Vol. II, Pt. I] VAN DENB URGH—SLEVIN—GALAPAGOAN LIZARDS 163 



occurred all through the brush, and sometimes climbed up into 

 the cactus trees. Although they were scattered everywhere, 

 I found them more numerous near the beach, in the sand and 

 brush, than on rocky soil. As a rule, they would stand per- 

 fectly still and gaze at one, but I noticed a few of the large 

 males bobbing their heads up and down. Sept. 26. I took 

 the eggs from a female Tropiduriis and preserved them. They 

 were five in number. These lizards were abundant and ex- 

 tremely tame. I saw some eating green leaves on the shrubs, 

 and some would pick up crumbs from our lunch. Feb. 2, 

 1906. Found the Tropidiirus common near the coast, but 

 none to speak of near the top of the island. The vegetation 

 is well dried up now, there being only one or two plants in 

 leaf. I examined the stomachs of six males and one female 

 Tropidiirus, and found that all contained the leaves of a juicy 

 green shrub that grows along the shore and is common on all 

 the islands. > June 25, 1906. Went down to the albatross 

 colony and gathered in a few sea-iguanas and lizards. I find 

 Tropiduri abundant everywhere, and occasionally see them 

 on top of the cactus trees, where they go probably in search of 

 insects. They have few enemies ; hawks are not very plentiful, 

 and the only birds that seem to harm them much are the mock- 

 ing birds (Nesomimus). These can be seen picking at the 

 lizards' tails, breaking them off in the middle, and flying away 

 with the ends. 



Gardner-near-Hood, Sept. 27, 1905. Found the Tropiduri 

 fairly common, but a little more shy than on Hood Island. As 

 a rule, the females seemed to be a little smaller than those on 

 Hood, and a little darker under the throat, where the color is 

 almost chocolate. Feb. 23, 1906. Saw a Tropidurus feeding on 

 maggots on a dead seal, and others eating flies; but they ap- 

 pear to eat leaves more than anything else. 



Heller states that the food of the Hood Island Tropidurus 

 consists of grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, seed-capsules 

 and berries. 



General remarks. — The Hood Island Tropidurus attains a 

 greater size than is reached by any other species of the archi- 

 pelago. It seems to be most nearly related to the Charles 



