xxvi VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



important, but at present I believe nothing has 

 been published concerning them. 



The most interesting islands visited were un- 

 doubtedly South Trinidad, Dassen Island, 

 Glorioso, Assumption, Aldabra, the Comoros, and 

 Seychelles, all of which have been fully dealt with 

 in their proper place in the following pages. 



This, then, is a brief outline of my three voyages 

 on the " Valhalla," and if some of the notes in 

 the following chapters are not as full as is desirable 

 I must remind my readers that our stay in many 

 of the " ports of call " was of very short duration 

 a difficulty only to be expected on a long 

 voyage, when coaling or other necessary though 

 wearisome proceedings effect frequent delays in 

 the larger ports. 



If, however, my account of our experiences 

 should at some future time prove of use to any of 

 my readers who themselves set off for these 

 distant parts of the world in search of natural 

 history treasures, or if the following pages give 

 to the reader even a fraction of the pleasure 

 which I myself experienced in visiting the islands 

 therein portrayed, I shall feel that the book has 

 not been written wholly in vain. 



M. J. N. 



GIZA, EGYPT. 



January, 1908. 



