332 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

fore feet, while it gained another step on the fender, and
so managed to raise itself to such a height, that it only had
to fall flat on the top of the footstool. When once there,
it could hardly be induced to heave the elevation which it
had gained with such difficulty.”

The Elephant The gigantic tortoises of the Galapagos Islands

Tortoise. - came under the observation of Mr. Darwin, from

whom we quote the following descriptive passages: “These
animals are found, I believe, in all the Islands of the Galapagos
Archipelago. They frequent in preference the high damp
parts, but likewise inhabit the lower and arid districts. Some
individuals grow to an immense size. Mr. Lawson told us
that he had seen several so large that it required six or
eight men to lift them from the ground, and that some had
afforded. as much as two hundred pounds of meat. This
tortoise is very fond of water, drinking large quantities and .
wallowing in the mud. The larger islands alone possess
springs, and these are always situated towards the central
parts and at a considerable elevation. The tortoises, there-
fore, which frequent the lower districts, when thirsty have to
travel from a long distance. Hence broad and well beaten
paths radiate off in every direction from the wells, even
down to the sea coasis, and the Spaniards by following them
up first discovered the watering-places. Near the springs it
was a curious spectacle to behold many of these great
monsters; one set eagerly travelling onwards with outstretched
necks, and another set returning, having drunk their fill. The
tortoises when moving towards any definite point, travel by
night and day, and arrive at their journey’s end much sooner
than would be expected. One large tortoise, which I watched,
I found walked at the rate of sixty yards in ten minutes,
that is three hundred and sixty in the hour, or four miles a
day, allowing also a little time to eat on the road. During
the breeding season, when the male and female are together,
the male utters a hoarse roar or bellowing, which, it is said,