We will now turn to the order of reptiles, which gives the most
striking character to the zoology of these islands. The species are
not numerous, but the numbers of individuals of each species are
extraordinarily great. There is one small lizard belonging to a
South American genus, and two species (and probably more) of the
Amblyrhynchus--a genus confined to the Galapagos Islands. There is
one snake which is numerous; it is identical, as I am informed by
M. Bibron, with the Psammophis Temminckii from Chile. (17/2. This
is stated by Dr. Gunther "Zoological Society" January 24, 1859, to
be a peculiar species, not known to inhabit any other country.) Of
sea-turtle I believe there are more than one species, and of
tortoises there are, as we shall presently show, two or three
species or races. Of toads and frogs there are none: I was
surprised at this, considering how well suited for them the
temperate and damp upper woods appeared to be. It recalled to my
mind the remark made by Bory St. Vincent, namely, that none of this
family are found on any of the volcanic islands in the great
oceans. (17/3. "Voyage aux Quatres Iles d'Afrique." With respect to
the Sandwich Islands see Tyerman and Bennett's "Journal" volume 1
page 434.
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