Captain Porter has described
those from Charles and from the nearest island to it, namely, Hood
Island, as having their shells in front thick and turned up like a
Spanish saddle, whilst the tortoises from James Island are rounder,
blacker, and have a better taste when cooked. (17/5. "Voyage in the
U.S. ship Essex" volume 1 page 215.) M. Bibron, moreover, informs
me that he has seen what he considers two distinct species of
tortoise from the Galapagos, but he does not know from which
islands. The specimens that I brought from three islands were young
ones: and probably owing to this cause neither Mr. Gray nor myself
could find in them any specific differences. I have remarked that
the marine Amblyrhynchus was larger at Albemarle Island than
elsewhere; and M. Bibron informs me that he has seen two distinct
aquatic species of this genus; so that the different islands
probably have their representative species or races of the
Amblyrhynchus, as well as of the tortoise. My attention was first
thoroughly aroused by comparing together the numerous specimens,
shot by myself and several other parties on board, of the
mocking-thrushes, when, to my astonishment, I discovered that all
those from Charles Island belonged to one species (Mimus
trifasciatus) all from Albemarle Island to M.
Pages:
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768