On two Nesting-places of Gannets and Terns. 
63 
y # — O n tivo Nesting-places of Gannets and Terns in the 
South Indian Ocean. By Commander Stuart St. J. 
Farquhar, R.N. 
Between the Seychelles and Mauritius lies a group of coral- 
islands known as the “Farquhar Islands/” named after a 
former Governor of Mauritius. This group is composed of 
two larger islands, separated by a narrow stretch of shoal- 
water, and extends about eight miles in length and half a mile 
to a mile in breadth, forming with the surrounding coral- 
reef an almost perfect atoll. There is a layer of about six 
inches of guano on these islands, and the vegetation is almost 
entirely coconut-trees, planted by natives, and a species of 
mangrove-bush. Of bird-life there is plenty. Guinea- 
fowl, which were introduced many years ago, are now very 
numerous and do much damage to the small patches of 
Indian corn. Several kinds of Doves are resident: one, a 
very small, short-winged species ( Turtar rostratus) , is abun¬ 
dant, and I obtained a good many of their eggs. Fowls, 
which have strayed from the settlement, form a not incon¬ 
siderable item in a day’s shooting, as they have bred freely, 
and the offspring are as wild as the wildest Pheasants in 
England. The sea-birds, however, form the principal attrac¬ 
tion, being far more numerous and varied than any other 
family. Three kinds of Gannets, or Boobies, were common, 
viz. Sula pis cat or , S. cyan ops , and S. leucogastra. 
The first-named of these species was found nesting on 
both the main islands, and, so far as I could ascertain by 
enquiry and observation, was the only one which did so. 
All the other sea-birds nested on a small island named 
Goelet Island, from the immense number of Sooty Terns 
(called “ Goelets 33 by the natives) which resort there. Sula 
piscator alone did not, probably because on Goelet Island 
there were very few bushes, whereas the two large islands 
were almost entirely overgrown with scrub. S. cganops 
and S. leucogastra both nest on the ground, and S. piscator 
always on the bushes. 
On July 10th, 1897, I paid a visit to Goelet Island; it is 
