1889.] Gigantic Land Tortoises. 1047 
this sort, about four feet high. They mounted two men on the 
back of one of them, which, with its usual slow pace, carriedhtm 
and never regarded the weight. They supposed this could not 
weigh less than 700 pounds. I do not affect giving Relations of 
strange creatures so frequently done by others ; but when an un- 
common creature falls in my way I cannot omit it. The Span- 
iards tell us, they know of none elsewhere in these Seas, but they 
are common in Brazil." {J. tabulata Wall.] Different islands 
were visited by Rogers. He continues, " I saw no sort of beast, 
but there are Guanos in abundance, and Land-Turtles almost on 
every island. It is strange how the latter got here, because 
they cannot come of themselves, and none of that sort are found 
on the main." 
In 1720, Clipperton was for ten days on the island. Vancou- 
ver, who determined the position of some in 1795, did not go to 
land. 
Colnet surveyed the Galapagos Islands in 1793, and published 
a survey of them. He says, p. 59 : " The land tortoise was poor 
at this season, but made excellent broth. Their eggs are as large, 
and their shells as hard, as those of a goose, and form a perfect 
globe. Their nests are thrown up in a circular form, and never 
contain more than three eggs, which are heated by the sun, a hole 
being so contrived as to admit its rays through its daily course 
[!]. The shell is perfectly smooth, and when highly polished re- 
ceives a beautiful and brilliant black." 
One of the most accurate accounts of the tortoises has been 
given by Delano, who visited the Galapagos Islands at different 
times. He was a very good observer, and his notes must be con- 
sidered as reliable. 
" Delano went over all parts of the island and procured plenty 
of tortoises." On Charles Island " plenty of tortoises were to be 
obtained." Tortoises were also reported from James and Albe- 
marle Islands. On pages 375-378 he gives a full account of 
these animals : " The terrapin, or, as it is sometimes called, the 
land tortoise, that is found here, is by far the largest, best, and 
most numerous of any place I have ever visited. Some of the 
largest weigh three or four hundred pounds, but their common 
