328 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



14—15. — Two more skeletons all crumbling away. 



it appears that the tortoises fell into this cave while in 

 search of food or water. Once in, it was impossible for any 

 to get out, and consequently they starved to death. Some of 

 the shells lay with the plastron upward, while others were in 

 a perfectly natural position. They were protected from mois- 

 ture and probably had been in the cave many years. 

 . Feb. 15, 1906.— Sailed for Fresh Water Bay. 



Feb. 21, 1906. — Arrived at Wreck Bay this morning after 

 an attempt to reach Fresh Water Bay. 



Feb. 22, 1906. — Met the schooner from Guayaquil and saw 

 the Captain, who is an Englishman. He says he has taken 

 tortoises on Chatham Island, and that he ate the last one on 

 the island some twenty years ago. 



July 3-July 8, 1906, were also spent at Chatham, but noth- 

 ing further was learned regarding tortoises. 



