HOUTMAN'S ABROLHOS. 



137 



Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone. 

 Namenius cyanopus, Australian Curlew. 

 Numenius uropygialis, Wimbrel. 

 Demiegretta sacra, Reef Heron. 

 Hypotcetiidia philipensis, Pectoral Rail. 

 Porzana tabuemis, Tabuan Crake. 

 Anas castanea, Australian Teal. 

 Larus paciflcus, Pacific Gull. 

 Larus longirostris, Long-billed Gull. 

 Sterna caspia, Caspian Tern. 

 Sterna bergii, Common Tern. 

 Sterna dougalli, Graceful Tern. 

 Sterna ancvstheta, Panayan Tern. 

 Sterna fuliginosa, Sooty Tern or Wide- 

 awake. 



Sternula nereis, Little Tern. 

 Sternula inamspicua, Doubtful Tern. 

 Anous stolidm, Noddy Tern. 

 Anous tenuirostris, Lesser Noddy. 

 Pujfinus nugaoc, Allied Petrel. 

 Pujfinus sphenurus, Wedge-tailed Petrel. 

 Procellaria fregata, White-faced Storm 



Petrel. 

 Phaeton candidus, White-Tailed Tropic 



Bird. 

 Phaeton rubricauda, Red-tailed Tropic 



Bird. 



Graculus varius, Pied Cormorant. 

 Pelecanus conspicillatus, Australian 



Pelican. 



On account of the vast accumulations of guano resulting from the sea-birds 

 having so long made the Abrolhos their headquarters, this island group possesses a 

 considerable commercial value, and has been leased for some years past by the Western 

 Australian Government to the enterprising firm of Messrs. Broadhurst and McNeil for 

 the exclusive right to collect and export this valuable product. The record of the facts 

 that up to 1894 no less a quantity than 46,000 tons of guano was excavated and 

 exported by the firm, and that the royalty that accrued to the Government 

 thereon amounted to 16,000, will suffice to indicate the important position which 

 Houtman's Abrolhos Islands occupy as a source of income and revenue. In order to 

 profitably work the guano deposits, tramways for land carriage and jetties for its 

 convenient shipment have been constructed on several of the larger islands, and the 

 hundred or more labourers, chiefly Malays, usually employed in delving for 

 and transporting the excavated mould in bags, barrows, baskets, and every available 

 receptacle, make a most animated spectacle. It is interesting to observe that this 

 Abrolhos guano, notwithstanding that it is among the richest known in phosphates and 

 other most highly prized constituents, is, in its virgin state, absolutely devoid of smell, 

 and presents the aspect of a by no means extra rich, light-coloured, garden mould. The 

 chemist consequently has to specially concoct and add an appropriate stink to this raw 



material, for guano without an odour would be to the agriculturist a veritable case of 



s 



