The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

! which is from to 10 inches in length.
! is Identical in shape and appearance
with that of the boa constructor. There
are five toes on each foot and each pros
vided with a monstrous nail.
They will eat anything they can mas
! ticate. Carrots, turnips-in fact, all
manner of vegetables are consumed In
| large quantities by the shell-clothed
monsters.
The egg from this species of tortoise
| is of about the size and shape Of an
ordinary billiard ball, snowy white and
very fine eating.
| The expedition which has just re-
| turned with such a great number OF
these tortoises was sent out last year by
| Walter Rothchild to the Galapagos
with instructions to secure, dead or
alive, every specimen of bird or animal
to be found on the islands, but partic-
uIarly to return with every living
member of the giant tortoise, if possi-
ble Rothchild's purpose, according to-
Captain Limbridge, is to corner the
market in specimens of this giant tur-
tie. For if he carries out his Ideas
the species will be extinct, except for
those in his possession, and the price
would not be long in reaching the thou-
sand-dollar mark So anxious was he
that a large number be secured that,
besides paying the expenses of the ex--
pedition, he offered a bonus of $500 a.
pair for every two landed safely in
London.
The expedition was in command OF
M. A Harris, Boston scientist, who
had two assistants, and took with him.
also a captain and mate to navigate a
vessel, should one be secured. The
party proceeded directly to Panama.
the plan being to charter vessel at
that point which was not far from
their destination. In this Mr.. Harris
was unsuccessful, and while engaged
in a futile effort to secure craft of some
sort the captain, mate and one of his
assistants died of yellow fever. He
then proceeded to this city and sent
word of the unfortunate condition of
affairs to Mr.. Rothchild, who, nothing
daunted, sent more men and instruo-
lions to proceed regardless of cost.
The expenses up to this point had been
nearly $4,000.
The services of Captain Limbridge.
who is familiar with the South Sea Is.
lands, were finally secured, and the ex%
petition sailed last fall IN the little
loot schooner Lila and Matte.
The party remained on the island six
months and captured nearly every tor
toise there. Captain Limbridge thinks
there cannot possibly be more than
half q dozen left.
Captain Limbridge values his pair OF
pets at $500. He has endeavored to
dispose of them to the Park Commits
sioners, but the Commissioners are in
clined to think his price a trif1e ex-
orbitant.
DR.. H. Behr, entomologist at the
Academy of Sciences, says 1t would be
great pity to allow the tortoises to
leave the State, as they are at present
and are likely to be until they die, the
only two specimens of this rare species
in America. There Is, he stated, a
species somewhat similar on the Mas
carenhas Islands, in the Indian Ocean,
but they, too are nearly extinct.
why, three hundred dollars" he
| calculated when told of the figure
asked for them, why in five years
| from now there will be none except
those owned by Mr.. Rothchild. Then
you will pay him $4,000 If you want
! one"