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CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



If it is not, the animal is liberated; and it is said to recover 

 soon from this strange operation. In order to secure the tor- 

 toises, it is not sufficient to turn them like turtle, for they are 

 often able to get on their legs again. 



"There can be little doubt that this tortoise is an aboriginal 

 inhabitant of the Galapagos; for it is found on all, or nearly 

 all, the islands, even on some of the smaller ones where there 

 is no water ; had it been an imported species, this would hardly 

 have been the case in a group which has been so little fre- 

 quented. Moreover, the old buccaneers found this tortoise in 

 greater numbers even than at present : Wood and Rogers also, 

 in 1708, say that it is the opinion of the Spaniards that it is 

 found nowhere else in this quarter of the world." 



The visit of the French frigate "Venus," from June 21 to 

 July 15, 1838, needs merely to be mentioned; while that of 

 the English "Herald," from January 6 to 16, 1846, is chiefly 

 of interest because of the statement of its naturalist, B. See- 

 mann, that "no turpin, or terrapin, are living" on Charles 

 Island where wild dogs, pigs, goats and cattle had increased 

 wonderfully. Terrapin or galapago were bought on Chatham 

 Island at the rate of six shillings apiece, and were two feet 

 two inches in length, one foot ten inches broad, and stood one 

 foot two inches off the ground." 



Dr. Kinberg in the Swedish vessel "Eugenie," in 1852, col- 

 lected reptiles on Charles, Chatham, Indefatigable, James and 

 Albemarle islands. Nothing of importance was discovered 

 regarding the tortoises. The same may be said concerning the 

 researches of Dr. Habel, who, from July 22, 1868, to January 

 1, 1869, made collections of birds, fishes, snakes, lizards, 

 insects, mollusks, and radiates on Abingdon, Bindloe, Hood, 

 and Indefatigable islands. 



From June 10 to 19, 1872, the Hassler Expedition, under 

 Professor Louis Agassiz, collected chiefly fishes, at Charles, 

 Albemarle, Indefatigable, James, and Jervis islands. It is 

 said that a female tortoise was purchased by Professor Agassiz 

 on Charles Island. 



In the year 1875, Commander Cookson of the British navy, 

 visited the Galapagos in the "Peterel." He obtained tortoises 

 on Albemarle and Abingdon islands. The following notes are 

 extracted from his report to Rear-Admiral Cochrane who, at 



