The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-31
TO EXPLORE THE GALAPAGOS.
An Important Scientific Expedition
Sent Out by the Rothschilds.

An Important Scientific Expedition
Sent Out by the R~othschiIds.
Among the vessels that left San
Francisco bay recently, says Il San
Francisco correspondent of the st.
Louis Globe-Dem3crat, was the. 100-ton
schooner Lila end Matte, chartered
from Klttredge Bros. by Walter Roths-
child. of London. and sent on g. nine
months' trip In the interest of science.
The expedition Will cost Mr.. Iiothschild
about $40, 900, and he expects. or rather
his representative and agent in the
matter, Mr.. c. IL. Harris. OF Boston,
expects that the benefits to science will
he worth man times that amount,
while the specimens obtained will ave
n commercial value or at least SIC. 600.
Mr.. Harris reached here about n month
ago. and since that time has been quiet
lY working to secure d suitable vessel
for the expedition, and was SO secre-
tive in his actions that the local papers
could get no information regarding his
mission until Il short time ago, when one
paper printed m item which set all the
napcrs TO work trying to find more.
MIR. Harris, to avoid their importun-
ing and keep his movements secret, left
the city and secured rooms in Oakland
while he completed his arrangements.
Yesterday the schooner. with MIR. Har-
IFS and his three assistants, fully
equipped for n long stay In an unin-
habited country, sailed south, having
cleared for the Galapagos Islands, lying
directly under the equator, 700 miles Off
the const of Ecuador, TWO Of which were
until recently used by that country for
penal settlements. Mr.. Harris was seen
bV n correspondent of the Globc-Demo-
crat Just before the schooner sailed. and
gave the following details of the cNpcdi-
ton as he expected TO carry 1t out:
The expedition Is sent out by Mr..
Waiter Rothschild, of London, who is
well known In the scientific world as an
enthusiastic naturalist. He Is a close
observer and student. and has lone
much with his wealth to explore dis
tnnt and almost inaccessible countries.
The present expedition goes to the
Galapagos Islands. which have long
been looked upon as presenting Il rich
neid for nhturallsts. but which have
been left comparatively D be-
cause OF the difficulties of the under
taking. In the Galapagos group there
are live large and ten small islands, and
from a naturalist's point of View. arc
the most remarkable In the world I'm
mat they have Il auna and fora differ
ing not only from that OF the rest of
me world. hut differing in the different
islands OF the grOup. On the largest
Island. Albemnrle. there are thousands
% cattic, hogs. horses and dogs. which
ave become wild. They are descended
.Iom domestic animals that were aban-
donca on il Islands many years awo.
ne logs run In packs Ike wolves.
and are said to he very ferocious. Tic
indigenous fauna presents the unusual
condition of having been unmolcstcd,
because there have never been aborigi-
"al men on the Islands. the result heinr
mat the birds and animals ~prOpagatcd
thcif Specics without being compelled
10 chanTc their habits or environments
nero nra Ik-l RiSli,nNF r.Nnni,, - ~.
giant tortoise on the islands, each spe-
r."S occupying n separate island. 1t
was from these. called by the Spanish
GalapaEo, that the group derived It's
name.
But four expeditions or n scientific
nature have visited these islands. and
these have made such short stops that
they could learn hut little. yet 105 spc-
ries OF birds have been listed there. and
OF these 100 ar. new 10 science. Prof.
Darwin visited the Islands in 1881, hui;
he stayed only three days, and could
not penetrate to the interior owing to
the dense growth or forest. Sir j. ID.
Hooker and Dr.. y. Guenthcr visited the
islands, but did not make extensive in
designations. DR.. Guenthcr fdund that
me nora was most peculiar. in tina ii
mad no counterpart anywhere else on
the globe. and was essentially different
on the different islands The insect life
- ''S u lblSoS group His never been
studied. and It Is to this that my at
tention shall! he especially devoted. Mr..
HUI. my chief assistant, who is IL Dart
mouth College man, Will give his atten-
ton to the fauna. while my other two
assistants will look after taXidcrlny
and fora collecting.
There are about 1000 craters on the
islands. mos. OF them extinct. but many
St!l in action. From this fact. IL from
the further fact that the islands rise
nrecipItously from the ocean. Darwin
concluded that they were entirely of
Volcanic origin. but other eminent sc!cn-
lists combat this idea, and say tina;
they once were the mainland, and the
present remarkable fora and fauna are
the remnants Of prehistoric species. lie
,hai as 1t may, IL Is n fact that trees,
flowers. birds. animals. reptiles and in
scots on these islands are different from
any to be foundc elsewhere in the world.
u expect TO reach the islands In thir-
~ days. and shall spend seven months
III active work there. and hope to bring
away with me MOI less than 30, 900 spec;-
mems. and shall have more Information
regarding the physician geography. flora
ana fauna Of the Galapagos group ;han
has ever been known before. shall
probably make a stop at Cocus Islands
on my way back, and get some spcci-
mems and data from them. ! shall get
sufficient material for a bout or two. in
addition to several monographs"
Mr. Harris Is an energetic Noung man,
ana goes fully prepared with the ;ncsl
improved scientific apparatus far thu
purpose OF making the expelltion a
success. Captain L.inbrilga. who com
MINDS the schooner, MAS made severn:
trips in the South Seas, and has rx.
ercised great care in the selection ci Il
crew. who will give all possible AID 10
the scientists In their work.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.