A ldabra . . -. Assum tion ;&smo/edo Astove Farquhar 10's- Agalega B ' Iles Glorieuses ' Tromelin E'igure 1. Western Ind i an Ocean i s l a n d s . I s l a n d s named i n Roman s c r i p t are cons idered i n t h i s B u l l e t i n , t h o s e i n i t a l i c s c r i p t have been t r e a t e d i n p r ev ious pape r s i n t h i s s e r i e s . FLORISTICS AND ECOLOGY OF WESTERN I N D I A N OCEAN ISLANDS 1. INTRODUCTION by D. R . S todda r t A t t h e time t h a t t h e Royal Society of London and t h e Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n began s t u d i e s of t h e marine and t e r r e s t r i a l ecology of western Indian Ocean c o r a l r e e f s and i s l a n d s , i n 1966, t h i s was one of t h e l e a s t known s e c t o r s of t h e wor ld ' s r ee f seas . Only t h e s k e t c h i e s t information was a v a i l a b l e f o r most of t h e i s l a n d s between Madagascar and Seychel les (S toddar t 1967), and much of t h a t da t ed from t h e e a r l y y e a r s of t h e century . Since then , research has been concent ra ted a t t h e Research S t a t i o n b u i l t by t h e Royal Socie ty a t Aldabra A t o l l i n 1968-70, and ope ra t ed s i n c e 1980 by t h e Seychel les I s l a n d s Foundation. The e a r l y summary accounts of Aldabra ecology (S toddar t , ed . 1967; Westoll and Stoddar t , eds . 1971) have been g r e a t l y expanded, p a r t i c u l a r l y with regard t o t h e t e r r e s t r i a l fauna and f l o r a (S toddar t and Westol l , eds . 1979). T h e F l o r a o f A l d a b r a a n d n e i g h b o u r i n g i s l a n d s (Fosberg and Renvoize 1980) provides a c r i t i c a l account of t h e p l a n t s found on many of t h e western Indian Ocean c o r a l i s l a n d s a s wel l a s on t h e ra i sed- reef i s l a n d s of t h e Aldabra group i t s e l f , and r e p l a c e s t h e e a r l i e r F i e l d G u i d e of Wickens (1975). The o r i g i n s and d i s t r i b u t i o n s o f t h e western Indian Ocean i s l a n d f l o r a s havebeen examined by Renvoize (1971, 1975, 1979), while on a smal le r s c a l e S. H . Hnatiuk (1979b) has a p p l i e d is land-biogeographic theory t o t h e f l o r a s of small i s l e t s wi th in t h e Aldabra lagoon. The r o l e of d i s p e r s a l mechanisms, germination and f e r t i l i s a t i o n has been s tud ied a t Aldabra by S. H. Hnatiuk (1978, 1979a) , Wickens (1979a, 1979b) and Woodell (1979), though s o f a r t h e r e have been few s t u d i e s of o t h e r a s p e c t s of t h e l and p l a n t s , such a s g e n e t i c s and physiology (Lewis 1975, R. J. Hnatiuk 1980). A t o l l Research Bu l l e t i n No. 273: 1-6, 1983. Much a t t e n t i o n has a l s o been given t o vegeta t ion s t u d i e s a t Aldabra. Fosberg ' s (1971) o r i g i n a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of t h e vegeta t ion has been examined by Hnatiuk and llerton (1979a, 1979b), and numerical techniques app l i ed t o t h e Mixed Scrub community by Newbery and H i l l (1981 ) . The mangroves have been s tud ied by Macnae ( 1971) , and t h e i n t e r t i d a l communities by P o t t s and Whitton (1980). Gillham (1977a, 1977b) has s tudied t h e e f f e c t s of s eab i rds on vegeta t ion , both a t Aldabra and a t Cosmoledo. Aldabra is , of course , t h e only remaining i s l a n d i n t h e western Indian Ocean t o have r e t a i n e d i t s n a t i v e popula- t i o n of Giant Tor to i se s , though many o the r i s l a n d s had s i m i l a r popula- t i o n s u n t i l about 150 y e a r s ago (Stoddar t and peake 1979). The e f f e c t s of t o r t o i s e grazing on vegeta t ion has been s tud ied by R. H . Hnatiuk e t a l . (1976) and Merton e t a l . (1976). More r ecen t ly Gibson and Ph i l l i p son (1983a, 1983b) have inves t iga t ed primary p roduc t iv i ty , wi th p a r t i c u l a r re ference t o t o r t o i s e graz ing , while Gibson e t a l . (1983) have examined t h e response of vegeta t ion t o exclusion of t o r t o i s e s i n experimental p l o t s . P a r a l l e l wi th the Aldabra s t u d i e s , every opportuni ty has been se ized t o expand our knowledge of o the r western Indian Ocean i s l a n d s , both within and ou t s ide the Republic of Seychel les . In add i t ion t o d a t a on land b i r d s and seab i rds , p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n has been given t o t h e f l o r a , with t h e aim of e s t a b l i s h i n g a b a s i c knowledge of t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n and composition of i n s u l a r f l o r a s of vascular p l a n t s . In an e a r l i e r i s sue of the B u l l e t i n , Coral i s l a n d s of the w e s t e r n I n d i a n Ocean (S toddar t , ed. 19701, f l o r i s t i c l ists and much o the r information were presented f o r Assumption, Astove and Cosmoledo ( e l eva ted i s l a n d s i n t h e Aldabra group) ( t h i s information was r ev i sed i n t h e F l o r a o f A l d a b r a ) ; Remire, Desroches and African Banks ( c o r a l i s l a n d s i n t h e Amirantes); and f o r Farquhar A t o l l and Tromelin. Subsequently s i m i l a r da t a have been provided f o r D'Arros and S t Joseph i n t h e nor thern Amirantes (S toddar t , Coe and Fosberg 1979), and f o r Bird and Denis I s l ands on the Seychel les Bank (Stoddar t and Fosberg 1981) . In t h e p resen t B u l l e t i n , new information i s presented on seve ra l more western Indian Ocean i s l ands . These inc lude t h e small g r a n i t i c i s l a n d s of Cousin and Frggate i n t h e c e n t r a l Seychel les; t h e c o r a l i s l a n d s of Poivre, Marie-Louise, Desnoeufs and Alphonse i n t h e southern Amirantes; t h e c o r a l i s l a n d s of P l a t t e and Coetivy on t h e Seychel les Bank; and t h e two l a r g e i s o l a t e d c o r a l i s l a n d s of Agelega. Figure 1 shows t h e l o c a t i o n of t hese i s l a n d s , and a l s o of those previous ly examined i n t h i s s e r i e s of i s l a n d r e p o r t s a s soc ia t ed with t h e Royal Socie ty , Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , and Seychel les I s l ands Foundation r e sea rch programme. The f i n a l paper p r e s e n t s new information on r a i n f a l l v a r i a b i l i t y on Aldabra i t s e l f , extending t h e ana lyses provided by Stoddar t (1971) , S toddar t and Mole (1977), S toddar t and Walsh (1979), Farrow (19711, and R. J. Hnatiuk (1979). A s u b s t a n t i a l amount of f l o r i s t i c information i s now a v a i l a b l e on the ra i sed-reef and c o r a l i s l a n d s of t h e western Indian Ocean. A prel iminary a n a l y s i s of it has been made by Stoddar t and Fosberg ( i n p r e s s ) , and a more s u b s t a n t i a l review, inc luding t h e c e n t r a l and e a s t e r n Indian Ocean c o r a l i s l a n d s , i s i n p repa ra t ion . I t is, however, app ropr i a t e t o no te t h a t information i s s t i l l r equ i r ed on t h e f l o r a and vegeta t ion , a s wel l a s on o the r a s p e c t s of t h e t e r r e s t r i a l ecology, f o r i s l a n d s such a s S t P i e r r e , Providence, Ce r f , S t Francois , B i j o u t i e r , and the i s l a n d s i n t h e Mozambique Channel. Acknowledaement We thank t h e Department of Lands and Surveys, Mahe, Seychel les , f o r permission t o base F igures 2 , 4 , and 7-12 on photomaps prepared by t h e Di rec to ra t e of Overseas Surveys. References Farrow, G . E . 1971. The c l ima te of Aldabra A t o l l . P h i l . T r a n s . R. S o c . L o n d . B 260, 67-91. Fosberg, F R. 1971. Prel iminary survey of Aldabra vege ta t ion . P h i l . T r a n s . X. S o c . Lond . B 260, 215-225. Fosberg, F. R . and Renvoize, S. A. 1980. The f l o r a of Aldabra and neighbouring i s l a n d s . Kew B u l l . , Add . S e r . 7, 1-358. Gibson, C . W . D . , Gui l ford , T. C . , Hambler, C. and S t e r l i n g , P. H. 1983. T rans i t i on matr ix models and succession a f t e r r e l e a s e from graz ing on Aldabra A t o l l . ~ e g e t a t i o , 52, 151-159. Gibson, C . W . D. and P h i l l i p s o n , J. 1983a. The primary product ion of Aldabra A t o l l , with r e f e rence t o h a b i t a t s used by Giant Tor to i se s . P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 302, 167-199. Gibson, C . W . D. and P h i l l i p s o n , J. 1983b. The vege ta t ion of Aldabra A t o l l : p re l iminary a n a l y s i s and explana t ion of t h e vegeta t ion map. ~ h i l . T r a n s . R. S o c . L o n d . B 302, 201-235. Gillham, M. E . 1977a. Observations on vege ta t ion of Blue-faced Booby co lon ie s on Cosmoledo A t o l l , western Indian Ocean. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 199, 1-11. Gillham, M . E . 1977b. Vegetation of sea and shore-bird co lon ie s on Aldabra A t o l l . