388 GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO. (cular. xvi. 
islands, but they are much more numerous in the lower and ste- 
rile districts near the coast. I cannot give a more forcible proof 
of their numbers, than by stating that when we were left at James 
Island, we could not for some time find a spot free from their 
burrows on which to pitch our single tent. Like their brothers 
the sea-kind, they are ugly animals, ofa yellowish orange beneath, 
and of a brownish red colour above: from their low facial angle 
they have a singularly stupid appearance. They are, perhaps, 
of a rather less size than the marine species; but several of 
them weighed between ten and fifteen pounds. In their move- 
ments they are lazy and half torpid. When not frightened, they 
slowly crawl along with their tails and bellies dragging on the 
ground. They often stop, and doze for a minute or two, with 
closed eyes and hind legs spread out on the parched soil. 
They inhabit burrows, which they sometimes make between 
fragments of lava, but more generally on level patches of the 
soft sandstone-like tuff. The holes do not appear to be very 
deep, and they enter the ground at a small angle; so that when 
walking over these lizard-warrens, the soil is constantly giving 
way, much to the annoyance of the tired walker. This animal, 
when making its burrow, works alternately the opposite sides of 
its body. One front leg for a short time scratches up the soil, 
and throws it towards the hind foot, which is well placed so as 
to heave it beyond the mouth of the hole. That side of the 
body being tired, the other takes up the task, and so on alter- 
nately. I watched one fora long time, till half its body was 
buried ; I then walked up and pulled it by the tail; at this it 
was greatly astonished, and soon shuffled up to see what was the 
matter ; and then stared me in the face, as much as to say, 
‘¢ What made you pull my tail?” 
They feed by day, and do not wander far from their burrows ; 
if frightened, they rush to them with a most awkward gait. 
Except when running down hill, they cannot move very fast, 
apparently from the lateral position of their legs. They are not 
at all timorous: when attentively watching any one, they curl 
their tails, and, raising themselves on their front legs, nod their 
heads vertically, with a quick movement, and try to look very 
fierce: but in reality they are not at all so; if one just stamps 
on the ground, down go their tails, and off they shuffle as quickly 
