58 WHAT MR. DARWIN SAW. 



GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. 



that this reptile has no enemy whatever on shore, whereas 

 at sea it must often fall a prey to the numerous sharks. 

 Hence, probably, a fixed and hereditary instinct that the 

 shore is its place of safety ; so that whatever the danger may 

 be, there it takes refuge. 



We will now turn to the land species of Amblyrliyncus, 

 with a round tail and toes without a web. Some of these 

 lizards inhabit the high and damp parts of the islands, but 

 they are much more numerous in the lower and barren dis- 

 tricts 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 yel- 

 lowish orange beneath, and of a brownish -red color above. 

 When making its burrow, this animal works by turns the 

 opposite sides of its body. One front leg for a short time 

 scratches up the soil and throws it toward the hind foot, 

 which is well placed so as to heave it beyond the mouth of 

 the hole. That side of the body being tired, the other takes 

 up the task, and so on alternately. 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 bur- 

 rows; if frightened, they rush to them with a most awkward 

 gait. When attentively watching any one, they curl their 



