Vol. II, Pt. I] VAN DENBURGH— GALAPAGOS TORTOISES 237 



about half an inch or an inch to the diameter of the plate. Its 

 total gain during the year was : in length of carapace, four 

 inches; in breadth, three inches; and in height, one and one- 

 fourth inches. During the colder winter months the consump- 

 tion of food was greatly lessened and growth correspondingly 

 retarded. The increase in weight during the summer months 

 amounted to nearly three pounds monthly. This tortoise now 

 [1902] weighs 130 pounds, having gained 100 pounds in three 

 years. This rapid increase may be abnormal, but it shows 

 how rapid their growth may be under favorable conditions of 

 food and warmth, which we believe are even more favorable in 

 the Galapagos where no cool winter season retards their 

 growth." 



In 1900 Captain Noyes again visited the Galapagos Archi- 

 pelago. He searched for tortoises on Duncan Island, but 

 found only four; and stated that he thought no more would 

 be found there. In the southern part of Albemarle, however, 

 he had better luck, securing nineteen tortoises. These were 

 delivered to Mr. Frank B. Webster, who sent seven of them to 

 Rothschild. Mr. Webster states : 



"In all about a hundred and twenty-five tortoises from the 

 Galapagos Islands have passed through my hands, the great 

 majority of which were for the Honorable Walter Rothschild. 

 I consider, now that these creatures are so nearly extinct, that 

 any remaining ones will be only stragglers, and will only be 

 secured at a great expense of time, hardship and money." 



Early in 1901, Mr. Beck returned to the Galapagos Islands 

 to hunt for tortoises for Mr. Rothschild. One small specimen 

 was taken on Indefatigable February 16, 1901. Duncan 

 Island yielded five tortoises. Three were taken at Tagus 

 Cove, and one at Cape Berkeley, Albemarle Island, and two 

 were secured on Abingdon. The single specimen from Cape 

 Berkeley proved to be a new species and was named by Roths- 

 child Testiido becki. 



In November of the same year, Mr. Beck again visited the 

 Galapagos Islands, in the little schooner "Mary Sacks." He 

 returned to San Francisco August 15, 1902, with twenty-three 

 dead and twenty-seven living tortoises. Eight or nine of these 

 were from Indefatigable, six from Bank's Bay, three from 

 Tagus Cove, five from Iguana Cove, and the rest from Vilamil. 



