THE TORTOISE. 



61 



GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. 



are the largest, the females rarely growing to so great a size : 

 the male can readily be distinguished from the female by 

 the greater length of its tail. The tortoises which live on 

 those islands where there is no water, or in the lower and 

 dry parts of the other islands, feed chiefly on the juicy cactus. 

 They are very fond of water, drinking large quantities, and 

 wallowing in the mud. The larger islands alone have springs, 

 and these are always situated toward the central parts, and at 

 a considerable height. 

 The tortoises, therefore, 

 which inhabit the low- 

 er districts, are obliged, 

 when thirsty, to travel 

 from a long distance. 

 Hence, broad and well- 

 beaten paths branch 

 off in every direction 

 from the wells down to 

 the sea-coast; and the 

 Spaniards, by following them up, first discovered the water- 

 ing-places. When I landed at Chatham Island I could not 

 imagine what animal travelled so methodically along well- 

 chosen tracks. Near the springs it was a curious spectacle 

 to behold many of these huge creatures one set eagerly 

 travelling onward with outstretched necks, and another set 

 returning, after having drunk their fill. When the tortoise 

 arrives at the spring he buries his head in the water above 

 his eyes, and greedily swallows great mouthfuls, at the rate 

 of about ten in a minute. The inhabitants say each animal 



THE TORTOISE. 



