222 The American Naturalist. [March, 
36 km. ; Duncan to Indefatigable, 10 km. ; Jervis to James, 8 km. ; 
Barrington to Indefatigable, 18 km.; Indefatigable to James, 
19 km.; James to Albemarle, 18 km.; Charles to Indefatigable, 
50 km. 
Currents —From the “ South American Pilot” I record: “ The 
currents about these islands are remarkable, for, in addition to 
their velocity, which is from one to two-and-a-half miles an hour, 
and usually towards the west and northwest, there is a surprising 
difference in temperature of the bodies of water moving within a 
few miles from each other. These striking differences are owing 
to the cool current coming from the southward along the coasts 
of Chili and Peru, which at the Galapagos encounters a far 
warmer body of water coming from the Bay of Panama. Heavy 
rollers occasionally break upon the northern shores during the 
rainy season, though no wind of any consequence accompanies 
them. They are probably caused by the northers from Tehuan- 
tepec, and the Papagayos or northeast winds, which are so well 
known on the coast between Panama and Acapulco.” In the 
vicinity of the islands calms prevail from January to April; from 
the middle of April to the end of December the trade-wind blows 
with regularity, and gales are unknown. 
After these necessary remarks we can proceed to examine the 
fauna and flora. 
1. Lhe Fauna—lI shall restrict myself to the higher vertebrates, 
of which I shall give what is known. The only mammals which 
have been recorded are a mouse, two species of seals, and bats. 
The mouse is of the American genus Hesperomys. Darwin. 
found it on Chatham, and Wolf saw a skin of it on Barrington 
Island. Further researches must decide whether this form is 
introduced or not. The fact that Wolf found it on the deserted 
Barrington speaks for its being indigenous. The seals found on 
‘the islands are Otaria jubata and Arctocephalus australis. They 
are still numerous, but in former times must have been exceedingly 
abundant, as I conclude from the work of Morrell. These two 
seals belong to Antarctic forms, and show in the Galapagos their 
‘most northern extension. It is quite probable that:they represent 
species distinct from the more southern forms. So far as I know, 
