\'oL. II, Pt. I] VAN DENBURGH— GALAPAGOS TORTOISES 



227 



the suggestion of Dr. Giinther, had instructed him to obtain 

 the desired information and specimens. 



"These tortoises are extinct in Charles Island ; and only a 

 very few individuals are supposed to survive on Chatham 

 Island. In Hood, James, and Indefatigable islands the num- 

 bers are so reduced that they are no longer hunted, the few 

 left being in the most inaccessible parts of the islands; and I 

 was assured that a search of a fortnight might not result in 

 finding a single individual on either of these islands. Albe- 

 marle and Abingdon are the only remaining islands in which 

 they have ever been found. In parts of Albemarle Island 

 they are still very abundant, especially at the south-east end. 



"They are still tolerably numerous near Tagus Cove. Land- 

 ing a party of twenty-four men about half a mile south-east 

 of Tagus Cove, we found in a few hours thirty tortoises ; the 

 three largest weighed respectively 241 pounds, 185 pounds, 

 and 173 pounds; these, I was told, were as large as they are 

 commonly found now. 



"Tagus Cove is a favorite resort of whalers for the purpose 

 of getting tortoises. The anchorage is perfectly secure; and 

 the custom is for almost the entire crew to be landed until as 

 many tortoises are secured as can be conveniently taken on 

 board, some whalers going to sea with as many as 100. 



"We found a good trail leading from the landing-place (at 

 one of the gullies before mentioned as having pools of fresh 

 water at its mouth) to the ground where tortoises are found, 

 a distance of about three miles ; quantities of tortoise-shells 

 and traces of fires showed the numerous camping-grounds. 



"Tortoises were never, I believe, very abundant on Abing- 

 don Island : our searching party found four on this island. 

 They were on the high ground; and it was a work of great 

 labour getting them down to the boats. The distance was 

 about four miles; but the ground was exceedingly rugged, 

 and covered with thick brush, through which a trail had to be 

 cut for the entire distance. The largest found on this island 

 weighed 201 pounds, and the smallest 135 pounds. 



"In consequence of the extent of Albemarle Island, and the 

 inaccessibility of many parts of it, I have no doubt these 

 animals are still very numerous on it. and likely to be so for 

 a long period, even at the present rate at which they are 