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 200, 1-19. Hnatiuk, R . J. 1979. Temporal and s p a t i a l v a r i a t i o n s i n p r e c i p i - t a t i o n on Aldabra. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 25-34. Hnatiuk, R . J. 1980. C q photosynthes is i n t h e vege ta t ion of Aldabra A t o l l . O e c o l o y i a ( B e r l .) , 44, 327-334. Hnat iuk, R. J. and Merton, L. F. H . 1979a. Vege ta t ion o f Aldabra , a reassessment . A t o l l R e s . B u l l , 239, 1-22. Hnatiuk, R. J. and Merton, L. F . H . 1979b. A p e r s p e c t i v e o f t h e v e g e t a t i o n of Aldabra. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 79-84. Hnat iuk, R. J . , Woodell, S . R . J. and Bourne, D. M . 1976. G ian t T o r t o i s e and v e g e t a t i o n i n t e r a c t i o n s on Aldabra A t o l l - P a r t 2: c o a s t a l . B i o l . C o n s e r v . 9 , 305-316. HnatiLik, S. 1978. P l a n t d i s p e r s a l by t h e Aldabran G i a n t T o r t o i s e G e o c h e l o n e g i g a n t e a (Schweigger . O e c o l o g i a ( B e r l .) , 36, 345- 350. Hnatiuk, S. 1979a. A survey of germinat ion o f s eeds from some v a s c u l a r p l a n t s found on Aldabra A t o l l . J. B i o g e o g r . 6 , 105-114. Hnat iuk, S. H . 1979b. Numbers of p l a n t s p e c i e s on t h e i s l a n d s of Aldabra A t o l l . P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 247-254. Lewis, D. 1975. Heteromorphic i n c o m p a t i b i l i t y systems under d i s r u p t i v e s e l e c t i o n . P r o c . R . S o c . L o n d . B 188, 247-256. Macnae, W. 1971. Mangroves on Aldabra. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 260, 237-247. Merton, L. F. H . , Bourn, D. M . and Hnat iuk, R. J. 1976. G ian t T o r t o i s e and v e g e t a t i o n i n t e r a c t i o n s on Aldabra A t o l l - P a r t 1: i n l and . B i o l . C o n s e r v . 9 , 293-304. Newbery, D. McC. and H i l l , M . G . 1981. Numerical c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of 'mixed s c r u b ' v e g e t a t i o n on Aldabra A t o l l . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 246, 1-10. P o t t s , M. and Whitton, B. A. 1980. Vege ta t ion of t h e i n t e r t i d a l zone of t h e lagoon of Aldabra , w i th p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e t o t h e pho to syn the t i c p r o k a r y o t i c communities. p r o c . R . S o c . L o n d . B 208, 13-55. Renvoize, S. A. 1971. The o r i g i n and d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e f l o r a of Aldabra. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 260, 227-236. Renvoize, S. A. 1975. A f l o r i s t i c a n a l y s i s of western Ind i an Ocean c o r a l i s l a n d s . Kew B u l l . 30, 133-152. Renvoize, S. A . 1979. The o r i g i n s of I nd i an Ocean i s l a n d f l o r a s . I n P l a n t s a n d i s l a n d s , ed . D . B r a m w e l l (London: Academic P r e s s ) , 107-129. S todda r t , D. R . 1967. Summary of t h e ecology o f c o r a l i s l a n d s n o r t h of Madagascar (exc lud ing A ldab ra ) . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 118, 53-61. Stoddart, D. R . , ed. 1967. Ecology of Aldabra Ato l l , Indian Ocean. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 118, 1-141. Stoddart, D. R . , ed. 1970. Coral i s lands of the western Indian Ocean. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 136, 1-224. Stoddart, D. R . 1971. Rainfall on Indian Ocean cora l i s lands . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 147, 1-21. Stoddart, D. R . , Coe, M . J. and Fosberg, F. R. 1979. D'Arros and S t Joseph, Amirante Islands. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 223, 1-48. Stoddart, D. R. and Fosberg, F. R. 1981. Bird and Denis Islands, Seychelles. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 252, 1-50. Stoddart, D. R. and Fosberg, F. R. In press. Vegetation and f l o r i s t i c s of western Indian Ocean cora l i s lands . In B i o g e o g r a p h y a n d e c o l o g y o f the S e y c h e l l e s I s l a n d s (The Hague: W. Junk). Stoddart, D. R . and Mole, L. U . 1977. Climate of Aldabra Atol l . toll R e s . B u l l 202, 1-21. Stoddart, D. R . and Peake, J. F. 1979. His tor ical records of Indian Ocean Giant Tortoise populations. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 147-161. Stoddart, D. R . and Walsh, R. P. D. 1979. Long-term cl imat ic change in the western Indian Ocean. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 11-23. Stoddart, D. R. and Westoll, T. S., eds. 1979. T h e terrestrial e c o l o g y o f A l d a b r a : a R o y a l S o c i e t y d i s c u s s i o n . London: The Royal Society. 263 pp. [Originally published a s P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286 (1979) , 1-2631 . Westoll, T. S. and Stoddart, D. R . , eds. 1971. A discussion on the r e s u l t s of the Royal Society Expedition t o Aldabra, 1967-68. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 260, 1-654. Wickens, G. E . 1975. A f i e l d g u i d e t o the f l o r a o f A l d a b r a . Royal Society Aldabra Research Committee paper ALD/3(75), 99 pp. Wickens, G. E . 1979a. Speculations on seed dispersal and the f l o r a of the Aldabra archipelago. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 85-97. Wickens, G. E. 1979b. The propagules of the t e r r e s t r i a l f l o r a of the Aldabra archipelago, western Indian Ocean. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 229, 1-37. 2. NATURAL HISTOXY OF COUSIN ISLAND by F. R. Fosberg Cousin I s l a n d is one of t h e r e l a t i v e l y t i n y and less w e l l known of t h e S e y c h e l l e s Archipelago. It was known t o be t h e home of s e v e r a l of t h e r a r e r s p e c i e s of endemic l and b i r d s of t h e S e y c h e l l e s , and t o pro- t e c t t h e s e from p o s s i b l e e x t e r m i n a t i o n , t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Counci l f o r Bird P r e s e r v a t i o n bought t h e i s l a n d i n January , 1968. It i s now main- t a i n e d a s a s a n c t u a r y where a l l ind igenous b i r d s a r e g iven complete p r o t e c t i o n . I was i n v i t e d by P r o f e s s o r W. H. Thorpe, Chairman of t h e B r i t i s h S e c t i o n of t h e Counc i l , t o v i s i t t h e i s l a n d and make a p r e l i m i n a r y re - conna i ssance of t h e v e g e t a t i o n , t o a i d i n hand l ing any management prob- l e m s t h a t might a r i s e . F o r t u n a t e l y i t was p o s s i b l e t o combine a v i s i t t o t h e S e y c h e l l e s w i t h an a l ready-a r ranged t r i p t o Ceylon, and through t h e c o u r t e s y and c o o p e r a t i o n of t h e U . S. A i r Force , t o s e c u r e t r a n s p o r - t a t i o n t o t h e S e y c h e l l e s on t h e weekly amphibian p l a n e t h a t t h e n s e r v i c e d t h e S a t e l l i t e Tracking S t a t i o n on Mah6, l a r g e s t i s l a n d o f t h e group. I wish t o e x p r e s s t h e a p p r e c i a t i o n of t h e Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , a s w e l l a s my own g r a t i t u d e f o r t h i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e h e l p . I a l s o wish t o acknowl- edge t h e c o u r t e s y and h e l p f u l n e s s of t h e Pan-American Airways p e r s o n n e l and t h e o t h e r s connected w i t h t h i s p l a n e s e r v i c e and w i t h t h e S a t e l l i t e Tracking S t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y Major M a r t i n M. Manion and Capt. J . M. Smith , U.S.A.F., t h e n commander and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e r of t h e S t a t i o n . I wish, a l s o , t o thank D r . S. D i l l o n Rip ley , S e c r e t a r y o f t h e Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , f o r s u g g e s t i n g t h a t I a c c e p t D r . Thorpe 's i n v i t a t i o n t o v i s i t t h e i s l a n d t o c a r r y o u t t h i s r econna i ssance . The v e g e t a t i o n map of Cousin I s l a n d , f i g . 2 , is adapted from t h e map by A. W. Diamond i n t h e Cousin I s l a n d Nature Reserve Management P l a n , and p u b l i s h e d by permiss ion , f o r which I am g r a t e f u l . A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n No. 273: 7-38, 1983. Figure 2. Cousin My s t a y on Mah6, a s w e l l a s t r a v e l t o Cousin were enormously f a c i l i - t a t e d by a number of l o c a l r e s i d e n t s of V i c t o r i a , Mah6, p a r t i c u l a r l y M r . J . F. G . L i o n n e t , t h e n D i r e c t o r of t h e Department of A g r i c u l t u r e , Sey- c h e l l e s Govt . , and h i s s t a f f , e s p e c i a l l y M r . S. M . Savy, M r . P h i l i p p e Loustau-Lalanne, and Mr. R. M. Mason. M r . Malcolm Penny, t h e n r e s i d e n t o r n i t h o l o g i s t on t h e i s l a n d , and h i s l o c a l s t a f f , went t o g r e a t p a i n s t o a r r a n g e my v i s i t and make i t c o m f o r t a b l e , a s w e l l a s i n t r o d u c i n g me t o t h e i s l a n d . M r . K a n t i l a l J i v a n Shah, l o c a l i n t e l l e c t u a l and s c i e n t i f i c e n t h u s i a s t i n V i c t o r i a , Mah6, extended h o s p i t a l i t y and many c o u r t e s i e s . I s t a y e d on Cousin I s l a n d from noon, J a n . 