger than any other of the dozens seen there 
by the collectors. 
It is only within the last two years that the home of these 
very large tortoises has been invaded by man, but the rapidity 
with which they are being killed, and the reason for their de- 
struction, leaves us but little hope that they will survive any 
longer than did the American bison after the hide hunters began 
their work of extermination. 
A description of the south side of Albemarle Island, where the 
largest tortoises live, will give one a fair conception of the vege- 
tation and general character of the other mountains and islands 
occupied by tortoises. 
The first 1,000 feet above sea level, which slopes up gradually, 
is composed of rough lava, in the cracks of which trees. and 
bushes take root and grow during the three or four months of 
the rainy season. In the next 1,500 feet vegetation is more 
abundant, and the vines and bushes form a serious impediment 
to travel. On the trees, ferns and orchids grow in large numbers. 
From about 2,500 feet upward the forest ceases, and long, 
rank grass and brake-ferns form the principal growth. At this 
height, during the summer season, a heavy fog hangs over the 
mountain almost continuously, and here a majority of the tor- 
toises spend their time from May until January. On the moun- 
tain particularly described, on Albemarle Island, are thousands 
of cattle, descended from a few placed there years ago. 
Three years ago a gentleman from Guayaquil settled here with 
some laborers for the purpose of killing the cattle for their hides ; 
and upon finding it would take three or four years to do this, 
he established a ranch at the upper edge of the forest, where the 
cattle and tortoises were most abundant. Last year (1902), in 
March, we spent two weeks at this ranch, collecting and study- 
