702 Mr. M. J. Nicoll on the Birds collected and 



it quite probable that this species is different from that of 

 Madagascar, as nearly all, if not quite all, the resident birds 

 on Aldabra are peculiar, including the Ibis, Ibis abbotti. 



RaLLUS ALDABRANUS Giinth. 



Dryolimnas aldabranus Ridgway, Proc. U.S. Nat.Mus. xviii. 

 p. 528; Nicoll, Bull. B. O. C. xvi. p. 106. 



One adult female ; one immature male. Iris hazel ; bill 

 dark red at base, culmen and tip dark brown; tarn and toes 

 brown. 



The Aldabran Rail differs from that of Assumption in 

 having an olive wash on the crown of the head, and in being 

 faintly and less broadly barred below. The immature bird, 

 judging from our single specimen, differs from that of 

 Assumption [R. abbotti) in having the white patch on the 

 throat suffused with reddish chestnut. 



This Rail is not nearly so abundant on Aldabra as R. abbotti 

 is on Assumption, and I met with only two examples. 

 Mr. Meade- Waldo saAv two near the Settlement. The types 

 of this species are in the British Museum. 



Ibis abbotti Ridgw. 



Ibis abbotti Ridgway, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xviii. p. 530 ; 

 Nicoll, Bull. B. O. C. xvi. p. 106. 



Two adult females and one immature male. 



Adult female : iris light blue ; bill black ; tarsi and toes 

 black with a reddish tinge. Skin on the under-side of the 

 wings blood -red. 



Abbott's Ibis is to my mind one of the most interesting- 

 birds on Aldabra, and the thanks of all ornithologists are due 

 to the Hon. Walter Rothschild for the steps he has taken to 

 preserve this fine and rare species. 



I have seen many tame and confiding birds in different 

 parts of the world, but never such a delightfully tame bird 

 as this Ibis. It appears to nest only in one portion of the 

 Island of Aldabra, some thirty miles from the Settlement, but 

 the breeding-season was past at the time of our visit, and the 

 young were full-grown, though they still had the head and neck 