21, 1970 t o t h e morning of J a n u a r y 26, d u r i n g which t ime I v i s i t e d most p a r t s of t h e i s l a n d and c o l - l e c t e d 142 numbers of v a s c u l a r p l a n t s , a s w e l l a s 2 f u n g i . T h i s paper i s a r e v i s e d v e r s i o n of a r e p o r t p repared f o r t h e I n t e r - n a t i o n a l Counci l f o r B i rd P r e s e r v a t i o n i n 1970. The r e p o r t was submi t t ed t o them i n i t s o r i g i n a l , p r e l i m i n a r y form, e s p e c i a l l y l a c k i n g f i n a l iden- t i f i c a t i o n s of a number of p l a n t s p e c i e s , and h a s been i n u s e by them s i n c e . Although much f u r t h e r work h a s been done on Cousin , e s p e c i a l l y by t h e s e r i e s of managers s t a t i o n e d t h e r e by t h e ICBP, no f u r t h e r i n f o r - mat ion h a s been made a v a i l a b l e t o me, n o r have any c o r r e c t i o n s o r c r i t i - c i sms of t h e r e p o r t been r e c e i v e d . A s t h e i s l a n d i s a n impor tan t one f o r t h e s u r v i v a l of s e v e r a l endangered b i r d s p e c i e s , i t seems d e s i r a b l e t o p u b l i s h t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e i s l a n d a s i t was i n 1970, s e e n th rough t h e eyes of a n o n - o r n i t h o l o g i s t . GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY Cousin is i r r e g u l a r i n shape , rough ly i s o d i a m e t r i c , c o v e r s 68 a c r e s and h a s a n ext reme e l e v a t i o n of 58 m . A l i t t l e l e s s t h a n h a l f i s oc- cup ied by a g r a n i t e o u t c r o p , t h e remainder i s f l a t and j u s t above s e a l e v e l , and i s c a l l e d l o c a l l y t h e " p l a t e a u " . The p l a t e a u h a s a s u r f a c e of s o f t p h o s p h a t i c sand-s tone w i t h s u p e r f i c i a l sand and humus accumula- t i o n s up t o a few cm d e e p , o r d e e p e r where c a v i t i e s a r e f i l l e d . T h i s s u r f a c e h a s been a r t i f i c i a l l y roughened by t h e l o c a l p r a c t i c e of d i g g i n g l a r g e p i t s i n t h e p h o s p h a t i c r o c k f o r p l a n t i n g c o c o n u t s , w i t h p i l e s of broken c o b b l e s between t h e p i t s . Judg ing by t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e r o c k , w h i t e p a r t i c l e s i n a brown m a t r i x , and t h e p r e s e n t abundance of b o t h young P i s o n i a t r e e s and f i s h - e a t i n g b i r d s , t h i s p h o s p h a t i c l a y e r i s u n q u e s t i o n a b l y a beheaded Jemo s o i l (Fosberg 1954) . The normal "mor" humus A-horizon h a s been l a r g e l y l o s t by decompos i t ion wi thou t renewal s i n c e t h e P i s o n i a f o r e s t was c l e a r e d and coconu t s p l a n t e d . The t h i c k n e s s of t h e p h o s p h a t i c hard-pan l a y e r h e r e i s s t r i k i n g . Holes excava ted i n i t t o a d e p t h of one mete r a r e common. It is n o t c l e a r whether t h e s e p e n e t r a t e d th rough t h e l a y e r , a s t h e y a r e p a r t l y f i l l e d w i t h d e b r i s and no t ime was a v a i l a b l e t o c l e a n one o u t . The g r a n i t e h i l l i s a r i d g e t r e n d i n g WNW-ESE. The s l o p e s v a r y from a g e n t l e smooth " g l a c i s " ( l o c a l name f o r b a r e smooth r o c k s l o p e s ) t o l e d g e s , c r a g s and v e r t i c a l c l i f f s . An unusua l f e a t u r e i s t h e p r e s e n c e of obvious channe l e r o s i o n , " l a p i e s n - l i k e o r " r i l l e n s t e i n " - l i k e f l u t i n g . T h i s is no t n e a r l y s o s t r i k i n g h e r e , however a s on nearby Cousine I s l a n d , o r on c e r t a i n c l i f f s on S i l h o u e t t e I s l a n d , second h i g h e s t of t h e Sey- c h e l l e s . On t h e summit r i d g e of t h i s g r a n i t e h i l l i s some f l a t r o c k s u r f a c e , broken by s h a r p r i d g e s and monol i ths . A t t h e n o r t h b a s e of t h e g r a n i t e h i l l , where i t meets t h e phospha t ic hard-pan l a y e r , is an e l o n g a t e d e p r e s s i o n e x t e n d i n g a c r o s s t h e i s l a n d . I n i t s c e n t r a l p o r t i o n , near t h e w e l l t h a t s u p p l i e s t h e d r i n k i n g w a t e r f o r t h e i s l a n d , t h i s d e p r e s s i o n i s deep enough t o ho ld s t a n d i n g wate r and mud. Eastward toward t h e c o a s t i t becomes more a b r u p t , s t r a i g h t - s i d e d . Westward i t is more sha l low and s l o p e s i n from b o t h s i d e s . South of t h e g r a n i t e h i l l around t h e c o a s t a l i n d e n t a t i o n c a l l e d Anse F r s g a t e is a much s m a l l e r f l a t a r e a t h a n t h a t forming t h e n o r t h h a l f of t h e i s l a n d . P i g g o t t (1968) i m p l i e s t h a t t h i s h a s a Jemo s o i l , as h a s t h e n o r t h h a l f , and Baker (1963) i n d i c a t e s bo th a r e a s as phospha t ic sands tone . Time was n o t a v a i l a b l e t o check t h i s a d e q u a t e l y h e r e , b u t c e r t a i n l y some phosphate is exposed. A d e p r e s s i o n c o n t a i n i n g a s m a l l mangrove swamp ex- t e n d s t h e l e n g t h of t h i s f l a t a r e a , bu t n o t immediately a g a i n s t t h e base of t h e h i l l . On t h i s sou th s i d e t h e b a s a l s l o p e s of t h e h i l l a r e much more g e n t l e , l e s s a b r u p t t h a n on t h e n o r t h s i d e , a l t h o u g h t h e upper s l o p e s a r e s t e e p and c l i f f - l i k e . Along t h e beach of t h e e a s t e r n end of Anse F r g g a t e is a conspicuous l i n e of f o s s i l beach-rock, r each ing a lmost a meter h i g h e r t h a n p r e s e n t beach l e v e l . The "p la teau" is p a r t l y l i n e d , a t t h e t o p of t h e beach, by a low sandy beach r i d g e , e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g t h e nor thwest and s o u t h and s o u t h e a s t s i d e s . A broad sand f l a t forms a l o b e p r o j e c t i n g from t h e e a s t s i d e of t h e i s l a n d and used a s t h e l a n d i n g , which is th rough t h e s u r f . The beach is v e r y s t e e p and f a l l s o f f s h a r p l y i n t o wa te r s e v e r a l mete r s deep. On t h e west s i d e of Cousin r i s e s a rugged clump of g r a n i t e r o c k s , s e p a r a t e d a t h igh and medium t i d e s from t h e i s l a n d by about 100-150 m of wa te r . A t low s p r i n g t i d e s a r i d g e of b o u l d e r s i s exposed, connec t ing t h e rocks w i t h t h e s h o r e . T h i s i s washed by waves from both d i r e c t i o n s . The rocks a r e c a l l e d Roche Canon. They a r e of a h a r d g r a n i t e similar t o t h a t on t h e i s l a n d . FAUNA Bi rds a r e p l e n t i f u l and veEy tame. Many f a i r y t e r n s , Gygis a l b a , and o c c a s i o n a l b o s ' n b i r d s , Phaethon l e p t u r u s , were n e s t i n g . Both nod- d i e s , Anous s t o l i d u s and Anous t e n u i r o s t r i s , w e r e p r e s e n t i n some numbers, a s w e l l a s s o o t y t e r n s , S t e r n a f u s c a t a . Of s h o r e b i r d s o n l y t u r n s t o n e s , Arenar ia i n t e r p r e s , and whimbrels, Numenius phaeopus, were i d e n t i f i e d w i t h any conf idence . The Cape barn owl, Tyto a l b a , was seen s e v e r a l t imes . What appeared t o be a dimorphic e g r e t , E g r e t t a dimorpha, was s e e n once a l o n g t h e n o r t h c o a s t , b u t t h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s no t c e r t a i n . Ground doves, Geopi la s t r i a t a , were p r e s e n t i n c o n s i d e r a b l e numbers. The l o c a l and t h e i n t r o d u c e d Madagascar s u b s p e c i e s of S t r e p t o p i l i a p ic - t u r a t a have h y b r i d i z e d , a c c o r d i n g t o Malcolm Penny, and a hybr id swarm of i n d i v i d u a l s rang ing from almost b l a c k , o r d a r k g r a y , t o r i c h brownish red on head and back h a s r e p l a c e d t h e l o c a l S e y c h e l l e s t u r t l e - d o v e on t h e i s l a n d . Both t h e n a t i v e S e y c h e l l e s weaver, Foudia seyche l la rum, and t h e Madagascar " c a r d i n a l , " Foudia m a d a g a s c a r i e n s i s , occur i n numbers on t h e i s l a n d , b u t wi thou t seeming t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h each o t h e r . They a r e