TESTUDO ELEPHANTINA. 
21 
1, Testudo elephantina. 
After having carefully studied the detailed description given by Dumeril and Bibron 
under the above heading, it seems to me very probable that several specifically distinct 
forms were included in it. The scutes are described by the French herpetologists as 
sometimes striated, sometimes entirely smooth, whilst I exclude from this species all 
individuals with perfectly smooth scutes, the absence of sculpture not being dependent 
either on sex or entirely on age. On the other hand I refer to this species specimens 
of black as well as brown coloration, whilst the latter is stated to be one of the charac- 
teristics of T. elephantina in the ' Erpetologie generale.' Thus the limits assigned to 
this species by its authors do not appear to coincide with those determined by myself. 
" 3. No means being taken for their protection, they have become extinct in nearly all these islands ; and 
Aldabra is now the only locality where the last remains of this animal form are known to exist in a state of 
nature. 
" 4. We have been informed that the Government of Mauritius have granted a concession of Aldabra to 
parties who intend to cut the timber on this island. If this project be carried out, or if otherwise the island 
is occupied, it is to be feared, nay, certain, that all the tortoises remaining in this limited area will be 
destroyed by the workmen employed, 
" 5. We would therefore earnestly submit it to the consideration of your Excellency whether it would not 
be practicable that the Government of Mauritius should cause as many of these animals as possible to be col- 
lected before the wood-cutting parties or others land, with the view of their being transferred to the Mauritius 
or the Seychelle Islands, where they might be deposited in some enclosed ground or park belonging to the 
Government, and protected as property of the Colony. 
" 6. In support of the statement above made and the plan now submitted to the Mauritius Government, the 
following passages may be quoted from Grant's ' History of Mauritius,' 1801, 4to: — 
" ' We (in Mauritius) possess a great abundance of both land- and sea-turtle, which are not only a great 
resource for the supply of our ordinary wants, but serve to barter with the crews of ships' (p. 194). 
" ' The best production of Rodriguez is the land-turtle, which is in great abundance. Small vessels are 
constantly employed in transporting them by thousands to the Isle of Mauritius for the service of the hospital ' 
(p. 100). 
" ' The principal point of view (in Rodriguez) is, first, the French Governors house, or rather that of the 
Superintendent appointed by the Governor of the Isle of Franco to direct the cultivation of the gardens there 
and to overlook the park of land-turtles ; secondly, the park of land-turtles, which is on the sea-shore facing 
the house ' (p. 101). 
" 7. The rescue and protection of these animals is, however, recommended to the Colonial Government less 
on account of their utility (which now-a-days might be questioned in consideration of their diminished number, 
reduced size, and slow growth, and of the greatly improved system of provisioning ships, which renders the 
crews independent of such casual assistance) than on account of the great scientific interest attached to them. 
With the exception of a similar tortoise in the Galapagos Islands (now also fast disappearing), that of the 
Mascarenes is the only surviving link reminding us of those still more gigantic forms which once inhabited 
the continent of India in a past geological age. It is one of the few remnants of a curious group of animals 
once existing on a large submerged continent, of which the Mascarenes formed the highest points. It 
flourished with the Dodo and Solitaire ; and whilst it is a matter of lasting regret that not even a few 
individuals of these curious birds should have had a chance of surviving the lawless and disturbed condition of 
