Vol. II, Pt. I] VAN DENBURGH—GALAPAGOS TORTOISES 



331 



General remarks. — The James Island tortoise is a very large, 

 heavy, thick-shelled species which resembles most closely the 

 tortoise of Jervis Island and the Testudo vicina of southern 

 Albemarle. It is somewhat intermediate in shape between the 

 saddle-backed and dome-shaped races. The front of the cara- 

 pace is high, but the middle of the back rises still higher. There 

 is but little narrowing of the front of the carapace. 



Field Notes. — December 26, 1905. — Went down the coast to 

 a place which the Captain says is marked in his epitome as 

 Adam's Cove. Beck and Williams went inland to camp and 

 look for tortoises. 



Jan. 2, 1906. — Mr. Beck returned on the 29th from a trip 

 to the interior. He reports stopping at the camp where the 

 hunters for tortosies encamped, and says there were bones scat- 

 tered all about. He collected some of the best specimens, 

 which will be packed in a box. Williams says he saw an old 

 piece of dung at the same place. No fresh signs of tortoises 

 have been seen by any of the party so far. 



July 27, 1906. — Sailed from Seymour early in the morning 

 and anchored off the coast of the east end of James Island near 

 Bartholomew. The country presents a very desolate appear- 

 ance. It is all fresh lava with a few cacti and some brush. 

 Intend to go in after tortoises tomorrow. 



July 28, 1906. — Went inland for tortoises. Followed up a 

 valley toward Bartholomew Island, and found the brush and 

 cactus thicker as we got higher. I saw no fresh signs of tor- 

 toises, but Beck says he saw some about three weeks old. He 

 also picked up a few old bones. 



July 30- August 4, 1906. — Went in after tortoises about five 

 miles northwest of Sullivan Bay. The country is extremely 

 rough — the worst we have encountered since we arrived in the 

 islands. The lava-flows are all comparatively recent, and many 

 places have no vegetation whatever. There is a valley opposite 

 our anchorage which runs into the interior, and is fairly thick 

 with cactus, small trees, and shrubs. We went up this valley 

 about a mile, and saw our first signs of tortoises. There is 

 no earth whatever here; everything is lava, and it is impos- 

 sible to do any trailing. King, Beck and I looked over the 

 surrounding country for three or four hours. We saw fresh 

 signs, but found no tortoises. I returned to the ship, while 



