294 THE GALAPAGOS TORTOISES. 
viduals at different ages, or in different sexes, are such that measurements 
taken of specimens and reduced to percentages of the direct length parallel 
those from the other localities to so great an extent that they are of no real 
assistance in determining varieties or species. 
Testudo elephantopus Harlan has under various names been reported from 
five of the islands: — Espafiola (Hood), Pinzon (Duncan), North Isabela 
(Albemarle), Fernandina (Narborough), and Pinta (Abingdon). As will be 
seen by reference to the chart, Plate 1, this distribution might have been effected 
entirely by the currents after the species had secured a location on Espafiola 
or it may in part have been brought about by the intervention of man. The 
agency of the currents, from the directions indicated by the arrows on the chart, 
is entitled to much favor. For it is sheer assumption that denies the possibility 
of drift and establishment by its agency on either of these localities to an animal 
of such buoyancy, as also that denying ability to swim or otherwise exert itself 
in the water to a creature possessed of so much muscular ability, endurance, 
and persistence in walking and climbing. While the buccaneers, the whalers, 
and the explorers have had something to do with distributing the tortoises since 
the discovery of the islands by the whites there is a possibility that earlier 
introductions perhaps including the earliest of all were due to aboriginal navi- 
gators of the times of the Incas or farther back. Considering the possible 
means of distribution, the amount of differentiation from such a species as 7’. 
tabulata, Plate 2, the rapidity of growth the variability of the individual it 
appears unnecessary to go back to the Tertiary or perhaps more than a few 
generations for the first appearance of the tortoises in the Archipelago. 
Among five so-called species placed under 7’. elephantopus there may be 
one or more entitled to varietal rank. All of them have been styled races, 
whatever that may have meant, but the individual descriptions given do not 
supply the details necessary for characterization. 
The original measurements in inches, of several so-called species are: — 
Straight Straight Curved Curved Sternal Sternal 
length width length width length width Height 
T. ephippium Gunther, 1875 = 33 234 40 40 24 Ze le 
A a Cre NG 
T. abingdonii Giinther, 1877 38 224 403 38 26 214 193 
T. becki Rothschild, 1901 311 21% 402 36 251 1635 
T. hoodensis van Denburgh, 
1907 22 7s 27 248, 195 114 
T. phantasticus van Denburgh, 
1907 344-24 42 41 24 18 
