All these articles can he produced on a large scale. Tortoise shell from hawksbill 
turtle reared in artificial basins have failed but the failure is due to mistakes wholly uncon¬ 
nected math the industry itself. The life history of these turtles is not well known and they 
were fed artificially on fish and shell fish exclusively while they are krmwa to feed also ou sea, 
weeds (Sargasso &c). Without a marine biological laboratory no progress can be made. The 
two points that require elucidation are: lo. the food of the turtle; 2o. itsnatur.il breeding 
grounds. Some people say they inhabit the reels permanently ant others that they are 
migratory. The elucidation of this latter point would make a great difference in the success¬ 
ful rearing of these animals. The question of raising reptiles such as turtles is generally very 
easy and should be settled by a community so much interested in it. Lately much discussion 
took place as to how these animals get from one island to another and now for ex maple the 
giant tortoises happen to be found, at present only at Aloabia and Gxlaptgoe. Professor 
Gardiner who visited Seychelles in 1905 and 1903, is of opinion that many African species of 
freshwater cbelonian such as (Sternothoerus sinuatus) (tortues a soupape) were transported by 
man and by drifting logs of wood from Africa to the Seychelles. It has not bean proved as 
yet that Aldabra had any land connection with Madagascar where giant tortoises existed quite 
as recently as 50 years ago. Have they been transported attached while young to drifting 
wood '? Tnis is not likely. Professor Gardiner solves the difficulty in stating that the present 
Aldabra. tortoise probably evolved from marine ancestors. Many laud reptiles, crocoliles, 
lizards &c., are known to have originated in that way and are consequently sea borne animils. 
CHAPTER Xf. 
INSECT NOTES. 
The following is a complete list of the insects attacking coconut in Seychelles 
1. Oryetes Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros beetle). 
2. Melitommi insulare (beetle). 
8 , Diocalandra frumenti (weevil). 
4. Eugnoristus Braueri (weevil). 
5. Tscbuaspis fih'formis scale insect. 
6. Aspidiotus ficus 
7. ,, diety^spermi ,, „ 
8 . 
9. 
10 . 
11 . 
12 . 
13. 
14. 
Aspidiotus latanite scale insect. 
_ 3 > Ansei „ „ 
Ohionaspis inday „ „ 
,, dilatata 
Icerya Seychalimr,. n 
Yinsonia stellifera. 
33 
33 
-Lecaniuui tessal'apuai.,, 
33 
33 
As already stated, Oryetes Rhinoceros is doing more damage owing to the refuse from the 
essential oils distilleries forming new breeding places. The discovery in Madagascar, by Mr 
d’Emmeiey de Charmoy, of natural parasites of this beetle gives aa opportunity of combat¬ 
ting It by the introduction of these parasites into Seychelles. Taeso parasites are secliid 
wasps of which there are three species (Triscolia hyalinata, Dielis eollaris var coclebs, and 
Scolia pilsoelhi) already existing at Aldabra, a Seychelles dependency, in the N. W. of Mada¬ 
gascar This means that the Rhinoceros parasite (Scolia cryctopbaga, and other Scoliidse) 
would in all probability be easily acclimatised in Seychelles. Melitomma insulare is even 
worse than the Rhinoceros beetle in its ravages in coconut plantations. It is indigenous to 
this Colony and to Madagascar and efforts should be made in Madagascar, where the insect 
fau_„ L s not been disturbed on the same scale by bush fires as io. Seychelles, to Sad natural 
parasites of this dreadful nocturnal beetle. A present the larvee (which attacks coconut stems 
only) removed by means of gouges and burnt. 
Diocalandra frumenti and Eugnoristus Braueri damage the leaves of the coconut trees. 
They Lave not spread to all plantations as yet but the attacked leaves should be removed from 
the tree, where they remain for a long time, and burnt. These insects the latter of which is 
endemic are not considered as dangerous pQsts. 
The scale insects which follow iu the list show to what extent the coconut trees in Sey¬ 
chelles are diseased. The climate of this colony is so beneficial to these injects that they 
spread at a tremendous space from one place to another. I visited Oosmoledo Island in 1906 
and did not find Chionaspis scales there on the coconut trees grown at that time. 10 years 
after in 3916 I found that this insect had been accidentally introduced and that not a single 
tree had escaped contamination. All fronds were white with these insects. Fortunately mist 
of the cCale insects are likely to become parasitised by fuugus parasites if the weather conti¬ 
nues to be rainy in Seychelles. A period of drought occurred from 1904 to 1911 (seven years) 
and from 1912 onwards not a single year of drought was experienced. If the theory of a cycle 
of 7 years rain to be followed by a cycle of 7 years drought is true there are net many years 
left to the fungus parasites to help in combating scale insect disease. Lccanium tessellatum 
is killed out by Cephalosporium lecanii even in the low country. Aspidiotus ficus which, 
attacks also areca nut palms is being killed out this year by some parasite which his not yet 
beer, identified. Tue latter scale insect is one of the oldest species found attacking coconut in 
this colony. It attacks both the leaves and the husks. The excelie'. •’ v esulis obtained with 
ihes° paasites show that no apprehension need be felt concerning attacks of scale insects on 
coconuts. This is very fortunate because any step taken by the planters to cun bat scale insects 
by t praying is outside their practical politics. Necrobia rufipes on coprah stored for a long 
time and silvanus surinamensis on coconut cake are still doing damage. 
Vanilla is rather free from insect attack except by an Aphis (Oer? phis latanue) which is 
bred by ants at the base of the flower stalks. This insect is however never found in consider¬ 
able numbers. 
Rtjbbku. Leaves of Para Rubber are attached on a small scale bv Lee iniutn nigrum and 
Hemicinonaspis aspidistra© but the former scale insect is kept in check by a natural fungus 
parasite (Hypocrella sp.). 
