N July 16, 1901, five giant tortoises, purchased in Boston from Mr. Frank B. Webster, arrived at the Zoological Park. These specimens cost the New York Zoological Society $1,000, and their installation not only placed the Park in possession of a fine exhibit of these eccentric reptiles, but also of one of the largest and oldest specimens now in captivity.

As the survivors of an age when reptiles attained colossal proportions, the giant tortoises alive to-day have witnessed many changes in the animal life of our planet. Successive generations of them have lived through the periods when an atmosphere reeking with humidity drew forth luxuriant vegetation, upon which browsed the great herbivorous lizards, and which eventually gave way to the fauna of the present time. With the passing of innumerable centuries, race after race of reptilian monsters degenerated and perished. Their fossil remains, so gigantic in character as to stagger human imagination, are illustrations of the period when reptilian life was in its prime. With the exception of the giant tortoises, which, through some strange provision of Nature, have survived to the present day, and the crocodilians, the reptiles of to-day, when compared with their gigantic ancestors, are insignificant creatures.

There are fourteen distinct species of giant tortoises. Six of these inhabit the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Four are found on the Aldabra Islands in the Indian Ocean, and four inhabit the Mauritius-Rodriguez group of islands. All the species are rapidly becoming extinct, and reputable scientific authorities have declared that several species have disappeared during the present century. On the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa these creatures are represented only by fossil remains.

Of the giant tortoises now in captivity, all save a very few have been obtained from the Galapagos Islands. This archipelago is situated on the equator, about five hundred miles west of the coast of South America, and belongs to Ecuador. The islands are thirteen in number, and all are of volcanic origin. The largest and most important are Albemarle, Indefatigable, Chatham, Charles, James, Narborough, Hood, Barrington, Bindloes, and Abingdon Islands.

During the past ten years a number of expeditions have visited the islands for the purpose of procuring tortoises. The first expedition resulting in the arrival of tortoises in this country, was made by the United States ship Albatross, which touched at the islands in 1888. Eighteen specimens were procured, and shipped to Washington, D. C. Long prior to the visit of the Albatross, however, the United States ship Essex explored the islands of the Galapagos group in 1812. Two large tortoises were captured. They were presented to a South Sea Island chief. In 1898 these same tortoises were secured by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, and shipped to London, where they now are.

In 1897 Mr. Rothschild arranged an expedition to the Galapagos Islands for giant tortoises. The total expenses for this expedition were $15,500. Fifty-nine tortoises were captured, but none exceeded two hundred pounds in weight. All the islands were visited. On Duncan Island twenty-seven specimens were captured, representing a species known technically as Testudo ephippium. The collection reached London in 1898, and figured as a special exhibit in the Zoological Conference then in progress. They were finally distributed by their owner among the zoological gardens of Europe.

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In 1900, twenty tortoises from the Galapagos Islands were landed in San Francisco for Mr. Rothschild, and shipped to London via Boston. The trip to Boston proved disastrous to the collection, for only six specimens reached Boston alive. These comprised specimens of Testudo vicina and microphyes.

The third and by far the finest lot of these reptiles arrived in San Francisco during the early part of 1901. They were brought by the schooner owned by Captain William Johnson. Three of the tortoises in this shipment were the largest ever captured, weighing over three hundred pounds each. Mr. F. B. Webster, of Boston, purchased this entire lot of reptiles. Two of them died in San Francisco, and one died a short time after reaching Mr. Webster's place at Hyde Park. One of the three largest specimens was purchased by the New York Zoological Society, together with four others. Six specimens were purchased by Mr. Rothschild; two were sold to Count Peracca, in Italy, and the remainder were disposed of among zoological institutions.

Although the last expedition to the Galapagos Islands claimed to have placed the last survivors of the race in captivity, it seems reasonable to believe that in the interior of the larger islands, concealed by the vegetation and the rugged inequalities of that volcanic country, a substantial number of the monster tortoises yet exist.

From observations made in the East Indies and in zoological gardens of Europe, wherein giant tortoises have been exhibited, they seem to attain the most astonishing ages. Many records demonstrate that a century constitutes but a fraction of the tortoise's existence. Few are better able to speak upon this subject than Mr. Rothschild, who has made a special study of the creat

ures.

The following is a portion of a letter from Mr. F. B. Webster quoting Mr. Rothschild's views concerning the age of a specimen which seems to be younger than the largest in the Zoological Park collection:

"You may be interested to know what Mr. Rothschild says about the tortoises. You will remember I told you that, in my opinion, the ages of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 was about three hundred and fifty years each. There could be no great difference between them, although Nos. 4 and 5 looked the oldest. Now No. I was sent to Mr. Rothschild. While it was the largest, its shell did not show quite the age of the others. Its size and general appearance, however, indicated that it had lived in a smoother sec

LARGEST GIANT TORTOISE IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK.
Weight, 310 pounds. Age, about 400 years.