TESTUDO VICINA. 
73 
The description of the skeleton of so young an individual could hardly be accom- 
panied by important results as regards the object of this work, and is therefore 
omitted. 
Caudal vertehrce 24. 
3. TeSTUDO VICINA. 
This race was described by me in the Phil. Trans. 1875, p. 277, from the carapace 
and skeleton of an adult male example, formerly in the possession of Prof. Huxley, 
and now in the British Museum *. 
The history of that specimen is lost ; but, from Commander Cookson's observations 
(Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 524), it seems to be very probable that Albemarle, the 
largest of the Galapagos Islands, is inhabited by at least two distinct races, and that T. 
vicina is one of them, viz. that of South Albemarle. Having found at the S.W. end, near 
to Iguana Cove, a Tortoisef differing in shape and general appearance from those cap- 
tured near Tagus Cove (North Albemarle), the shell being deeply striated, and not 
smooth as is the case in the latter, he remarks : — 
" I suppose that abundance or variety of food would be sufficient to produce this 
difference of appearance in the tortoises from different localities in Albemarle Island, 
this part of the island, the S.W. end, having a comparatively luxuriant vegetation, 
whereas the neighbourhood of Tagus Cove is described by Mr. Darwin as being miser- 
ably sterile ; but it is a point not to be overlooked that these two localities are separated 
by a coast-line of 70 miles, and that between them lie three of the highest volcanic peaks 
of the *vhole group, one if not two of which have been active until quite recently ; and 
from the flanks of all three, streams of black lava descend, each several miles in width. 
Again, the most northern of these craters is situated almost in the centre of the nar- 
rowest part of the island, and sends down its black streams in all directions. ... I 
think one may conclude that these lava-streams are quite impassable to the Tortoises, 
and that, as far as these creatures are concerned, the north and south ends of the island 
are as effectually separated as they would be by a channel of 40 or 50 miles of deep 
water. " 
At the same place where that living specimen was found. Commander Cookson 
picked up the skull (without mandible) of what was said to be the largest Tortoise seen 
* My endeavours to trace in the various collections the specimens which are known to have reached England 
alive within the last forty years have been hitherto singularly unsuccessful ; and the present example is the 
only one which may be supposed to be possibly identical with the individual reported to have been sent to the 
Zoological Society in 1834, by the Hon. Byeon Cart, from the Galapagos (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1834, p. 113). 
That specimen is said to have weighed 187 lb., and measured in length, over the curve of the dorsal shell, 44| 
inches (I find in our specimen 41| inches), and along the sternum 25|- inches (as in ours) ; its girth round the 
middle was inches (69 inches according to my measurement). It is added that "the lateral compression 
of the anterior part of the dorsal shell, and the elevation of its front margin . . . are in this specimen strongly 
marked." 
t This specimen, unfortunately, is one of thote lost in transit to England. 
