7G2 NATURAL HISTORY OF ALDAliRA ISLAND — ABBOTT. 



pharus poecilopleurus) and two jockos {UemidactyluH mahouia and Phel- 

 suma ahhotti*). 



Turtles are plentiful. Many thousands annually ascend the sandy 

 beaches to deposit their eggs. Tortoise-shell was formerly gathered in 

 large quantities, but this fishery has been overworked and large "carre" 

 are now scarce. 



Mammals are represented by a large fruit bat {Pteropus aldabrennis. 

 True), and two smaller bats, t Eats {Mus deeumanus), probably from 

 wrecked vessels, swarm everywhere, and are very destructive. Cats, 

 ])robably from the same source, are common upon Grande Terre, where 

 they have conjpletely exterminated the flightless rail. 



Land-birds are represented by fourteen resident and six accidental 

 or visiting species; wii^ter-birds by twenty-four species. Doubtless 

 many more occasionally visit the island fiom Madagascar and Africa. 



The most' interesting species of birds is the curious flightless rail 

 (RougetiKs aldahrainis, llidgway), the sole survivor of the numerous 

 flightless birds that inhabited the Mascarine Islands at the time of 

 their discovery. I fear the present species must follow their example, 

 as their arch enemy, the cat, has already exterminated them from 

 Grande Terre, and must sooner or later rea(-h the otlier smaller islands 

 of the group, where the rails as yet abound in great numbers. The 

 other land-V)irds are api)arently similar to, or identical with, Madagascar 

 species. 



Boobies of several species,! frigates {Fregata aguila minor), and 

 various species of terns § and sandpipers, abound. 



A flamingo {FhoenicopteruH erythrmuH ?) is found in considerable num- 

 bers. This is particularly interesting as having also existed in Mauri- 

 tius at time of its discovery. 



Fish are not very plentiful in the neighborhood of the islands. Huge 

 cocoanut-crabs (lobsters) abound, as also land-crabs. 



Insects are not numerous either in species or individuals. Six or 

 seven butterflies, a few moths, a dragonfly, a few beetles, some flies, 

 andbeesarefound.il Mosquitoes abound 



"New species described by Mr. Stejiieger. 



tOne of these is NyctinomuH punuluH. F. W. T. 



\Oi\\'^ Sula lyiHcuior (lAwn.) is represented in tbf coiled ion niiide by Dr. Abbott. — 

 II. K. 



^Sterna hernsteini, S./iiUf/inoxa, S. mdanuiuhen, Aiions stoHduH and Oi/fi'is alha. — K. R. 



II Mr. Linell fnrnislie.s the Collowiug list ol" Aldabra insects received from Dr. 

 Abbott: 

 Butterflies : 



1. Diadema misipjms, L. Both sexes taken; <? , black with violet-shot white spots; 



9, brown with black and white wing-tips, closely inutating Danais cluij- 

 sippns. The distribution of this species is remarkable. It is rare in 

 America from South Florida t hrou<>h the West ludies to the Amazcm region ; 

 more comuum in Africa (except the Mediterranean region) and through 

 Southern Asi;^ and the Malay Archijx-lago to New Holland. 



2. Junovia chlia, Cram. Common in South and East Africa. 



