Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02
ORIGIN OF TORTOISE
W. E. Stafford, Scientist, Talks
to Biological Society.
DESCRIBES THOSE OF PERU
Says Their Progenitors Probably
Reached There on Driftwood
From Central America.

That the progeniters Of the giant land
tortoise found in the Galapagos Islands,
OF the coast Of Peru, reached there on
driftwood from the Pacific shores OF
Central America, and were originally
members of an extinct species of CONT
mental land turtles. was considered prob
able by W. Z. Stafford, a government SCI
enlist. lecturing before the Biological So
ciety last night. The lecture was deliv-
cred in the presence of a large gathering
Of the clubs membership in the assembly
hall of the Cosmos Club
Reference to the Galapagos turtles came
during the course Of Mr.. Staffords talk
on a Day i'm the Galapagos Islands"
he described several specimens of various
sizes found on one of the larger islands
OF the group, and compared them to the
existing biological records of extinct
species of land turtles formerly inhabit-
ing Central America, Mexico and south
western United States. The structural
ties and the extinct species was slight.
possibly due, Mr. Stafford said TO climatic
or dietary influences
The strong currents running southwest
from the Central American coast around
the Galapagos Islands are responsible for
quantities OF driftwood all along the path
of trading vessels in that part of the
world and are probably the least variable
OF all the southern Pacific currents.
Named Enchanted Islands,
The inability of sailing vessels to make
Roadway against them except with a
strong wind and the enforced presence of
these vessels about the islands as IL they
We're possessed Of magnetic influence I'M
til winds came to their rescue, was un-
douPtedly responsible for the name En-
<pt, faA ell Irss
days Of the Pizzaros. Mr.. Stafford de-
clared.
That these animals reached the is
lands on driftwood from the mainland
seems more plausible than any other
| theory. The great increase in numbers
| was due to the absence of predatory
animals. such as were found on the
| mainland. OF course. it will always he
mooted question. but the evidence in
favor of this theory seems more reason
The more one investigates the subject
| the more convincing it becomes" said
the lecturer.
r. Wayland Vaughan. another govern
ment scientist, told Of the propagation OF
coral larvae for the purposes of biological
research in the Dry Tortugas of Florida
Mr. Vaughan told his auditors that he
expected at no distant future date to bt
able to give the scientific world definite
data relative to the annual increase OF
coral growth and other material fact.
concerning this particular marine growth
biologists have hitherto lacked.
Larvae in Heads of Coral Growth.
He gave a scientific description of a
dozen different varieties of coral growth
found on the keys and reefs of southern
Florida, and the methods of producing
coral cultures.
The larvae are found in the heads OF
coral growth, and are readily obtained
They are about as big as a pin point, and
under a microscope. resemble a reyoiv.
ing screw more than anything else" said
Mr.. Vaughan.
THE larvae are placed on stone disks i'm
mersed In jars OF salt water, where they
are kept until they begin their growth.
These disks are then removed and at
tached to an iron post driven I'm the water
of the experimental station, the whole
inclosed in a wooden box. Observations
are made daily. The results SO far indi-
cate a much more remarkable growth for
coral than it has popularity been credited
with"