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think you would be al3le to judge pretty well whether it 

 was worth while to make a more thorough investigation 

 of the Natural History of those islands. 



I may, however, be allowed to express my opinion, 

 that as these small islands are of comparative recent coral 

 formation, and perhaps not many ages above high water 

 mark, it is not very likely that their fauna or flora Avill be 

 in any way peculiar, or will contain many species not 

 before described from other countries. As to one island, 

 Agalega, I may speak with some confidence of its avi 

 fauna, as some years ago the then manager, Mr Feuilhe- 

 rade, kindly presented me with a collection of the eggs of 

 the birds inhabiting it ; from them I ascertained, that 

 with the exception of course of the sea-birds which are all 

 well known species, the others are found on other places, 

 and had most undoutedly been introduced by man's 

 agency. 



And now, Mr President and Gentlemen, I must allude 

 to a somewhat personal matter. You, Mr Secretary, have 

 been pleased to make some remarks, which I assure you 

 are far too flattering, concerning the assistance I have 

 rendered to the labours of the Society. It is in truth 

 little indeed, and it is not the first time I have had to 

 apologise for my short-comings in this respect. I have, 

 however, the material for a descriptive lists of birds of 

 this island, and of Rodrigues and Seychelles. As I have 

 not the opportunities necessary to study the habits of 

 many species of them, my work will necessarily be far 

 from complete ; it may however aid some younger mena- 



