HOUTMAN’S ABROLHOS. 137 
Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone. Sternula nereis, Little Tern. 
Numenius cyanopus, Australian Curlew. Sternula inconspicua, Doubtful Tern. 
Numenius uropygialis, Wimbrel. Anous stolidus, Noddy Tern. 
Demiegretta sacra, Reef Heron. Anous tenuirostris, Lesser Noddy. 
Hypotenidia philipensis, Pectoral Rail. Pufinus nugax, Allied Petrel. 
Porzana tabuensis, Tabuan Crake. Pufinus sphenurus, Wedge-tailed Petrel. 
Anas castanea, Australian Teal. Procellaria fregata, White-faced Storm 
Larus pacificus, Pacific Gull. Petrel. 
Larus longirostris, Long-billed Gull. Phaéton candidus, White-Tailed Tropic 
Sterna caspia, Caspian Tern. Bird. 
Sterna bergit, Common Tern. Phaéton rubricauda, Red-tailed Tropic 
Sterna dougalli, Graceful Tern. Bird. 
Sterna anestheta, Panayan Tern. Graculus varius, Pied Cormorant. 
Sterna fuliginosa, Sooty Tern or Wide- Pelecanus conspicillatus, Australian 
awake. 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 
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