THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST 
DECEMBER, 1889. 
THE GIGANTIC LAND TORTOISES OF THE 
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. 
tX 1877, Dr. A. Gunther published his memoiison the Gigan- 
^ tic Land Tortoises (living and extinct) in the collection of 
the British Museum. The Galapagos Islands were found to be 
inhabited by six species. Of only three the exact localities were 
known: Testudo abingdonii Gunther, from Abingdon Island; T. 
microphyes Gunther, from North Albemarle, and T. vidua Giin- 
ther. from South Albemarle. T. ephippium Gunther was be- 
lieved to be an inhabitant of Charles Island (in the synopsis, p. 1 1 
of Indefatigable Island). T. eltphantopus W^xV was attributed 
with query to James Island ; no locality was given for T. nigrita, 
D. and B. 
Having been occupied lately with the history of the Galapagos 
Islands, I have come across two works not mentioned by Dr. Gun- 
ther, which are of the highest importance to this question. The 
first work is the " Voyage of the United States Frigate Potomac, 
under the command of Commodore John Downes, during the cir- 
cumnavigation of the globe, in the years 1831. 1832, 1833 and 
1834." by Z. N. Reynolds, New York, 1835. On pages 464-473, 
the Galapagos Islands are described. Only Charles Island was 
visited (Aug. 31 to Sept. lO, 1833). The Potomac returned to 
Boston, May 23, 1834- I" J""^ of the same year, two gigantic 
