1/8 ON THE TORTOISES ETC, OF GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. [Feb. 1, 



February 1, 1876. 

 G. R. Waterhouse, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



The Secretary read the following extract from a Report by Com- 

 mander Cookson, R.N., of a visit by H.M.S. " Peterel" to the Gala- 

 pagos Islands in July 1875, which had been communicated to him 

 by the First Lord of the Admiralty : — 



" A notice of these islands would be incomplete without some 

 reference to the Tortoises for which they are so famous, and from 

 whom they derive their name. 



" These animals are extinct in Charles Island ; and only a very 

 few individuals are supposed to survive on Chatham Island. In 

 Hood, James, and Indefatigable Islands the numbers are so reduced 

 that they are no longer hunted, the few left being in the most 

 inaccessible parts of the islands ; and I was assured that a search of 

 a fortnight might not result in finding a single individual on either 

 of these islands. Albemarle and Abingdon are the only remaining 

 islands in which they have ever been found. In parts of Albemarle 

 Island they are still very abundant, especially at the south-east end. 



" They are still tolerably numerous near Tagus Cove. Landing 

 a party of twenty-four men about half a mile south-east of Tagus 

 Cove, we found in a few hours thirty tortoises : the three largest 

 weighed respectively 241 lb., 185 lb., and 173 lb. ; these, I was told, 

 were as large as they are commonly found now. 



" Tagus Cove is a favourite resort of whalers for the purpose of 

 getting Tortoises. The anchorage is perfectly secure ; and the custom 

 is for almost the entire crew to be landed until as many Tortoises 

 are secured as can conveniently be taken on board, some whalers 

 going to sea with as many as 100. 



"We found a good trail leading from the landing-place (at one of 

 the gullies before mentioned as having pools of fresh water at its 

 mouth) to the ground where the Tortoises are found, a distance of 

 about three miles ; quantities of Tortoise shells, and traces of fires 

 showed the numerous camping-grounds. 



" Tortoises were never, I believe, very abundant on Abingdon 

 Island ; our searching party found four on this island. They were 

 on the high ground ; and it was a work of great labour getting them 

 down to the boats. The distance was about four miles ; but the 

 ground was exceedingly rugged, and covered with thick brush, 

 through which a trail had to be cut for the entire distance. The 

 largest found on this island weighed 201 lb., and the smallest 

 135 lb. 



"In consequence of the extent of Albemarle Island, and the inac- 

 cessibility of many parts of it, I have no doubt these animals are still 

 very numerous on it, and are likely to be so for a long period even 

 at the present rate at which they are destroyed ; but I have already 

 shown the havoc made amongst them by the oil-makers. This is 

 the cause of tlieir being nearly extinct on James and Indefatigable 



