Houttnan's Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. 493 



The writer has been fortunate in visiting the Abrolhos 

 on two occasions, first in 1897 and again recently, when, 

 as a member of a scientific party, he had many oppor- 

 tunities of studying the interesting forms of marine life 

 that the islands are justly famous for. At a distance of 

 some three hundred miles to the north of the capital city, 

 Perth, is situated the port of Geraldton, the outlet for the 

 rich auriferous and agricultural districts that make such a 

 valuable portion of the great State of Western Australia. 

 Fifty miles out to sea from Geraldton we find the widely- 

 scattered group of islands comprising the Abrolhos 

 Archipelago. Zoologically the islands are of the utmo>t 

 interest, for, being largely of coral formation, a field is 

 there vacant for investigation and study of that marvellous 

 organism — the coral polyp. For ages past, too, this spot 

 has been the rendezvous of millions of sea-birds that con- 

 gregate there during the summer months for the purpose 

 of breeding. The droppings of these birds for thousands 

 of years has resulted in a big deposit of a valuable guano, 

 which has been the upkeep of a thriving industry for 

 upwards of twenty years. Until the year 1902 large 

 quantities of Abrolhos guano were shipped to the United 

 Kingdom and foreign countries, but recent legislation has 

 decreed that the valuable manure may now be used only 

 within the State. 



The Abrolhos Islands are the southernmost point where 

 living corals may be seen, at any rate in the form of reefs. 

 The whole of the archipelago is divided into three distinct 

 groups, made up of a series of islets and submerged reefs. 

 " Batavia^s Churchyard/'' or as it is now called Pelsart 

 Island, is the largest, being some seven miles in length. 

 From the southern extremity sweeps out a majestic fringing 

 reef, having under its protection practically the whole of 

 the remainder of the group. Over this reef at all times 

 may be seen the great ocean-rollers pounding against the 

 first obstruction from African shores. The large area 

 within the reef is of shallow depth, and here the corals in 

 all their wealth of form and colour are on every hand. 



