©ngmal Jlrtkles. 



THE ISLAND OF EODEIGUES, AND ITS FAUNA, 

 AS THEY "WERE, AND AS THEY ARE.* 



By the Rev. H. H. Slatek, B.A., F.Z.S., &c., 

 President Vertebrate Section, Yorkshire Naturalists' Union ; late Naturalist to 

 H.M. Transit of Yenus Expedition to Rodrigues, 1874, &c., &c., &c. 



The Island of Rodrigues, which is to form the subject of the following 

 observations is, geographically speaking, very insignificant ; it is 

 about twelve miles long and six in greatest breadth. It is situated out 

 by itself in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the nearest land being the 

 Island of Mauritius, distant a little more than SOO miles to the 

 W S W. Its latitude is about 20° S., and its longitude 65° E. 



Having said so much as to its position, I must next attempt to give 

 some idea of its general appearance. It is, from the sea especially, 

 a charming island, though less so than Mauritius, which goes by the 

 poetical name of " The star and key of the Indian Ocean." Rodrigues 

 is anything but monotonous, there being hardly an inch of level ground 

 in it. The highest hills are in the centre of the island, the chief one 

 about 1,300 feet above sea level, and several others coming near this 

 height. From these central peaks many small streams run down to 

 the sea, mostly through deep ravines, often well-wooded. These 

 ravines have frequently almost precipitous sides, which makes an 

 inland journey a very considerable affair, as to make five miles as the 

 crow flies (though the crow doesn't fly in Rodrigues at all), you may 

 have to walk a dozen of the very roughest, with vegetation in some 

 places above your knees. People consequently don't travel much by 

 land, but go round the coast in a pirogue (or canoe) to the nearest 

 point to where they want to get. 



In many parts, owing, I believe, to the wanton destruction of the 

 woods by fire, and otherwise, the country looks bare and desolate, but 

 in others it is well wooded. The woods, too, have a very picturesque 

 appearance, especially to an English eye, as palms of various kinds are 

 a great feature in them. 



The island is surrounded by coral reefs, which, in some places, are 

 three miles from the shore, and in others only as many hundred yards. 

 Within the reefs there is shallow water, in which little islands are 

 scattered here and there. 



N. S., Vol. vi.— July, 1881. 

 * Read before the Leeds Naturalists' Club and Scientific Association, May 31st, 1881. 



