31Q CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



General remarks. — The Duncan Island tortoise is one of 

 the smaller species. The size is by no means proportionate 

 to the age, if one may judge from the ossification of the 

 points of growth in the bones and the loss of striation of the 

 plates of the carapace. Some of the large males seem to be 

 quite young, and some of the oldest females are very small. 

 The large males are most similar in shape to those of Abing- 

 don. There is much variation in shape in both sexes, as is 

 shown in the tables and charts of measurements and the pho- 

 tographs of specimens. A number of specimens have the 

 pectoral plates not meeting on the midline. 



An egg (No. 8423) from Duncan Island measures 2.34x 

 2.30 inches. It was found lying on the surface of the ground 

 in December, 1905. 



Field Notes — Dec. 1, 1905. — Sailed for Duncan Island in the 

 morning, and anchored off the northeast side of the island at 

 dusk. Light winds all day. 



Dec. 2, 1905. — Skinned two turtles and a tortoise which 

 Hunter brought down from the edge of the crater. Beck 

 went ashore looking for tortoises, and found twelve, which 

 he tied up. Monday we start to skin them and get them to 

 the vessel. I shall clear things up somewhat before going on 

 Tuesday to camp with Beck. Beck found the skull of a tor- 

 toise in good condition, and brought it down. 



Dec. 4, 1905. — Beck went into camp today on the top of 

 the crater. I go up tomorrow to skin tortoises. Stewart, 

 Hunter, and Ochsner brought down a tortoise each today ; two 

 males and a female. 



Dec. 5, 1905. — Finished the skinning of the three tortoises 

 brought down yesterday. All were very fat, and had very 

 long necks for their size. The female had eggs in yolk and 

 one nearly developed. 



Dec. 6-9, 1905. — I was in camp skinning and carrying tor- 

 toises. We had our camp in a valley near the top of the 

 island just south of the large crater. The country is very 

 rough, and covered in most places with thick brush and thorn 

 bushes. No tortoises were found in the crater, but Beck saw 

 the tracks of one there. We found several old males, which 

 were brought down alive, and which will be kept if possible. 



