SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. IGl 



on the sandstone rocks, where they were cut over 75 years 

 asfo. 



In the last five years several expeditions have visited the 

 Galapagos Archipelago, and over 150 tortoises, dead and alive, 

 have been taken away. The last lot contained over fifty speci- 

 mens, and was brought to San Francisco in August, 1902, in the 

 schooner Mary Sachs, and taken across to London for the Hon- 

 orable Walter Rothschild. 



The largest tortoise in that shipment was obtained near the 

 top of a large crater, 18 miles from the shore, and 12 men were 

 required to carry it the last 6 miles of the distance. So far as 

 known this specimen is the largest ever taken from the Galapagos 

 Islands, and is larger than any other of the dozens seen there 

 by the collectors. 



It is only within the last two years that the home of these 

 very large tortoises has been invaded by man, but the rapidity 

 with which they are being killed, and the reason for their de- 

 struction, leaves us but little hope that they will survive any 

 longer than did the American bison after the hide hunters began 

 their work of extermination. 



A description of the south side of Albemarle Island, where the 

 largest tortoises live, will give one a fair conception of the vege- 

 tation and general character of the other mountains and islands 

 occupied by tortoises. 



The first 1,000 feet above sea level, which slopes up gradually, 

 is composed of rough lava, in the cracks of which trees and 

 bushes take root and grow during the three or four months of 

 the rainy season. In the next 1,500 feet vegetation is more 

 abundant, and the vines and bushes form a serious impediment 

 to travel. On the trees, ferns and orchids grow in large numbers. 



From about 2,500 feet upward the forest ceases, and long, 

 rank grass and brake-ferns form the principal growth. At this 

 height, during the summer season, a heavy fog hangs over the 

 m.ountain almost continuously, and here a majority of the tor- 

 toises spend their time from May until January. On the moun- 

 tain particularly described, on Albemarle Island, are thousands 

 of cattle, descended from a few placed there years ago. 



Three years ago a gentleman from Guayaquil settled here with 

 some laborers for the purpose of killing the cattle for their hides ; 

 and upon finding it would take three or four years to do this, 

 he established a ranch at the upper edge of the forest, where the 

 cattle and tortoises were most abundant. Last year (1902), in 

 March, we spent two weeks at this ranch, collecting and study- 



