258 



CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



is less, the straight width is usually greater, the plastron 

 shorter. 



In the Iguana Cove tortoises the curved width averages 

 greater than the curved length, while in the James and Jervis 

 tortoises the reverse is true. 



There is current in the islands a rumor, which I have been 

 unable to substantiate, that the tortoises on Jervis Island were 

 introduced there by Dr. Baur. If this rumor is founded upon 

 fact, the tortoises must have originated in southern Albemarle, 

 and are, of course, identical with the T. vicina of that region. 

 Certainly the Academy's specimen from Jervis has many points 

 of resemblance to those from Iguana Cove. The curved length 

 is greater, but I am unable to point out other definite points 

 of distinction; although one gets the impression that differ- 

 ences exist, and would probably become evident, had one a 

 series of specimens to compare. All this being true, it seems 

 best, pending further information, to regard the Jervis Island 

 tortoise as native to, and characteristic of, that island. I do 

 not, however, feel justified in giving it a new name. 



Rothschild gives only the straight length of his type of T. 

 wallacei, and without other measurements it is hazardous to 

 attempt to say which form it represents. However, the photo- 

 graph before me shows a flat-backed shell which differs in 

 many respects from my James Island specimens, while it seems 

 to agree much more closely with the Jervis Island tortoise and 

 the T. vicina from southern Albemarle. Rothschild had speci- 

 mens of T. vicina with which to compare his T. wallacei, and 

 evidently thought them distinct, although he says they belong 

 to the same section. This leaves only the Jervis tortoise. I 

 confess it is with a certain lack of confidence that I have con- 

 cluded to use the name T. zvallacei for this Jervis Island tor- 

 toise. Nevertheless it seems the best way out of two diffi- 

 culties. 



Having thus considered these questions of nomenclature 

 we may now return to our list of races and apply to them the 

 following names : 



