388 GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO. [chap. xrii. 



islands, but they are much more numerous in the lower and ste- 

 rile districts near the coast. I cannot give a more forcible proof 

 of their numbers, than by stating that when we were left at James 

 Island, we could not for some time find a spot free from their 

 burrows on which to pitch our single tent. Like their brothers 

 the sea-kind, they are ugly animals, of a yellowish orange beneath, 

 and of a brow^nish red colour above : from their low facial angle 

 they have a singularly stupid appearance. They are, perhaps, 

 of a rather less size than the marine species ; but several of 

 them weighed betw^een ten and fifteen pounds. In their move- 

 ments they are lazy and half torpid. When not frightened, they 

 slowly crawl along with their tails and bellies dragging on the 

 ground. They often stop, and doze for a minute or two, with 

 closed eyes and hind legs spread out on the parched soil. 



They inhabit' burrows, which they sometimes make between 

 fragments of lava, but more generally on level patches of the 

 soft sandstone-like tuff. The holes do not appear to be very 

 deep, and they enter the ground at a small angle ; so that when 

 walking over these lizard-warrens, the soil is constantly giving 

 way, much to the annoyance of the tired Malker. This animal, 

 when making its burrow^, works alternately the opposite sides of 

 its body. One front leg for a short time scratches up the soil, 

 and throws it towards the hind foot, which is well placed so as 

 to heave it beyond the mouth of tlie hole. That side of the 

 body being tired, the other takes up the task, and so on alter- 

 nately. I watched one for a long time, till half its body was 

 buried ; I then walked up and pulled it by the tail ; at this it 

 was greatly astonished, and soon shuffled up to see what was the 

 matter ; and then stared me in the face, as much as to say, 

 " What made you pull my tail? " 



They feed by day, and do not wander far from their burrows ; 

 if frightened, they rush to them with a most awkward gait. 

 Except when running down hill, they cannot move very fast, 

 apparently from the lateral position of their legs. They are not 

 at all timorous : when attentively watching any one, they curl 

 their tails, and, raising themselves on their front legs, nod their 

 heads vertically, with a quick movement, and try to look very 

 fierce : but in reality they are not at all so ; if one just stamps 

 on the ground, down go their tails, and ofi'they shuffle as quickly 



