A YOUNG NATURALIST. 125 



"It is a galapago," said I'Encuerado; "it is of no use for food." 



This creature, wHich is called by the savants the alligator-tortoise, 

 measured more than a yard from his head to his tail. The latter 

 appendage was almost as long as the body, and was covered with 

 a triple row of scaly crests fitting into each other. The gray, 

 wrinkled, and almost scaly skin of the reptile formed rolls round 

 its neck of a disgusting appearance — one might almost fancy 

 them unhealthy excrescences. The horrible beast turned towards 

 us its gaping mouth with a vicious manner. The turtle-fishers 

 much dread the galapagos, which, being more agile than the 

 ordinary tortoise, give them, sometimes, frightful wounds, either 

 with their sharp claws or their horny jaws. Their flesh is 

 declared to be unwholesome. 



Just as we were leaving, I'Encuerado wanted to cut off the 

 reptile's head. Sumichrast opposed this useless slaughter, and 

 was inclined to replace the tortoise on its feet. But the Indian 

 refused to assist in this good work, for he asserted that it was 

 equivalent to leaving a rattle-snake alive. Two or three times, 

 the animal was very nearly repaying our kindness by a bite; 

 for, as soon as we came near, it managed to twist round on 

 its upper shell. We were about to abandon it to its fate, when 

 suddenly, the slope of the gTound helping us, we managed to 

 set it on its feet; as soon as it was turned over, it rushed at 

 Lucien. The enormous rolls round its neck, being all distended, 

 made it carry its head very forward, so, with a single blow of 

 his cutlass, I'Encuerado decapitated the assailant. We were then 

 witnesses to a strange sight, for whilst G-ringalet was furiously 

 attacking the motionless head, the feet, continuing to move, 

 bore along the body, which in a moment disappeared in the lake. 

 Although we had often before seen tortoises survive for a con- 

 siderable time wounds which were certainly mortal, the strength 

 of the nervous system, which was exhibited in this reptile, 

 almost staggered us. 



" Now, my brave friend, try and swim without your head, and 

 take care not to break your skull against the rocks ! " cried the 

 exasperated Indian ; " the father saves your life, and then you 

 want to hurt his child ! You hardly saw me, or you 'd have 



