The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-21
AN ISLAND OF PSUSY CATS.
[From the Boston Evening Transeriptl

characterization island, the
valuable piece of marine real estate for
which Uncle Sam is now bargaining
with Ecuador, is to be purchased prl-
marily because of it's suitableness as
coaling station for our war ships but
also IN the expectation that its useful
ness will be enormously enhanced when,
in the not distant future, the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans are connected by
canal 1t viii then be directly on the
route to the Southern Pacific and
foothold there will have great strategic
as well as commercial Importance. The
island is a member of the famous Gala
pages group and lies 500 miles due west
of Guayaquil, the equator running di-
rectly through the little archipelago
There are 16 islands in the group, 5
big ones and IL small ones, without
counting many islettes. The largest of
them all is Albemarle, which is so miles
in length. Chatham is fifth in point of
size. Most of the islands are in sight
of one another. some of them being
separated by only eight or ten miles CT
sea- They are fertile and healthful,
the climate being not excessively hOL
owing to the remarkably low Temporal
ture of the surrounding water. The
name Galapagos means BLACK turtles"
and was bestowed by the Spaniards In
the sixteenth century on account of the
gigantic tortoises which they found
there in astonishing numbers.
The islands are barren around their
edges and near the water, the landscape
being characterized by broken masses
of lava Strewn about. In the wet sea-
son, as viewed from the ocean, they
do not appear SO completely fertile;
bushes grow up between the rocks and
odd looking cacti develop. However,
toward the interior of the large MEM
bers of the group, the aspect of things
becomes very different and, ascending
from the coast to an elevation of 800 or
1000 feet, the traveller finds a luxuriant
vegetation. In the old craters of the
now extinct volcanoes the soil, of de-
composed lava, is extremely rich and
tropical plant life is highly developed
Springs usually occur in these basins
and showers are frequent in the humid
heights.
Biologists say that ancientIy the
Galapagos islands were part of the
continent of South America, but a sub
sidence of that portion of the earth's
crust occurred, and, as a result only the
peaks of a few lofty volcanoes now pro
Ject over the water. The huge tortoises
which lived in that region sought ref
uge-those of them, that is to say which
were lucky enough to escape deluge=
on the tops of the mountains, from
which they We're able to survey the
floods with a Noahian philosophy Thus
split up into colonies they acquired the
traits in accordance with their envi-
ronments and thus in the course of time
became recognizable as distinct Species
each island having it's own. Only AL
bemarle island possesses two species OF
turtles, and this is because it is divided
into two parts by a lava stream inn
passable to the reptiles.
One of the most remarkable things
about Chatham island is the presence
there of thousands of pussy cats, every
one of which is entirely black Of course
they are descended from pets escaped
from ships They live in crevices of
the lava near the coast,and get a living
by hunting for crabs and fishes Other
domestic animals run wild, derived
from prOgenitors brought by vessels, are
numerous on all sides of the islands of
the group. There are wild dogs ir
droyes. wild chickens in f1ocks wild cat
tie, wild horses, wild goats and wild as
ses, which have acquired an interest
ing habit of sitting up on their haunch-
eS like rabbits
By far the most remarka BILE of all
the animals were the great turtles re-
ferred to, some of which reached a
weight of 900 or even 700 pounds. In
deed, there is authentic record of one
specimen that tipped the scales of $40
pounds. One reason why these tor
tolSeS are interesting is that they are
the only survivors today of an ancient
race of giant turtles that was conspicu-
Gus in the early part of the Tertiary
epoch. Unfortunately only a few of
them are now left, and before long they
will be wholly extinct Already nearly
all OF the. very big ones have been cap
tured and eaten.
It is reckoned that no fewer than 10
million of these turtles have been taken
from the islands since their discovery
Unhappily for them, their flesh is ex-
ceedlngly good to eat. even surprising
that of the green turtle. it is said
The turtles are supposed to be total
~ deaf, and take no notice even of the
report of gun; but, if made aware of
the proached of a man they utter
loud hiss.