BIRD AND DENNIS ISLANDS, SEYCHELLES 19 



sandstone, at its terminations just round the east and south-east points respectively, forms 

 small spits of rock projecting into the sea, its line pointing out across the two small 

 bays to the north-east and south of the island, thus showing that these bays are un- 

 doubtedly of very recent formation. 



Small cliffs as in (4) are found all round south-west point and the loss of land must 

 be very considerable. A little beach sandstone occurs at various points under the cliffs. 



The reef probably influences the distribution of these coast formations. As at Bird 

 island it only extends from the north-east southwards to the south-west. It is marked 

 by a sandy flat, absence of any considerable boulder zone and ill-defined buttress zone : 

 there is much Cymodocea but few colonies of growing coral. Possibly a further search 

 would show that it is not really so negative in character, for, during my visit, the 

 weather was very rough and squally at the only period of spring tides which occurred. 

 The island was undoubtedly once a breeding ground of birds and the vegetation is of 

 no interest, being all secondary in character and dependent on the coconut cultivation to 

 which its whole surface is devoted. The beach scrub is formed of rather larger bushes 

 than at Bird island and contains Hibiscus tiliaceus and Pemphis acidula, besides Secevola 

 and Tournefortia. Large trees are also more numerous : Casuarina have been planted over 

 the north-west of the island, two fine avenues of tall trees now existing. "Takamaka" 

 (Calophyllum inophyllum), " bois blanc " (Hernandia peltata), "la fouche" (Ficus sp. ?) 

 " mapou " (Pisonia Calpidia ?), and other trees are scattered about among the coconuts. 

 The herbaceous vegetation is more luxuriant than at Bird island, and contains several 

 other forms such as bulrushes (Typha angustata) and a large fern (Asplenium sp. ?) 

 in the marshes, while Vinca rosea gives the dryer ground the appearance of a garden 

 planted with flowers of red and white. All the vegetation under the coconut trees is 

 cut down periodically and the plantation as a whole kept remarkably clean. Bananas 

 and a few vanilla vines have been introduced, but are quite subsidiary to the coconut 

 cultivation. 



Formerly it is probable that the guano was worth exploiting but now that the 

 coconut plantation is made and in full bearing it is extremely doubtful whether it 

 would pay to attempt to work it. The fauna calls for little remark : it is recorded 

 that dugongs, giant tortoises, and green turtles abounded : the dugongs are extinct, 

 the tortoises are represented by a few introduced specimens, and the green turtle 

 (CheIo?ie my das) is very scarce. 



Land birds are more plentiful than at Bird island and include, in addition, a 

 Cinnyris and a turtle-dove (Turtur picturatus), the latter apparently being far from 

 common in the other islands of the Seychelles. The lizards are represented by two 

 geckos as at Bird, and in addition a skink. Invertebrates were commoner than at Bird, 

 but were represented by nearly the same forms, with the addition of several species of 

 insects. As in the case of Bird island the description of the various animals will be 

 incorporated with the report on the Seychelles islands as a whole. In conclusion it must 

 be pointed out that Dennis island must have once been in the same condition as Bird 

 island is in at present, all changes being due to the institution of coconut planting 

 and the consequent desertion by the birds. 



3—2 



