FRYER— FORMATION OF ALDABRA, ETC. 433 



height to which it was elevated was probably the same as was Aldabra though we have no 

 definite evidence as in the latter case. 



The vegetation over the majority of the island consists of a tangled network of 

 Plumbago (P. aphylla sp. ?), Astephanus (A. arenarius sp. ?) with numerous low bushes 

 not identified. Small trees such as Euphorbia Abbotti, banyan (Ficus sp. ?) were not 

 uncommon, while Dracaena (D. reflexa sp. ?) occurred in guano-filled pits. A few trees of 

 Pemphis acidula occur near the west coast but do not unite to form bush. 



The birds of the island include a Cinnyris (C. abbotti), the Aldabra cuckoo (Centropus 

 insularis), rail (Dryolimnus abbotti), a brown turtle dove (Turtur assumptions) resembling 

 the Aldabra dove (Turtur aldabranus) and a gannet (Sula abbotti) which is peculiar 

 to Assumption and Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). On Assumption it inhabits the 

 large dune, never descending to low parts of the island, and only going a few miles 

 to sea to fish ; it was never seen on Aldabra*. Its distribution seems quite inexplicable. 

 The giant land tortoise formerly occurred on the island, for I found the remains of several 

 specimens in the pits in the rock. They do not seem to differ specifically from Testudo 

 elephantina of Aldabra. Living reptiles consist of the skink (Ablepharus boutonii var. 

 peronii) and the gecko (Phelsuma madagascarensis var. abbotti). 



In one of the pits in the rock, which was at least 8 feet deep and about 10 feet square 

 and contained salt water, I obtained an eel, for which Mr Tate Regan tells me a new 

 family will have to be made. I could see no open connection between the pit and the sea, 

 but presume one must exist, as the sides are overhanging and the water never reaches 

 within 4 feet of the surface. Invertebrates are not numerous ; Mr Dupont has since 

 visited the island and has very kindly made a collection, which contained a series of 

 several species, of which I only obtained single specimens and one or two I had failed to 

 observe at all. 



IX. FARQUHAR, PROVIDENCE AND ST PIERRE. 



A page must here be devoted to summarising the peculiarities of the remaining 

 islands of the Aldabra series though the reader will find full accounts with illustrations 

 and charts on pp. 142 — 149 of the first volume of Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the 

 Indian Ocean (Trans. Linn. Soc. Ser. 2, Zool. Vol. xii. pp. 141 — 9). 



Farquhar is an atoll 11 miles by 4 situated in lat. 18° 6' 45" S. and long. 51° 10' 3" E. 

 The points to which I would call attention are as follows : 



(a) The atoll has a very imperfect land-rim. 



(b) The land is mainly in the form of sand islands formed by wind and wave 

 piling, though a few minute islands of elevated coral rock still remain to show that the 

 atoll is elevated and resembles Cosmoledo, except that the process of erosion has been 

 carried further. 



* This species is also recorded on Christmas Island. I have not compared my specimens with those from 

 this island hut if identical the distribution becomes even more curious. 



