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



325 



General remarks. — The Chatham Island tortoise is one of 

 the lowest, most depressed, of the Galapagoan races. It is 

 most similar in shape to Testudo guntheri and Testudo micro- 

 phyes of Albemarle Island. It differs from both in the fre- 

 quent, or perhaps constant, reduction of the pectoral plates. 

 The only living specimen found by our expedition was a small 

 but very old female. It is much more dome-shaped than the 

 males found in the cave. It had lost one of its fore limbs in 

 early life, only the head of the humerus remaining, and the 

 shell is not symmetrically developed, being smaller on this 

 side. 



Field Notes. — October 15-18, 1905. — Three days were spent 

 in hunting near Wreck Bay, Chatham, but only geckos and 

 Tropiduri were found. 



Jan. 24, 1906. — Anchor was again cast in Wreck Bay. 



Jan. 25, 1906. — Went ashore for the morning. Pouring 

 rain most of the time. No one did much collecting except near 

 the beach. Found only a few geckos and Tropiduri. 



Jan. 26, 1906. — Weather dried up a little, and we went 

 ashore again. Too wet to do much. 



Jan. 27, 1906. — Went ashore collecting, and made for higher 

 altitudes. Went up to about 800 feet, and found everything 

 wet and muddy with no signs of any reptiles. 



Jan. 29, 1906. — Went to the top of Chatham Island. Found 

 the country different from anything seen so far. It is just 

 like large pastures and fields of grass. The soil is damp every- 

 where, and no reptiles were seen. The country to the east is 

 a large plateau, and seems to be wooded fairly well in some 

 portions. There are many small lakes on the opposite side 

 from our anchorage (the southwest side). The island is so 

 easily accessible that it seems hardly probable that there could 

 be a tortoise left on it. The next time we stop here, we prob- 

 ably shall be able to explore the other side for a couple of 

 days at least, if the weather is good. 



Feb. 7, 1906. — Sailed at day-break for Fresh Water Bay, 

 Chatham Island, but on account of wind and currents failed 

 to make it ; so made an anchorage east of Stephens Bay. 



Feb. 8, 1906. — Went ashore at our present anchorage, and 

 worked up to about 1000 feet altitude. The country is all 

 rough lava thickly grown over with trees and shrubs. The 



