334 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



of the Galapagos Islands, some 500 miles off the coast of Ecuador, 

 giant tortoises were found in great numbers within the last century, 

 and on certain of the islands were fairly common less than 25 years 

 ago. In addition to the thousands carried away by vessels as food 

 for the crews, great numbers have been killed for the oil alone. 



A number of species of giant tortoises have been described from 

 the Galapagos, and it is believed that most of the islands of the 

 archipelago have developed separate forms; and on at least one 

 island two distinct species were found, separated by a natural bar- 

 rier. The food of these curious creatures is chiefly grass, although 

 at certain seasons a great quantity of cactus is eaten. Mr. Edmund 

 Heller, who visited the Galapagos Islands in 1898 and 1899, collected 

 one specimen which had the whole palate and pharynx bristling with 

 cactus spines, and noted that the tortoises eagerly devoured the stems 

 and fruit of the cactus quite unmindful of the spines and apparently 

 without suffering. Heller states that the tortoises are quite active, 

 and though slow are so persistent in their journeys that they cover 

 several miles a day. 



Specimens of two species of Galapagos tortoises were obtained for 

 the park collection from the material collected by the Rothschild 

 expedition to the islands in 1897. The Albemarle Island tortoise 

 (Testudo vicini) is perhaps the largest living tortoise, and speci- 

 mens have been known which were over 4 feet in length and probably 

 weighed nearly 400 pounds. The Duncan Island tortoise (T. ephip- 

 pimri) is somewhat smaller. A third species of the giant Galapagos 

 Island tortoises from Indefatigable Island (T. porteri) was more 

 recently received through the interest of Dr. Frederic W. Goding, 

 consul general at Guayaquil, Ecuador. A smaller related tortoise 

 (T. denticulata) is from the continent of South America. 



In the pine barrens of the Southern States, a comparatively large 

 tortoise, curious for its burrowing habits, is known as the gopher. 

 This species (Gopherus polyphemus) grows to a length of 15 inches 

 and a specimen almost of that size from peninsular Florida is on 

 exhibition. Like the giant tortoises, this species is herbivorous and 

 is particularly fond of fruits of various kinds. Related species 

 shown are found in the arid regions of the Southwest and other parts 

 of the world. 



The common eastern tortoise or box turtle {Terrapene Carolina) 

 is found wild within the park. It is a smaller species than the 

 gopher, and the plastron or lower shell is so hinged as to permit the 

 animal when alarmed to close itself completely within its armor. 



Specimens of the common native snapping turtle are sometimes 

 captured within the park. One of these reptiles caused considerable 

 damage among the waterfowl in the beaver pond before he was 