ex- t remely tame, f r e e l y e n t e r i n g houses and f o r a g i n g wi thou t obv ious f e a r of man. S e v e r a l S e y c h e l l e s b r u s h w a r b l e r s , ~ e b r o r n i s s e y c h e l l e n s i s , oc- cupied t e r r i t o r i e s i n and immediately around t h e house i n which we s t a y e d a t t h e nor th -eas t c o r n e r of t h e i s l a n d f o r t h e f i r s t day o r two of o u r v i s i t , being a lmost e q u a l l y bold and f a m i l i a r a s t h e f o d i e s . However, a f t e r s e v e r a l days of human presence i n t h e house t h e y had r e t i r e d t o working i n t r e e s and bushes some y a r d s away and seldom approached t h e b u i l d i n g . F o r t u n a t e l y no r a t s seem t o have reached t h e i s l a n d . In format ion rece ived from Malcolm Penny a f t e r my r e t u r n from t h e i s l a n d i n d i c a t e d t h e p resence of f e r a l r a b b i t s . L i z a r d s a r e , n e x t t o t h e b i r d s , t h e obvious v e r t e b r a t e s t o b e seen . Skinks (Mabuya s p p . ) occur i n g r e a t numbers g e n e r a l l y . Two o r t h r e e s p e c i e s of gecko, a l a r g e g ray one (Gehyra s p . ? ) , a s m a l l e r g ray one (young of l a r g e o n e ? ) , and a s m a l l e r b r i g h t g reen one (Phelsuma madagas- c a r i e n s i s ) a r e f r e q u e n t l y seen , t h e g r a y ones e s p e c i a l l y a t n i g h t i n t h e houses . I n s e c t s a r e a l s o p l e n t i f u l . Both day- and n i g h t - f l y i n g mosqui toes a r e t roublesome i n t h e t h i c k v e g e t a t i o n o u t of reach of t h e wind, and t o some e x t e n t i n t h e houses . " B l i s t e r b e e t l e s " a r e a t t r a c t e d t o l i g h t s a t n i g h t and may be a b o t h e r . A s m a l l s p e c i e s of a n t o c c u r s i n g r e a t numbers. Termite n e s t s of some s i z e , c y l i n d r i c , up t o 0 . 5 m t a l l , a r e s e e n h e r e and t h e r e . ORIGINAL VEGETATION A s on a l l t h e S e y c h e l l e s , a s w e l l a s most i s l a n d s everywhere, t h e v e g e t a t i o n of Cousin I s l a n d h a s been p rofoundly a l t e r e d s i n c e t h e a r r i v a l of man. Sauer (1967) has drawn a p a r t i a l p i c t u r e of t h i s h i s t o r y f o r t h e group a s a whole. To t h e b e s t of my knowledge no r e c o r d s e x i s t o f what t h e o r i g i n a l v e g e t a t i o n o f Cousin was l i k e . Summerhayes, i n h i s l i s t of t h e f l o r a of t h e S e y c h e l l e s (1931), ment ions on ly one s p e c i e s from Cousin. T h i s , s i g n i f i c a n t l y , i s P i s o n i a g r a n d i s . The p resence o f a prominent and c o n t i n u o u s bed of brown "Jemo" s o i l hardpan over t h e e n t i r e f l a t a r e a of t h e i s l a n d and t h e v e r y common oc- c u r r e n c e of s m a l l P i s o n i a g r a n d i s t r e e s i n t h e p r e s e n t v e g e t a t i o n , w i t h what i s known of t h e o r i g i n of t h e Jemo S o i l S e r i e s (Fosberg 1954) make i t p o s s i b l e t o s a y w i t h some conf idence t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l v e g e t a t i o n o f t h e f l a t a r e a w a s s o l i d P i s o n i a f o r e s t . I n a l l l i k e l i h o o d t h i s w a s a dense f o r e s t w i t h a h i g h c o n t i n u o u s canopy, t o a s much a s 30 m , w i t h - massive p a l e soft-wood t r u n k s , p o s s i b l y up t o s e v e r a l m d i a m e t e r ; t h e r e w a s no undergrowth o r ground v e g e t a t i o n , excep t i n t h e p e r i p h e r a l zone on and j u s t back of t h e beach r i d g e s . On t h e beach r i d g e s t h e r e may w e l l have been a lower , d e n s e t h i c k e t o f Cord ia s u b c o r d a t a , G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a , Morinda c i t r i f o l i a , and p o s s i b l y l o c a l l y , Thespes ia populnea , t a n g l e d w i t h Canava l i a c a t h a r t i c a . and l i n e d . on t h e o u t s i d e . bv a dense f r i n ~ e > 4 LJ of Scaevola s e r i c e a and S u r i a n a m a r i t i m a . On t h e sand a t t h e t o p of t h e beach was p robab ly a m i x t u r e of Ipomoea pes -caprae , Sporobolus v i r g i n i c u s , Boerhavia r e p e n s , and p o s s i b l y L e p t u r u s r e p e n s . The swampy a r e a a t Anse F r g g a t e may w e l l have been occupied by a mangrove swamp w i t h Avicennia mar ina and T h e s p e s i a , a s a t p r e s e n t , b u t p robab ly w i t h much l a r g e r and b e t t e r formed t r e e s . Other mangrove s p e c i e s cou ld p o s s i b l y have been p r e s e n t . R e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e p o s s i b l e o r i g i n a l v e g e t a t i o n of t h e g r a n i t e h i l l w i t h any r e l i a b i l i t y i s i m p o s s i b l e on t h e b a s i s of my p r e s e n t knowl- edge. On t h e b a s i s of what i s known of t h e o r i g i n a l v e g e t a t i o n o f t h e S e y c h e l l e s as a whole i t is p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e h i l l w a s much more com- p l e t e l y f o r e s t e d t h a n a t p r e s e n t . Areas now l a c k i n g s o i l may have reached t h i s c o n d i t i o n by c o n t i n u e d c u t t i n g of t r e e s and b u r n i n g s i n c e t h e a r r i v a l of man. The F i c u s s p e c i e s s t i l l p r e s e n t t h e r e i n numbers, t h e Calophyllum inophyl lum, and t h e Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a and P h y l l a n t h u s cas t i cum were c e r t a i n l y n o r m a l components of t h e lowland f o r e s t of g r a n i t e a r e a s , as s t i l l s e e n i n t h e r e l i c t a t La Rgserve, on S i l h o u e t t e . P i s o n i a and Morinda may w e l l have a l s o been components of t h i s , a s w e l l a s s p e c i e s no l o n g e r p r e s e n t . I n a l l l i k e l i h o o d t h e s p a r s e v e g e t a t i o n a t p r e s e n t on Roche Canon, of Sporobolus v i r g i n i c u s , Boerhavia r e p e n s , Ipomoea pes -caprae , P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a , and Achyranthes a s p e r a may b e r e l a t i v e l y unchanged from t h a t o r i g i n a l l y p r e s e n t . Two minor s p e c i e s , Acrostichum aureum, p r e s e n t i n one deep c r e v i c e , and a s m a l l co lony of L a g r e z i a o l i g o m e r o i d e s , may have been t h e r e f o r a long t i m e , o r may b e r e c e n t a r r i v a l s by wind o r b i r d t r a n s p o r t . White t a i l e d t r o p i c - b i r d s now n e s t on t h e r o c k s . One s t a t e m e n t of i n t e r e s t can b e made w i t h a s s u r a n c e . The P i s o n i a f o r e s t which occup ied t h e " p l a t e a u " was c e r t a i n l y t h e home of v a s t num- b e r s of s e a - b i r d s . The t h i c k l a y e r of p h o s p h a t i c r o c k c o v e r i n g t h i s a r e a could n o t have been formed o t h e r w i s e . The p r e s e n t consp icuous b u t r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l t e r n p o p u l a t i o n s could n o t l i k e l y have brought a b o u t such mass ive p h o s p h a t i z a t i o n even o v e r long p e r i o d s of t ime . EXISTING VEGETATION A de te rmin ing f a c t i n t h e n a t u r e and p a t t e r n of t h e p r e s e n t vege ta - t i o n of t h e i s l a n d is t h a t coconu t s have been p l a n t e d wherever it was p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e y might grow. They a r e now found o v e r t h e e n t i r e f l a t a r e a of t h e i s l a n d excep t t h e beach r i d g e s and t h e swampy ground a t Anse F r s g a t e , and on t h e s l o p e s of t h e h i l l wherever t h e r e i s a s u b s t a n t i a l pocket of s o i l , almost t o t h e summit. The more r e c e n t p l a n t i n g on t h e "p la teau" has l a r g e l y been i n p i t s a meter o r s o deep dug i n t h e phos- pha t e rock. It i s no t now known whether any e f f o r t was made t o keep t h e under- growth c l e a r e d , bu t i t is probab le t h a t t h i s was done t o some e x t e n t on t h e "p la teau" , e s p e c i a l l y toward t h e e a s t and n o r t h s i d e s , as h e r e t h e Morinda, P i s o n i a , Neisosperma and o t h e r t r e e s a p l i n g s a r e no t l a r g e . F a i r l y l a r g e unde r s to ry t r e e s of t h e s e s p e c i e s , a s w e l l a s Calophyllum, and sh rubs of Phy l l an thus found toward t h e b a s e of t h e g r a n i t e h i l l sug- g e s t t h a t t h e r e may have been less c l e a r i n g ou t of brush i n t h a t a r e a , a t least i n r e cen t yea r s . The canopy of coconut crowns, w h i l e reasonably complete , is r a t h e r i r r e g u l a r and no t dense. An unders to ry of Morinda, P i s o n i a , Ca r i ca papaya, o c c a s i o n a l F i c u s