INTEODUCTIO^^". 5 
kept eighteen months, and when killed at the expiration of that time were found to 
have suffered no diminution in fatness or excellence. They carry with them a constant 
supply of water in a bag at the root of the neck, which contains about two gallons ; and 
on tasting that found in those we killed on board, it proved perfectly fresli and 
sweet. ... In the day-time they appear remarkably quick-sighted and timid, drawing 
their head into their shell on the slightest motion of any object; but they are entirely 
destitute of hearing, as the loudest noise, even the firing of a gun, does not seem to alarm 
them in the slightest degree ; and at night, or in the dark, they appear perfectly 
blind " (p. 150). Near a bay on the north-east part of James Island, Porter took on 
board as many as would weigh about 14 tons, the individuals averaging about 60 pounds 
— that is, about 500 individuals (p. 214) ; and he states that " among the whole only 
three were male, which may be easily known by their great size, and from the length 
of their tails, which are much longer than those of the females. As the females were 
found in low sandy bottoms, and all without exception were full of eggs, of Avhich 
generally from ten to fourteen were hard, it is presumable that they came down from 
the mountains for the express purpose of laying. This opinion seems strengthened by 
the circumstance of there being no male Tortoises among them, the few we found 
having been taken a considerable distance up the mountains. . . . The temperature 
of the air of the Gallipagos Islands varies from 72° to 75°; that of the blood of the 
Tortoise is always G2°. . . . The eggs are perfectly round, white, and of 2^ inches 
diameter" (pp. 215, 216). 
Very significant are Porter's remarks as regards the differences of the Tortoises from 
different islands. On Indefatigable Island " they were generally of an enormous size,, 
one of which measured 5^ feet long, 4^ feet wide, and 3 feet thick ; and others were 
found by some of the seamen of a larger size " (p. 164). " The shells of those of James 
Island are sometimes remarkably thin and easily broken, but more particularly so as they 
become advanced in age. . . . Those of James Island appear to be a species entirely 
distinct from those of Hood's and Charles Islands. The form of the shell of the latter 
is elongated, turning up forward in the manner of a Spanish saddle, of a brown colour, 
and of considerable thickness. They are very disagreeable to the sight, but far superior 
to those of James Island in point of fatness ; and their livers are considered the greatest 
delicacy. Those of James Island are round, plump, and black as ebony, some of them 
handsome to the eye; but their liver is black, haul when cooked," Sic. (pp. 214, 215). 
The Tortoises of Hood's Island were small, similar to those of Charles Island (p. 233). 
Before we pass from Porter to his successors, we must mention that he proceeded, 
after his cruise round the Galapagos, to the Marquesas Islands, making a prolonged 
stay at Madison Island, where he " distributed from his stock several young Tortoises 
among the chiefs, and permitted a great many to escape into the bushes and among the 
grass" (vol. ii. p. 109). 
Captain James Colnett's visit to the Galapagos archipelago deserves to be mentioned 
