Vol. II, Pt. I] VAN DENBURGH— GALAPAGOS TORTOISES 3^]^ 



The tortoises have lots of moss in their stomachs and a kind 

 of thick grass that, when dried, looks somewhat like straw. 

 They also feed largely on cactus. I was able to get the tem- 

 perature of some, and found them to be warm, but they hap- 

 pened to be in the sun. Some measurements were lost be- 

 cause my note book got wet. It is not the best kind of country 

 for books or tools of any description. We have got about 

 twenty-nine tortoises on board up to date and have several 

 more tied up ashore which we expect to get next week. The 

 tortoises here all have very dark livers, while on Indefatigable 

 all were very light-colored and fat. The Duncan tortoises 

 are all very fat except the old males, which had no fat or very 

 little. I am going back the first thing Monday morning to 

 work on tortoises again. 



Dec. 11-16, 1905. — Camped in the central part of Duncan, 

 working on tortoises. We have been here two weeks now, 

 and probably have about eighty tortoises. They were com- 

 mon along the southern and western slopes of the island, where 

 most of them were taken. All the females had eggs in yolk 

 form, and one with hard shell was found. Mr. Beck found 

 two eggs exposed on the ground. We kept them to blow, 

 though both were cracked. We had a light rain all night on 

 the twelfth, and the tortoises came out from the brush to the 

 water holes. Those we found after this were mostly filled 

 with water, which seemed to be all through the body, and 

 would come out as soon as the plastron was cut into. The 

 stomachs contained cactus, grass and moss. Some of the 

 old males taken would stretch out their necks and, with mouths 

 wide open, would have a somewhat fierce expression, but they 

 made no attempt to bite. Several pictures were taken — one of 

 an old male which was holding a small female by the hind 

 leg. The old tortoises had lichen growing on their backs and 

 at a short distance looked exactly like blocks of lava, which 

 were covered with the same growth. I shall have to spend 

 a few days now getting the tortoises put in shape. With such 

 a grand rush they could not well be in the best condition. We 

 have to go to Conway Bay tomorrow, and from there to 

 Jervis and James. 



Jan. 30, 1906. — The Duncan tortoises are doing well, and 

 eat a good portion of cactus. They are very slow and delib- 