nautarum, Calophyllum, R ic inus , Neisosperma, and, n e a r t h e base of t h e h i l l , o t h e r s p e c i e s , i s conspicuous and l o c a l l y dense. The Car ica is e s p e c i a l l y common and of a l l age s . I ts f r u i t , whi le ve ry sma l l , i s q u i t e sweet and p a l a t a b l e . A dense herbaceous l a y e r , 1 t o even 2 mete rs t a l l i s found throughout t h i s f o r e s t . It i n c l u d e s Achyranthes a s p e r a , Amaranthus dub iu s , Kalanchoe p inna t a , Asys t a s i a -. m u l t i f l o r a , Nephrolepis m u l t i f l o r a , and, i n a l o c a l a r e a of a few a c r e s P P i n t h e n o r t h e a s t p a r t , M i r a b i l i s j a l a p a . Along t r a i l s and n e a r dwell- - i ngs o t h e r s ~ e c i e s a r e common i n t h e f o r e s t . such a s Svned re l l a nodi- - f l o r a , Cyperus k y l l i n g i a , P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a , Stenotaphrum micranthum, D i g i t a r i a spp . , - E r a g r o s t i s t e n e l l a v a r . i n s u l a r i s , Phy l l an thus amarus, Euphorbia h i r t a , Acalypha i n d i c a , ~ e r n o n i a c i n e r e a , E l eus ine i n d i c a , --- Cyperus l i g u l a r i s , ' ~ u r n e r a u l m i f o l i a and o t h e r s , most ly e x o t i c weeds. Along t h e n o r t h base of t h e h i l l , where a dep re s s ion ex tends a c r o s s t h e i s l a n d , g e n e r a l l y mo i s t , and i n p l a c e s w i t h mud o r s t a n d i n g wa t e r , t h e f o r e s t is g e n e r a l l y more l u x u r i a n t and many c u l t i v a t e d e x o t i c s p e c i e s have been p l a n t e d , most ly i n sma l l numbers. These i nc lude Mangifera i n d i c a , Annona squamosa, Annona mur ica ta , Artocarpus a l t i l i s , Coffea a r a b i c a , Eugenia aquea, Manihot e s c u l e n t a , Dioscorea a l a t a , Moringa o l e i f e r a , Colocas ia e s c u l e n t a , Averrhoa b i l i m b i , Bambusa v u l g a r i s , Musa sapientum, Pe r s ea americana, -- C i t r u s s p . , Cucurb i ta moschata, Capsicum f r u t e s c e n s , Quisqua l i s i n d i c a and Alocas ia macror rh iza . Only t h e l a s t t h r e e have shown much tendency t o become n a t u r a l i z e d and t o spread . C e r t a i n weeds, i n a d d i t i o n t o t h o s e no ted above, a r e found i n t h i s wet a r e a . These i nc lude Panicum maximum, Cyperus po lys tachyos , Ludwigia o c t o v a l v i s . C v ~ e r u s S D . . Cornmelina d i f f u s a . Panicum ~ C v r t o c o c c u m ~ Datens , , I L . - , L and Hel iot ropium indicum. A t i t s western end, t h i s dep re s s ion becomes broad and sha l low and is covered by a f o r e s t of P i s o n i a , n o t , however, of ve ry l a r g e t r e e s . A s i m i l a r f o r e s t , bu t much mixed w i th Morinda, Calophyllum and Ca r i ca , a s w e l l a s some coconuts , is found n e a r , but no t a t , t h e e a s t e r n end of t h e dep re s s ion . The e a s t e r n end i s occupied by a t h i c k e t of low Thes- p e s i a w i th a few Avicennia shrubs i n t h e bottom of a sha l low r a v i n e where i t r eaches t h e back of t h e beach. The mangrove d e p r e s s i o n a t Anse F r g g a t e i s narrow a t t h e e a s t end and f i l l e d w i t h a row of v e r y bushy Avicennia . Westward i t b roadens and becomes dominated by T h e s p e s i a , l i k e w i s e n o t v e r y t a l l . The T h e s p e s i a , where growing i n t h e wet a r e a of t h e swamp, produces exposed a r c h i n g r o o t s which may p o s s i b l y s e r v e a s pneumatophores. The pneumatophores o f t h e Avicennia a r e t h e u s u a l s l e n d e r , v e r t i c a l "upside-down r o o t s " , produced i n numbers o v e r an a r e a of even b r o a d e r r a d i u s t h a n t h a t of t h e crown of t h e t r e e . Around t h e margins o f t h e d e p r e s s i o n a r e masses of t h e l a r g e , l e a t h e r y f e r n Acrostichum -- aureum, up t o 1 . 5 o r even 2 m t a l l . Otherwise t h e o n l y s u b o r d i n a t e l a y e r of v e g e t a t i o n i s a l o c a l l y prominent s t a n d o f Avicennia s e e d l i n g s a few cm t a l l . Back of t h e mangroves, i n a d d i t i o n t o coconu t s , i s a n i r r e g u l a r t h i c k e t of Morinda, P i s o n i a and Scaevo la , t a n g l e d w i t h Canava l i a and Ipomoea macrantha , w i t h one smal l p a t c h of P h y l l a n t h u s a c i d u s . I n s i d e t h e beach r i d g e s a l o n g most of t h e n o r t h and e a s t c o a s t s of - - t h e " p l a t e a u " and s o u t h of t h e mangrove a t Anse F r g g a t e i s an open zone, under t h e c o c o n u t s , w i t h v e r y s p a r s e undergrowth o r none, o n l y a few s c a t t e r e d s h r u b s of Morinda, P i s o n i a , Neisosperma and C a r i c a , bu t w i t h dense herbaceous growth v a r y i n g from Achyranthes , Arnaranthus and A s y s t a s i a a me te r t a l l t o a much lower mosaic of Boerhavia r e p e n s , Sporobolus v i r - g i n i c u s , and Stenotaphrum dimidia tum, a l l i n r e l a t i v e l y pure s t a n d s , w i t h l o c a l p a t c h e s of Ca tha ran thus -- r o s e u s , S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s , A b u t i l o n indicum, Gossypium h i r s u t u m , Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Panicum ( B r a c h i a r i a ) s p . , and s c a t t e r e d i n d i v i d u a l s of Turnera u l m i f o l i a , Datura m e t e l , R i c i n u s communis, and C a s s i a o c c i d e n t a l i s . The dense a r e a s of Boerhavia r e p e n s a r e of i n t e r e s t i n t h a t where crowded, t h e Boerhavia i n s t e a d of b e i n g v e r y p r o s t r a t e and e l o n g a t e , h a s s h o r t e r a scend ing s t ems w i t h fewer i n f l o r e s - c e n s e s and d e n s e r f o l i a g e . T h i s zone i s s a i d t o have r e s u l t e d from t h e p a s t u r i n g of hogs by t h e p r e v i o u s owner. It seems v e r y l i k e l y t o grow up soon t o undergrowth s i m i l a r t o t h a t f a r t h e r i n l a n d i n t h e coconut f o r e s t i f a l l d i s t u r b a n c e i s removed. On t h e beach r i d g e , which e x t e n d s around t h e "p la teau" w i t h gaps o n l y i n and n e a r t h e d w e l l i n g a r e a s , i s a n i n t e r r u p t e d row of g i a n t o l d Casuar ina t r e e s , up t o 30 m t a l l , b u t t r e s s e d a t b a s e , l a y i n g down a c a r - p e t of "need les" which l o c a l l y seems t o d i s c o u r a g e , somewhat, t h e normal herbaceous l a y e r . Between and under t h e s e i s g e n e r a l l y a "hedge" o r low t h i c k e t of Scaevola and S u r i a n a . Here and t h e r e a r e a v e r y few f a i r l y -- l a r g e Gue t t a rda t r e e s . Toward t h e west end, and e s p e c i a l l y i n a f a i r l y l a r g e gap i n t h e Casuar ina , t h e beach r i d g e is covered by a dense t h i c k e t , up t o 4-5 m t a l l , of Cordia s u b c o r d a t a , P i s o n i a g r a n d i s and Scaevola s e r i c e a . A s i m i l a r t h i c k e t , mainly P i s o n i a and some Scaevola o c c u p i e s -- t h e s o u t h end of t h e beach r i d g e on t h e e a s t c o a s t . Here t h e Casuar ina t r e e s form a s m a l l g rove , e x t e n d i n g a few m e t e r s i n l a n d , r a t h e r than o n l y a row a t t h e t o p of t h e beach. The Casuar ina i s no t r ep roduc ing i t s e l f excep t v e r y l o c a l l y where o t h e r w i s e unvege ta ted beach sand , i n f u l l s u n , s u p p o r t s s t a n d s o f s e e d l i n g Casuar ina and /o r Scaevola . On t h e o u t e r s l o p e s of t h e beach r i d g e s and o u t e r edges of t h e sand f l a t s where t h e r e a r e no r i d g e s , Sporobolus v i r g i n i c u s , Boerhavia r e p e n s and Ipomoea pes-caprae t e n d t o sp read down o n t o t h e top of t h e beach, o r o n t o berms o r t e r r a c e s formed on them. The rhizomes of Sporobolus grow- i n g toward t h e s e a send up c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t r a i g h t rows of shoo t s . The e l o n g a t e s tems of Boerhavia h e r e s p r e a d i n a ve ry p r o s t r a t e manner from r o o t crowns. The Ipomoea forms l o o s e mats which l o c a l l y extend back on to t h e sand f l a t s where t h e beach r i d g e i s lacking' . A few t r e e s , l a c k i n g e l sewhere , such a s Hib i scus t i l i a c e u s , Spondias purpurea and B a r r i n g t o n i a , a r e p l a n t e d around d w e l l i n g s a long t h e s e c o a s t s . The v e g e t a t i o n of t h e g r a n i t e a r e a i s much more v a r i e d and l o c a l l y d i v e r s e , and p a t t e r n s a r e l e s s obv ious and a r e d i f f i c u l t t o d e f i n e . The s p e c i e s a r e predominant ly ind igenous and , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n s of Morinda