122 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



about forty pairs. I should imagine that there are 

 several other nesting places, but, owing to the great 

 size of the island and to the difficulties of landing 

 on most parts of it, we were not able to find another 

 colony. 



While photographing these birds I noticed some 

 pigeons flying round the clump of fig trees, and 

 as they appeared to be constantly settling there, 

 I walked up to the foot of one of the trees to wait 

 for them. In a very short time I had shot four 

 examples, which proved to be Alectroenas minor — 

 a species peculiar to Aldabra. In appearance they 

 were not unlike the Comoro pigeon, but were 

 very much smaller. Some young birds were in 

 their first plumage, which is not only much greener 

 than that of the adults, but each feather is tipped 

 with yellowish buff, giving the bird a peculiar 

 spangled appearance. In the shade of the trees 

 numbers of robber-crabs were creeping, and they 

 showed considerable annoyance at our presence, 

 waving their claws in a threatening manner 

 whenever we approached. 



After a very pleasant time spent amongst the 

 ibises and pigeons, we walked back to our boat 

 and put off for the steam launch. The tide had 

 fallen considerably, and it was a long time before 

 we made out the launch in the distance. On the 

 way we landed at a small deserted village, where 

 half an hour was spent in search of the Aldabra 

 rail, only two of which were seen. A pair of 



