Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-05
THE PROPOSED LOOP.
THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
Big Tortoises That Are Found Upon Them
and Their Habits.

THERE is GOOD DEAL THAT IS WEIRD
Il about the Galapagos islands, which it has
been proposed that Uncle Sam shall buy for a
coaiing station in the South seas. They are
sixteen in number-fve big and eleven small
ones, without counting ever many little
islets-and the line Of the equator runs directly
through the group. Nevertheless the climate
is not very hot, owing to the remarkably low
temperature of the surrounding waters. Once
upon time these islands were volcanic peaks,
uplifted from portion Of the continent which
had sunk beneath the ocean, leaving their tops
projecting.
Darwin. when he visited them, found forty.
nine species Of animals there which we're I'M
known to any other part Of the world. Within
recent years many domesticated creatures
have been introduced by ships and have run
wild. Thus at present there are wild CATTLE
horses and goats on the islands; likewise wild
asses, which have acquired remarkable
habit OF sitting up like rabbits on their
launches. There are wild dogs in droves
well focks of chickens at large and
on Charles and Chatham islands thousands of
pussy cats, every one OF them entirely black
iiye IN creyices of lava near the coast. and get
living by hunting for crabs ana fishes. The
group lies 600 miles west from Ecuador to
IL eruption as late as nifty years ago.
However, by all odds the most remarkable
creatures found on the island the giant
land tortoses, for which they are famous. Pre-
sumaDiy. before the submergence Of that part
OF the continent the; were ali of enc species;
but after that happened a colony of them was
lett on each peak which remained oft of
water. From these situations of vantage they
surveyed the surrounding floods with Noachian
philosophy. Being unable to swim they could
mi fha.r TO ota
| each isolated community bred by itself and de-
yeioped distinct characteristics corresponding
to It, environment. As a result each Island has
to-day Its own peculiar kind of great turtles.
Ii Is surprising how circumstances alter ami
mails The savages OF the Amazon region feed
the common green parrot Tor generations with
the fat OF GER tain fishes, thus causing it to be-
come beautifully variegated with red and yell
low feathers. In like manner the natives of
the Malay Archipelago by process OF feeding
King Lory.
lhese Galapagos tortoises are the only sur
vivors OF an ancient race of huge turtles which
lived SO long ago as the early part OF the Ter
tiary epoch. Specimens weighing from 600
to 700 pounds have been captured, and there il
| authentic record Of one individual taken which
tipped the scales at $40 pounds. However,
nearly all OF the very big ones have been
caught and devoured, and 1t will not be long
before the race is extcrminated-literally
man." 1t is reckoned that 10000, 900 Of these
turtles have been taken from the islands since
their discovery.
No provisions for ships were ever found
equal to these tortoises. which will remain in
good condition tor year without food or
water. supply OF the latter il carried by the
animals in u bag which contains as much as
two gallons, sometimes. They are very sagac-
ious, and. when kept on deck, can be taught
to contine themselves to any place arranged for
thntr 1,ts hss xx,hs
gently with ropes end when they 60 out OF it.
The meat is said to be finer than that Of
the green turtle. Dampier, the explorer, who
visited the islands in 1854, wrote that the
flesh resembied o pullet's in flavor.
used it instead Of butter to eat With
dumplings" Rogers, in l707, wrote:
1.-THE eggs of the turtles are Is big as those Of
q goose, white, with hard shells and exactly
| round. Two men rode on the back of one Of
| the creatures, which weighed 700 pounds and
| 1t carried them with ease" In 1888 Colnet re-
ported that the nests of the tortoises were
thrown up in circular form, never containing
| more than three eggs, which are heated by the
| sun, hole being so contrived as to admit its
rays through its daily course" This last very
| remarkable statement would seem to imply
| that these chelonians were somewhat familiar
with astronomy.
| The tortoises are vegetable feeders, hrowsing
chiefly upon succuient cactus. 1t ia said that
they are entirely deaf, so that even the report
| OF = gun does not startle or alarm them. Al
intervals they make pilgrimages to the hill
tops, where water 10 to be found, travelling BY
night only. Thus, in the course of centuries,
they have worn regular roads from the shore
up the mountain sides, by following which the
| Spaniards first discovered the watering places.
| They have very long and snake-like necks and
heads and their feet surprisingly resemble
| those Of an elephant. Their clumsy method oil
locomotion also suggests . likeness to the great
pachyderm. Undoubtedly they live 10 very
great age and their aspect b most venerable.