c i t r i f o l i a and P i s o n i a g r a n d i s , among t r e e s , and Achyranthes a s p e r a , A s y s t a s i a s p . , Nephro lep i s m u l t i f l o r a , and Ipomoea pes-caprae , a r e n o t -- t h o s e which have much importance i n t h e " p l a t e a u " v e g e t a t i o n . The g e n t l e r lower s l o p e s a r e mos t ly wooded w i t h a low mix tu re of Morinda and P i s o n i a , w i t h some F i c u s nautarum and F i c u s s p . , Calophyllum, Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a and P h y l l a n t h u s cas t i cum, w i t h , of c o u r s e , p l a n t e d Cocos n u c i z r a . On t h e lower w e s t s l o p e s n d a n u s b a l f o u r i i i s l o c a l l y -- abundant o r even dominant , and e l sewhere Calophyllum may be dominant. A p a t c h of Fourcraea f o e t i d a i s found on a r a t h e r low g e n t l e s l o p e on t h e northwest-corner o f t h e h i l l . L o c a l l y P a s s i f l o r a f o e t i d a i s abundant , c l imbing i n bushes . On t h e s o u t h s i d e Panicum (Cyrtococcum) s p . i s abun- dan t i n p a t c h e s w i t h A s y s t a s i a . - I n open s c r u b and f o r e s t t h e r e i s f r e - q u e n t l y a dense ground l a y e r of Nephro lep i s m u l t i f l o r a . The lower e a s t s l o p e s of t h e h i l l a r e g e n t l e , and have s c a t t e r e d P i s o n i a and Morinda, b u t a r e mainly open and complete ly dominated by -- Achy- r a n t h e s . The s l o p e s end i n a l t e r n a t i n g b a r e r o c k r i d g e s and sandy coves . The coves have P i s o n i a , Cocos, and Casuar ina t r e e s and s m a l l sand f l a t s --- o r s to rm beaches covered by Ipomoea - pes-caprae ,Achyranthes , and A s y s t a s i a , w i t h s m a l l clumps of h e r b s such a s ~ i m b r i s t ~ l i s - c y m o s a , -- Cleome v i s c o s a and Cenchrus e c h i n a t u s . There is l i t t l e Scaevola o r S u r i a n a h e r e . On t h e middle west s l o p e s i s an a r e a dominated by p l a n t e d Eucalyptus c a m a l d u l e n s i s , r e a c h i n g 20 o r more m e t e r s i n h e i g h t . Elsewhere t h e mid- d l e s l o p e s a r e e i t h e r l edgy and j o i n t e d , and s u p p o r t an open growth of F i c u s nautarum, Morinda, - Calophyllum, and a v e r y few s m a l l Casuar ina , o r they a r e smooth " g l a c i s " o r b a r e r o c k , w i t h l i t t l e s o i l excep t i n c r e v i c e s and p o c k e t s . Here a r e o c c a s i o n a l Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a . A few s l o p e s on t h e n o r t h s i d e a r e covered by a b l a n k e t of Coleus s u b f r u t e c t o s u s . Sedges of s e v e r a l s p e c i e s occur i n c r e v i c e s and p o c k e t s . Clumps and p a t c h e s of Panicum maximum a r e a l s o found h e r e , and N e p h r o l e p i s - - m u l t i f l o r a i n c r e v i c e s and accumula t ions of s o i l . The h i g h e r s l o p e s , where they a r e n o t s t e e p , b a r e " g l a c i s " o r c l i f f s , have i r r e g u l a r clumps of F i c u s nautarum, Pandanus b a l f o u r i i and Calo- phyllum, w i t h a herbaceous l a y e r of A s y s t a s i a and Nephro lep i s , o r e s p e c i a l l y on s t e e p e r southwest s l o p e s , a r a t h e r dense s c r u b of Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a , "h N e n h r o l e ~ i s . Near t h e t o p of t h e h i l l , on t h e southwest s i d e e s p e c i a l l y , a r e r e l a t i v e l y f l a t a r e a s covered by a t a l l dense s c r u b o r s c r u b f o r e s t of Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a , P h y l l a n t h u s c a s t i c u m , F i c u s nautarum and Pandanus ---- b a l f o u r i i , choked b e n e a t h w i t h Nephro lep i s up t o 2 m deep. Here a r e t h e h i g h e s t c o c o n u t s , a few s m a l l t r e e s . Openings i n t h i s s c r u b a r e dominated by F i m b r i s t y l i s c f . consanguineus . The summit r i d g e , l i t t l e h i g h e r t h a n t h i s f l a t a r e a , h a s s p a r s e vege- t a t i o n , where any a t a l l . Where some sand h a s accumulated i n l o n g i t u d i n a l g rooves i s , s u r p r i s i n g l y , Ipomoea pes-caprae , w i t h Achyranthes , a l i t t l e Cenchrus e c h i n a t u s , F i m b r i s t y l i s s p p . , wisps of Panicum maximum, and s c a t t e r e d bushes of Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a . The v e g e t a t i o n of Roche Canon was mentioned above a s p o s s i b l y b e i n g i n approx imate ly i t s o r i g i n a l c o n d i t i o n . Most of t h e r o c k s a r e b a r e , b u t l o c a l l y on t h e l a r g e r peak a r e t h i c k masses of Sporobolus v i r g i n i c u s , and Achyranthes a s p e r a , and l e s s e r mats of Boerhavia r e p e n s . A l i t t l e P o r t u - l a c a o l e r a c e a grows around t h e edges of t h e s e mats , and a l s o i n s h e l t e r e d s p o t s on t h e s m a l l e r peak. Here i t r e a c h e s a g i g a n t i c s i z e , up t o 0.7- 0 . 8 m t a l l . On t o p o f t h e s m a l l e r peak, i n s h e l t e r e d c r e v i c e s , a r e a few p l a n t s of L a g r e z i a o l i g o m e r o i d e s , p o s s i b l y brought on t h e f e e t of sea - b i r d s from far-away Aldabra . Otherwise , excep t f o r a t i n y t u f t of Acros- t ichum i n a deep c r e v i c e , t h e r o c k s a r e comple te ly b a r e . MANAGEMENT OF VEGETATION A s i s w e l l shown by t h e h i s t o r y of t h e S e y c h e l l e s , v e g e t a t i o n can be p ro found ly changed by t h e a c t i v i t i e s of man. T h i s h a s happened i n t h e p a s t t o t h e v e g e t a t i o n of Cousin , r e s u l t i n g i n t h e confused p a t t e r n s de- s c r i b e d above. A l l v e g e t a t i o n i s i n t r i n s i c a l l y dynamic, t h a t i s , i t c o n s t a n t l y changes t o some e x t e n t , even i f l e f t t o i t s e l f . Long e s t a b l i s h e d n a t u r a l v e g e t a t i o n t e n d s t o change on ly s l o w l y o r f l u c t u a t e abou t i n t e r n a l equi- l i b r i a . T h i s s i t u a t i o n is a l t e r e d , even n a t u r a l l y , by s e v e r e s t o r m s , v o l c a n i c e r u p t i o n s , l i g h t n i n g f i r e s , l a n d s l i d e s , and o t h e r c a t a s t r o p h i c e v e n t s , a s w e l l a s by changes i n animal p o p u l a t i o n s , and pe rhaps r a r e l y , by p l a n t d i s e a s e s . Wherever man h a s gone he h a s a c c e l e r a t e d change and u p s e t e x i s t i n g e q u i l i b r i a , u s u a l l y i n a haphazard , unplanned and d e s t r u c - t i v e manner. The r e s u l t is t h a t any v e g e t a t i o n t h a t has been i n f l u e n c e d by man t e n d s t o be i n a s t a t e of r e l a t i v e l y a c t i v e change. Such change goes on, once t h e d i s t u r b a n c e h a s been e f f e c t e d , r e g a r d l e s s of what man does from t h e n on. He can i n f l u e n c e t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e change b u t he f i n d s i t d i f f i c u l t , i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e , t o m a i n t a i n p r e c i s e l y t h e s t a t u s quo. At tempts t o do s o , i f even modera te ly e f f e c t i v e , r e q u i r e t h e ex- p e n d i t u r e of v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e e f f o r t and c o n s t a n t a t t e n t i o n , Guided change, on t h e o t h e r hand, may r e q u i r e r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e e f f o r t , i f i t is i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g t r e n d i n any s i t u a t i o n . I f t h e de- s i r e d change is c o n t r a r y t o such t r e n d s , i t may r e q u i r e l a r g e e x p e n d i t u r e s of e f f o r t i n d e e d , and w i t h no a s s u r a n c e o f s u c c e s s . Carry ing o u t p o l i c i e s in tended t o i n f l u e n c e , i n whatever manner, t h e p r o c e s s e s of change i n v e g e t a t i o n i s commonly c a l l e d v e g e t a t i o n management. Hence, i t is i m p o s s i b l e t o recommend any form of management u n t i l a p p r o p r i a t e p o l i c i e s have been e s t a b l i s h e d t o f u r t h e r t h e objec- t i v e s of t h e Cousin I s l a n d P r e s e r v e . C e r t a i n a l t e r n a t i v e s may be d i s - cussed and p o s s i b l e consequences po in ted o u t . I t must be no ted t h a t my f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h S e y c h e l l e s v e g e t a t i o n and t h e S e y c h e l l e s environment i s l i m i t e d t o what cou ld b e l e a r n e d i n two weeks, s o any s u g g e s t i o n s should be accep ted w i t h due c a u t i o n . Reasonable a l t e r n a t i v e management p a t h s t h a t might b e fo l lowed f a l l roughly i n t o f o u r s o r t s . G r a n t i n g e f f e c t i v e p r o t e c t i o n from o u t s i d e i n - f l u e n c e s , t h e y a r e (1) n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e , a l l o w i n g p r e s e n t t r e n d s t o con- t i n u e wi thou t a c t i v e e f f o r t s t o d i r e c t , a c c e l e r a t e , o r r e t a r d change; ( 2 ) t h e d e l i b e r a t e i n t r o d u c t i o n of a d d i t i o n a l p l a n t s p e c i e s ; ( 3 ) t h e de- l i b e r a t e e l i m i n a t i o n o r r e d u c t i o n of s p e c i e s now p r e s e n t , presumably t h e e x o t i c s ; (4) a t t e m p t s t o a l t e r ( o r "amel io ra te" ) i n some manner t h e p h y s i c a l o r b i o l o g i c a l environment . These w i l l be d i s c u s s e d b r i e f l y i n o r d e r . 