Marvels of the Universe 



189 



GIANT TORTOISES 



BY R. LYDEKKER. 



Although in the absence of definite information as to the maximum age attained by elephants 

 it is impossible to affirm with certainty- that Giant Land-tortoises are the longest-lived of all animals, 

 yet the\- have undoubtedly a ver}- strong claim to be regarded as the Jlethuselahs of the animal 

 kingdom, and are, therefore, clearl}- entitled to rank as marvellous creatures. At earlier epochs 

 of the earth's history distributed over all the continents, Giant Tortoises, with the exception of 

 one African species, which should perhaps be included in the group, are now restricted to the 

 Galapagos Islands, off the west coast of South America, and the Seychelle and Mascarene 

 Islands of the Indian Ocean, although many individuals from the last-named islands have been 

 carried to various parts of the world. 



As to the age attained bj^ the Galapagos Tortoises, there appears to be no information ; and 

 in the case of the species whose home is the islands of the Indian Ocean the records relate, 

 at all events in the main, to exported individuals. One of the most interesting of these is the 

 monster represented in the illustration on the previous page, the existence of which I had the 

 good fortune to make known to naturalists. A year ago this Tortoise was living at Matara, in 

 Ceylon, to which place it is stated to have been brought at the end of the eighteenth century ; 

 so that, at a moderate estimate, its age may be put down as at least one hundred and fifty years. 

 Tin the year 1894, when it died after removal from its old haunts, Ceylon also possessed a second 



Photo by] 



'. .S. Jiei-ridge. 



THE GIANT TORTOISE. 



I he better-known Greel: Tortoise has been put on the bacU of this great creature in order that its huge size may be 



the better appreciated 



