VOL. XVI, 

 J 893 



] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 7G3 



TluMslaiids are covered witH dense scrub, mostly composed of shrubs 

 4to8feetliigb. No large trees except niaugroves uow exist, and 

 small plants are remarkably scarce. There are no ferns or orchids, but 

 considerable quantities of Orchilla moss are gathered. Formerly 

 "porche" and - bois r.xse" grew to considerable si/.e, judging from the 



^le'Sr'''"^''''"'^^''^''' ^ ^''''^ "''"''''"''^ ^'''' exist, mostly upon 

 Aldabra is not permanently inhabited, but there are usually a few 

 fishermen from Seychelles living there. The whole Aldabra^roun 

 including Aldabra, Astove, Assumption, and Cosmoledo, belongs to 

 the British colony of Seychelles, and is leased by the Government 

 for the turtle and tortoise-shell fishery. 



ASSUMPTION ISLAND. 



Assumption lies;?0 miles southeast of Aldabra and is about 5 miles long 

 by 11 miles wide. In its physical features it is much like Aldabra but 

 its surface is smoother and it is not so densely covered with scrub' A 

 considerable part of the surface is covered with '^champignon " as the 

 rugged fossil coral rock of Aldabra is called. There are two large sand 

 dunes upon the eastern shore, about 70 feet high, which are visible from 

 a considerable distance. No fresh water exists, unless just after a 

 ram, when a little collects in hollows in the rock. The animal life and 

 vegetation is similar to that of Aldabra. The little liightless rail 

 {RomjeUm abbotti, Eidgway)* abounds, as well as most of the other 

 and-birds found upon the latter island. Numbers of goats run wild 

 having been introduced many years since from Europa Island (in 

 Mozambique Channel). ^ 



CtLorioso island. 



Glorioso Island lies about 90 miles west-northwest of the north point 

 of Madagascar (Cape Amber), and 120 southeast of Aldabra. It is 



3. L,jc<rnaielicanus, Huh. South Europe through East Africa to the Cape of 

 Ijrood Hope. - ^ 



Dragonfly : 



1. Pantalaflavescens, Yah. A common East African species 

 Myrmeleou. MyrmcJeon, sp. 

 Mantid : 



1. Pohjspilota rariegata. Oliv. An East African species 

 Beeth^s: 



1. Oxythyrea amabiUs, Sch.mh. ; var. Smaller than the continental forms 



^. hmall 8carab;eitl— undetermined. 



3. Small lougicorn— undetermined. 

 Wasps : 



1. Sphex, sp. 



2. Monedula, sp. 

 Other diptera: 



(idoiitomyia, sp. 



imt^T^''' ''"""' ''■"" "'"* "'■ ^^'^'•^"■^- -l"-'''-^ - The J.,k. iZ'.UuZvy, 



