FRYER— THE LEPIDOPTERA OP SEYCHELLES, ETC. 



are well cultivated, and doubtless Inunan agency has accounted for the arrival of such 

 species as Pyralis mamhotalis. 



Turning to the Seychelles species, we find a total of 143 species, to which must be 

 added 111 species of "Micro" and 6 species of "Plume" ; of these, in my sections there 

 are 30 peculiar species, while Mr Meyrick finds 90, and Mr Fletcher 3. 



Confining myself to my own groups, it is first noticeable that, with the exception 

 of the peculiar species, the various forms are in the main widely distributed, though there 

 is a slight preponderance of African forms. It is not possible to make deductions of value 

 from them, as they are evidently being carried over a large area and can colonise any 

 favourable spot. Even if they belong to a type usually found on continental land it 

 would be rash to deduce that the Seychelles are also continental, as it is quite possible 

 that such species are really being carried daily by the winds to any small islands, but 

 do not as a rule find the continental type of vegetation they require. The peculiar species, 

 however, are of greater value, and it may be said that the majority are very distinct and 

 well separated from their nearest allies ; they tend to show that the Seychelles were once 

 much larger, while in many cases they belong to continental groups which do not often 

 cross large areas of sea. 



A comparison with the fauna of some island which has undoubtedly never had a 

 continental connection, which is not coralline and which is very isolated, would be 

 interesting, but I know of no island which is convenient for comjiarison. 



The problem of the Aldabra region is more simple than that of Seychelles ; there are 

 66 species, of which 7 are peculiar, and with the exception of the latter all belong to 

 Malagasy or African forms. There are 9 species of micro-lepidoptera, all peculiar, but it 

 is most probable that, when the fauna of Madagascar is better known, Aldabra will be 

 found to contain no species which have not close allies elsewhere. 



There is thus a gi-eat contrast between the Aldabra region and Seychelles, a contrast 

 which sufficiently speaks for itself 



Further deductions could be made from both the fauna of the Seychelles and that 

 of Aldabra, but in problems of geographical distribution, when arguing from one group 

 of animals, it is unwise to carry conclusions too far, and I next turn to the systematic 

 account of the species, though a word may first be said as to previous collections from the 

 two localities. 



Collections were obtained in the Seychelles by M. Joannis" (from M. Philibert), by 

 Dr Holland (from Dr Abbott), while the latter gentleman also described a small collection 

 from Aldabra. Aurivillius recorded the species obtained on Aldabra by Voeltzkow, while 

 Sir G. Hampson described the collections obtained in the Indian Ocean by the 

 " Valhalla." The Lepidopterous fauna of the Seychelles, however, was but little known 

 until H.M.S. " Sealark " visited them in November, 1905. The collection of Lepidoptera 

 then obtained contained 10 new species, as well as numerous additions to the Seychelles 

 list. A full account by T. Bainbrigge Fletcher, R.N., will be found in Ti'ans. Linn. Soc, 

 ser. 2, Zool., vol. xiii. p. 265, 1910. 



* Fletcher, Trans. Linn. Soc, ser. 2, Zool., vol. xiii. (1910) \). .322 gives an excellent bibliography 

 with full references. 



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