of the Seychelles Archipelago. 35 1 



old hard " bowls "''^ in which the trees stood are plentiful nearly 

 all over the island. I was told by Mr. Forbes that the " Pie 

 chanteuse " never visited his island, and that very few land-birds 

 were ever found there. About eighteen months ago, three 

 Flamingoes, probably Phcenicopterus minor, appeared. They were 

 apparently young birds, and being very tame they were killed 

 by the fishermen and eaten. 



I saw a pair of Dromas ardeola, called there " Cavalier," and 

 killed one. In their habits, as far as I saw, they were as unlike 

 a Tern as they possibly could be ; and the sternum of the one I 

 shot shows no more affinity to that genus than that of any other 

 Plover does. I consequently cannot agree with Messrs. Blyth and 

 Layard and Professor Schlegel in classing it with the Terns. I 

 was told by Mr. Forbes that the species was not uncommon, 

 but that seldom more than two or three were observed together. 

 The other birds I saw on the island were Nectarinia dussumieri, 

 Tinnunculus gracilis, Strepsilas interpres, Totanus glottis, and 

 Ardea atricapilla. 



Returning across the strait, a heavy squall suddenly came 

 down from Praslin, with sheets of rain and very violent gusts of 

 wind, which raised a considerable sea before we landed at 

 Praslin. On walking back through a young cocoa-nut grove, 

 with the trees about twelve or fifteen feet high, some Whimbrels 

 aiforded very pretty shooting, and I got three of them. I often 

 observed them perched on the topmost branches of dead cedres. 



On the 11th we started for the islands of Felicite and Mari- 

 anne, where we were told we should find an abundance of birds. 

 We first stopped at Ladigue, about two miles and a half distant, 

 where I wished to see the owner of Marianne; and I very much 

 regretted that I had not time to make a longer visit, as I feel 

 sure, fi'om the well-wooded appearance of this beautiful island, 

 several species must be found there. I saw one ''Pie;" and I 

 was told they were not uncommon there, but that rats and cats 

 abound. 



At about half-past ten a.m. we landed at Felicite. This 

 small rock is the property of the Mauritius Government ; and a 

 great part of the timber used in the public works in Seychelles 

 * Vide Mr. Ward's paper already mentioned. 



