228 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Peoc. 4th Ser. 



destroyed ; but I have already shown the havoc made amongst 

 them by the oil-makers. This is the cause of their being 

 nearly extinct on James and Indefatigable islands, where they 

 used to be so numerous. Admiral Fitzroy found a party on 

 James Island making oil in 1835. 



"In Abingdon Island, where they are not numerous, I 

 believe they are doomed to destruction directly the orchilla- 

 pickers are placed on the island ; for a party of sixty or eighty 

 men will soon hunt over this small island and discover every 

 individual on it." 



The "Challenger" reached the Galapagos Islands shortly 

 after the "Peterel." It carried home some of the tortoises 

 secured by Commander Cookson, but obtained no additional 

 information. 



In April (4-16), 1888, the United States Fish Commission 

 steamer "Albatross" collected reptiles on Albemarle, Charles, 

 Chatham, Duncan, and Indefatigable islands. Tortoises were 

 secured on Albemarle and Duncan. A second visit by the 

 "Albatross" with Professor A. Agassiz, from March 28 to 

 April 4, 1891, resulted in no new information concerning tor- 

 toises. 



On June 10, 1891, Dr. George Baur and Mr. C. F. Adams 

 reached the Galapagos Islands. They remained until Septem- 

 ber 6 of the same year, and collected on Albemarle, Abingdon, 

 Bindloe, Barrington, Charles, Chatham, Duncan, Hood, Inde- 

 fatigable, James, Jervis, and Tower islands. Tortoises were 

 found only on Duncan and in southern Albemarle. Twenty- 

 one specimens were collected — eight on Duncan and thirteen 

 from southeastern Albemarle. 



Acting for the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Mr. Frank B. Web- 

 ster, in 1897, organized an expedition to search for tortoises in 

 the Galapagos Archipelago, under the leadership of Mr. C. M. 

 Harris. The original party having been broken up at Panama 

 by the death from yellow fever of three of its five members, a 

 second party was gathered at San Francisco, where Harris 

 had chartered the "Lila and Mattie," a small schooner com- 

 manded by Captain Linbridge. Those composing the collect- 

 mg force of the second party were Mr. Harris, Mr. F. P. 

 Drowne, Mr. G. D. Hull, and Mr. R. H. Beck. They set sail 

 from San Francisco June 21, and arrived at the Galapagos 