1. A s p o i n t e d o u t above, change i n t h e v e g e t a t i o n i s go ing on and w i l l c o n t i n u e . Allowing p r e s e n t t r e n d s t o c o n t i n u e i s c e r t a i n l y t h e e a s i e s t and l e a s t e x p e n s i v e p o l i c y t h a t c o u l d be adop ted . It would b e presumptuous t o assume t h a t I know what a l l of t h e s e t r e n d s a r e , o r what t h e i r immediate o r u l t i m a t e outcome w i l l be. However, one o r two t h i n g s seem l i k e l y . A s sugges ted above, t h e r e l a t i v e l y open zone around t h e "p la teau" i n s i d e t h e beach r i d g e i s v e r y l i k e l y t o grow up i n a s h o r t t ime t o re- semble t h e t h i c k e r undergrowth f a r t h e r i n l a n d . S i n c e t h e Casuar ina does n o t seem t o b e r e p r o d u c i n g v e r y e f f e c t i v e l y , and s i n c e s e v e r a l wind- thrown t r e e s were n o t i c e d , i t i s l i k e l y t h a t o v e r a p e r i o d of many y e a r s t h e s t a t e i y row of g i a n t Casuar ina w i l l b e r e p l a c e d by a few l o c a l i z e d t h i c k e t s o r g r o v e s of t h i s s p e c i e s and o c c a s i o n a l i s o l a t e d t r e e s . The beach r i d g e hedge and t h i c k e t s w i l l l i k e l y become t a l l e r and , a t l e a s t on t h e beach s i d e , d e n s e r , and may occupy a r e a s n o t now covered by woody p l a n t s . A s t r i p of Scaevo la s e e d l i n g s now t o b e s e e n i n f r o n t of t h e r e s i d e n t s c i e n t i s t ' s house r e p r e s e n t s t h e i n i t i a t i o n of such v e g e t a t i o n i n one p l a c e where i t i s now a b s e n t . It seems most l i k e l y t h a t t h e u n d e r s t o r y i n t h e coconut p l a n t a - t i o n on t h e " p l a t e a u t t w i l l i n t ime t h i c k e n and g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e i n h e i g h t , e v e n t u a l l y r e p l a c i n g t h e coconu t s . The papaya, now s o abundan t , w i l l d i s a p p e a r , e x c e p t p o s s i b l y around d w e l l i n g s and a l o n g t h e more e s t a b l i s h e d p a t h s . The u l t i m a t e r e s u l t , a l o n g t ime from now, w i l l p robab ly be t h e r e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e P i s o n i a f o r e s t t h a t o r i g i n a l l y occup ied t h e a r e a . Th i s c o u r s e c o u l d b e changed, o v e r a v e r y long t ime , by t h e development of a Neisosperma f o r e s t , which, i n t h e C e n t r a l P a c i f i c a t o l l s , seems c a p a b l e of r e p l a c i n g t h e P i s o n i a f o r e s t comple te ly . I t i s n o t known i f t h i s cou ld happen i n t h e w e s t e r n Ind ian Ocean. The former e x i s t e n c e o f e x t e n s i v e P i s o n i a f o r e s t s h e r e s u g g e s t s t h a t such replacement is a t l e a s t no t i n e v i t a b l e . The replacement of t h e coconut f o r e s t by P i s o n i a i s c o n t i n g e n t on c o n t i n u e d complete h a r v e s t of t h e coconut c r o p , a s a t p r e s e n t . I f t h e n u t s a r e a l lowed t o l i e on t h e ground and ge rmina te a n impene t rab le t h i c k e t o f young coconut palms w i l l r e s u l t , p robab ly crowd- i n g o u t e v e r y t h i n g e l s e i n t ime , u n l e s s one o r o t h e r of t h e e x i s t i n g coconut p e s t s r e a c h e s t h e i s l a n d and a l t e r s t h e s i t u a t i o n , which would be r a t h e r l i k e l y , sooner o r l a t e r . Change i n t h e v e g e t a t i o n on t h e g r a n i t e h i l l would seem t o be r a t h e r slow. S o i l i s a b s e n t i n many a r e a s and t h i n i n most o t h e r s . The g r a n i t e wea the r s v e r y s l o w l y , and humus b r e a k s down r a p i d l y under t r o p i - c a l c o n d i t i o n s . The t r e n d w i l l d o u b t l e s s be toward t h e s p r e a d of f o r e s t and t h e i n c r e a s e i n s t a t u r e and d e n s i t y of t h e f o r e s t now t h e r e , but t h e p r o c e s s w i l l c e r t a i n l y be s low. F i r e cou ld s e t i t back d r a s t i c a l l y . The p resence of t h e Euca lyp tus g rove no doubt i n c r e a s e s t h e p r o b a b i l i t y of f i r e . The compos i t ion of t h e v e g e t a t i o n i n t h e d e p r e s s i o n a t t h e n o r t h base of t h e g r a n i t e h i l l w i l l p robab ly change r a p i d l y , w i t h some of t h e p l a n t e d s p e c i e s dying o u t a s a r e s u l t of c o m p e t i t i o n , t h e e f f e c t s of s c a l e i n s e c t s and mealy bugs , o r s imple u n s u i t a b i l i t y i n a n i n c r e a s i n g l y d e n s e l y f o r e s t e d environment. Which s p e c i e s w i l l p e r s i s t i s h a r d t o know, b u t a t p r e s e n t t h r e e -- Q u i s q u a l i s i n d i c a , A l o c a s i a m a c r o r r h i z a and Capsicum f r u t e s c e n s seem t o be on t h e i n c r e a s e , and Manihot e s c u l e n t a , a t l e a s t , seems on t h e way o u t . 2 . There seems l i t t l e u s e i n d i s c u s s i n g t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of a d d i - t i o n a l s p e c i e s . There a r e a g r e a t many thousand a v a i l a b l e , and no one h a s any r e l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e p r o b a b l y consequences of i n t r o d u c i n g any of them. There i s a lways a s t r o n g p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t i n t r o d u c t i o n of any spe- c i e s wi thou t i t s n a t u r a l enemies w i l l r e s u l t i n an u n c o n t r o l l e d i n c r e a s e , which i s u s u a l l y d i s a s t r o u s f o r some o r many e x i s t i n g s p e c i e s . The end r e s u l t i s l i k e l y t o be impoverishment, r a t h e r t h a n enr ichment of t h e h a b i t a t . However, i t i s l i k e l y t h a t s p e c i e s w i l l be i n t r o d u c e d , e i t h e r a c c i d e n t a l l y o r d e l i b e r a t e l y . Peop le seem t o have a m i s s i o n a r y z e a l i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n t h a t i s n o t i n f l u e n c e d by r e a s o n , p a s t bad e x p e r i e n c e , o r good a d v i c e . One can o n l y recommend a g a i n s t i l l - c o n s i d e r e d i n t r o d u c t i o n s and hope t h e p l a n t s d i e i f t h e y a r e brought i n . 3 . The e v e n t u a l e l i m i n a t i o n of a t l e a s t c e r t a i n of t h e e x o t i c s now p r e s e n t w i l l probably be a d v i s a b l e . T h i s should n o t be h a s t y o r ill- c o n s i d e r e d . It shou ld be under taken o n l y a f t e r a f u l l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s of t h e b i r d s t o t h e p l a n t s i n q u e s t i o n i s ach ieved . E l i m i n a t i o n of any s p e c i e s s h o u l d , a l s o , o n l y be c o n s i d e r e d a f t e r i t i s determined, p o s s i b l y by exper iment , what of t h e e x i s t i n g s p e c i e s p r e s e n t w i l l f i l l t h e n i c h e v a c a t e d . The on ly s p e c i e s t h a t I would v e n t u r e t o propose f o r e l i m i n a t i o n would be t h e Euca lyp tus , and p o s s i b l y t h e Cenchrus, and t h e s e on ly a f t e r a c a r e f u l s t u d y of t h e i r r o l e i n t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n . These remarks do n o t , o f c o u r s e , a p p l y t o p e r m i t t i n g t h e d i s a p - pearance of s p e c i e s by n a t u r a l c a u s e s . A s p e c i e s on i t s way o u t w i l l l i k e l y go, u n l e s s a determined e f f o r t i s made t o s a v e i t . T h i s shou ld probably o n l y be made i f i t shou ld b e found t h a t one of t h e b i r d s f o r which t h e Reserve was s e t up i s dependent on t h e t h r e a t e n e d p l a n t s . 