212 
THE ALDABRA ISLES 
the south-eastern side is formed a water-hole which 
never dries up, containing slightly brackish, impure 
water; it is only 6 ft. broad and 4i ft. deep. 
Aldabra, lying within reach of the trade winds, has a 
pleasant climate. The temperature rises in April and 
May to 82° and 84° F., but cools down at night to 
77° and 79° F. The rainy season, according to Dr. Abott, 
begins in December and lasts till May. The dry season 
commences at the beginning of July. 
We have quite lately obtained important particulars 
as to the flora and fauna. The details collected by 
Prof. Hans Schinz furnishes a list of 71 species, of which 
60 are peculiar to the island. The sand-dunes are over¬ 
grown with casuarinas (C eqicisetifolia). The creeping 
Ipomoea pescaprce grows exuberantly on the sea-shore; 
scattered thickets of borage [Toiirnefortia argentea)^ with 
fleshy leaves, are among the characteristic forms on the 
sand-hills. Mangroves only occur on the eastern side, 
where they are so dense as to make it difficult to land. 
A dense bush begins in the neighbourhood of the 
shores, which gives place here and there to park scenery; 
the height of this underwood varies, sometimes being 
as much as from 16 to 20 ft. Among the characteristic 
forms of this underwood there are Fiats nmitarum^ 
conspicuous by its close foliage, and Fiats aldabrensis ; 
then Grevia salicifolia^ reminding us of our willows, as 
well as species of spurge some six feet high [Ettphorbia 
Abotti). Among screw-palms only one species has as yet 
been observed, apparently Pandamts VandermeescJiii. The 
occurrence of Moringia pterygosperma is peculiar. It is 
a cultivated plant in the tropics and has apparently been 
imported unintentionally. The flora, according to Schinz, 
is closely connected with that of the Mascarene Isles, 
but has received in addition numerous types from Mada¬ 
gascar and East Africa. 
The animal world allows us to recognize the original 