4. A l t e r a t i o n s of t h e h a b i t a t a r e l i k e l y t o b e bo th d i f f i c u l t and expens ive i f done r a t i o n a l l y and c a r e f u l l y . L ikewise t h e consequences a r e n o t f u l l y p r e d i c t a b l e . F e r t i l i z a t i o n , t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of p e s t i c i d e s , changing d r a i n a g e p a t t e r n s , t h i n n i n g of v e g e t a t i o n , s e l e c t i v e r e d u c t i o n of a p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i e s , e r e c t i n g wind-breaks a r e a l l p o s s i b l e a l t e r a - t i o n s . There i s no p r e s s i n g r e a s o n t o u n d e r t a k e any o f t h e s e , and p a s t e x p e r i e n c e e l sewhere h a s shown t h a t u n a n t i c i p a t e d r e s u l t s and s i d e - e f f e c t s a r e l i k e l y . It i s sugges ted t h a t o n l y a f t e r t h e f u l l e s t cons id - e r a t i o n of a l l a s p e c t s , and f o r t h e most p r e s s i n g r e a s o n s , shou ld any such c o u r s e be adop ted . REFERENCES Baker, B. H. 1963. Geology and m i n e r a l r e s o u r c e s of t h e S e y c h e l l e s Arch ipe lago . Geol. Surv. Kenya Mem. 3: 1-140. Baker, J . G . 1877. F l o r a of M a u r i t i u s and t h e S e y c h e l l e s ... 1-557, London. Fosberg , F. R . 1954. S o i l s o f t h e n o r t h e r n M a r s h a l l a t o l l s ; w i t h s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e t o t h e Jemo S e r i e s . S o i l S c i e n c e 78: 99-107. Fosberg , F. R. 1974. Misce l l aneous n o t e s on t h e f l o r a of Aldabra and n e i g h b o r i n g i s l a n d s . Kew B u l l . 29: 253-266. Fosberg , F. R. and S. A. Renvoize. 1980. The F l o r a of Aldabra and ne ighbour ing i s l a n d s . Kew B u l l . Add. S e r . v i i , 1-358. P i g g o t t , C . J . 1968. A s o i l su rvey of S e y c h e l l e s . Land Res. Div . , D i r . Overseas S u r v . , Tech. B u l l . 2: 1-89. Sauer , J . D . 1967. P l a n t s and Man on t h e S e y c h e l l e s c o a s t . . . . . 1-132, Madison, W i s . Summerhayes, V . S. 1931. An enumerat ion of t h e Angiosperms of t h e S e y c h e l l e s . Trans . Linn. Soc. Lond. 11, Z o o l . , 19: 261-299. SYSTEMATIC LIST OF PLANTS A l l c o l l e c t i o n numbers a r e F o s b e r g ' s . P l a n t names preceeded by an a s t e r i s k a r e t h o s e regarded a s i n t r o d u c e d by man i n t o Cousin. POLYPODIACEAE Acrostichum aureum L. S p a r i n g l y a t edges of mangrove swamp a t Anse F r g g a t e (52090). One t i n y clump i n deep c r a c k on Roche Canon (52080). Nephro lep i s m u l t i f l o r a (Roxb.) J a r r e t t Very common t o abundant everywhere e x c e p t on ,beach r i d g e s and sand f l a t s . E s p e c i a l l y abundant on g r a n i t e s l o p e s (52159). Polypodium s c o l o p e n d r i a Burm. f . Rare , seen o n l y i n d e p r e s s i o n n e a r w e l l , on b a s e of t r e e (52110), and on s t o n e w a l l of t o r t o i s e pen (52097). PANDANACEAE Pandanus b a l f o u r i i M a r t e l l i Common on s l o p e s and t o p of g r a n i t e h i l l (52092, 52093). GRAMINEAE *Bambusa v u l g a r i s Wendl. Two clumps i n d e p r e s s i o n n e a r w e l l (52106); undoubtedly p l a n t e d . "Cenchrus e c h i n a t u s L. Small c o l o n i e s on t o p of g r a n i t e h i l l (52160) and on beach a t e a s t end of g r a n i t e h i l l (52188). P o s s i b l y brought by b i r d s . "Dactyloctenium c t e n o i d e s ( ~ t e u d . ) Bosser Common g e n e r a l l y excep t i n d e n s e s t f o r e s t , e s p e c i a l l y j u s t back of beaches (52177). D i g i t a r i a - h o r i z o n t a l i s Wil ld . - Here and t h e r e a l o n g p a t h s i n edges of f o r e s t (52066). * D i g i t a r i a r a d i c o s a ( P r e s l ) Miq. One p a t c h seen a t n o r t h e a s t c o r n e r of i s l a n d nea r p a t h (521751, and o c c a s i o n a l l y n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52101). "E leus ine i n d i c a (L.) Gaer tn . Occas iona l clumps and p a t c h e s a l o n g t r a i l s and n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52098). Enteropogon s e c h e l l e n s i s (Baker) Dur. & Schinz Genera l bu t n o t abundant i n open p l a c e s (52172). * E r a g r o s t i s t e n e l l a (L.) Beauv. Very r a r e , found once i n p a t h n e a r d w e l l i n g on n o r t h c o a s t (52167). E r a g r o s t i s t e n e l l a v a r . i n s u l a r i s Hubb, Occas iona l i n and a l o n g p a t h s (52095, 52176). *Panicurn maximum J a c q . Abundant i n s t a n d i n g wa te r i n d e p r e s s i o n n e a r w e l l (52105), common h e r e and t h e r e on g r a n i t e h i l l , o c c a s i o n a l e l sewhere . P a n i c l e s used by l o c a l peop le t o make brooms. "Panicum ( B r a c h i a r i a ) m i l i f o r m i s P r e s l Common a l o n g t r a i l s and n e a r d w e l l i n g s , n o r t h e a s t p a r t of i s l a n d (52072). Panicum (Cyrtococcum) p a t e n s L. Abundant on lower s l o p e s of g r a n i t e h i l l , and e s p e c i a l l y a t Anse F r g g a t e (52050) , o c c a s i o n a l e l sewhere . Sporobolus v i r g i n i c u s (L.) Kunth Abundant around a l l c o a s t s , on r o c k s and sand f l a t s , forming a dense sod (52032); on Roche Canon (52078) forming deep masses. Stenotaphrum dimidia tum (L.) Brongn. L o c a l l y abundant on sand f l a t s a l o n g c o a s t s (52033). Stenotaphrum micranthum (Desv.) Hubb. Common i n s m a l l p a t c h e s i n coconut p l a n t a t i o n on phosphate r o c k , e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g p a t h s (52099) . CYPERACEAE B u l b o s t y l i s b a r b a t a C . B . C l . Occas iona l i n r o c k c r e v i c e s and s o i l p o c k e t s on and n e a r top of g r a n i t e h i l l (52060, 52055, 52140). Cyperus d i s t a n s L. f . I n wet p l a c e s , a s i n d e p r e s s i o n n e a r w e l l (52104). Cyperus d u b i u s Rot tb . S c a t t e r e d g e n e r a l l y , nowhere s e e n abundant (52062) , *Cyperus k y l l i n g i a Endl. Common i n f o r e s t a l o n g p a t h s (52061) , s p a r i n g l y e l sewhere . Cyperus l i g u l a r i s L 1 G e n e r a l l y bu t s p a r i n g l y d i s t r i b u t e d p r i n c i p a l l y i n open and semi- open p l a c e s (52119). *Cyperus po lys tachyos R o t t b . Very s p a r i n g l y d i s t r i b u t e d , e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g p a t h s (52087). Cyperus p o l y p h y l l u s Vahl G e n e r a l l y but s p a r i n g l y d i s t r i b u t e d i n open and semi-open p l a c e s (52058). F i m b r i s t y l i s cymosa R. B r . -- One t i n y co lony back of beach a t e a s t end of g r a n i t e h i l l (52186). A g i a n t form. F i m b r i s t y l i s - c f . consanguineus Kunth Common on and n e a r t o p of g r a n i t e h i l l i n d e p r e s s i o n s and c r e v i c e s i n rock (52059, 52054). P ALMAE *Cocos n u c i f e r a L . P l a n t e d everywhere 'where t h e r e i s s u f f i c i e n t s o i l . The n u t s a r e h a r v e s t e d a s they f a l l . ARACEAE *Alocasia m a c r o r r h i z a (L.) S c h o t t -- N a t u r a l i z e d abundan t ly i n and n e a r d e p r e s s i o n a l o n g t h e n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52181). *Colocas ia - e s c u l e n t a (L.) S c h o t t P l a n t e d l o c a l l y i n mud o f d e p r e s s i o n n e a r w e l l (52115). COMMELINACEAE *Commelina d i f f u s a Bum. f . Very abundant i n d e p r e s s i o n , n o r t h of g r a n i t e h i l l (52118) , a l s o a t Anse F r g g a t e . Seldom seen f l o w e r i n g . BROMELIACEAE *Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. S o l i t a r y p l a n t s o r s m a l l clumps a t s e v e r a l p l a c e s , a s on g r a n i t e s l o p e s above w e l l (52164). LILIACEAE *Crinum a s i a t i c u m L. Two clumps j u s t back of beach n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52184), n o t f lower - i n g . *Furcraea f o e t i d a (L. ) Haworth -- -- Small p a t c h on s l o p e s n e a r n o r t h w e s t b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52135) . **enocallis l i t t o r a l i s ( J a c q . ) S a l i s b . -- S e v e r a l clumps i n edges of f o r e s t n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52171), n o t f l o w e r i n g . DIOSCORACEAE *Dioscorea alata L. One v i g o r o u s p l a n t i n d e p r e s s i o n a t f o o t of g r a n i t e h i l l wes t of w e l l (52126) , n o t f l o w e r i n g . MU SACEAE *Musa sapientum L. P l a n t e d abundan t ly i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52108). CASUARINACEAE Casuar ina e q u i s e t i f o l i a L. A s i n g l e i n t e r r u p t e d row of l a r g e o l d t r e e s on beach r i d g e s a lmos t around t h e i s l a n d (52168), l o c a l l y i n one o r two p l a c e s forming s m a l l g roves . Reproducing i n o n l y one o r two p l a c e s on b a r e sand . MORACEAE *Artocarpus a l t i l i s ( P a r k . ) Fosb. Two s m a l l t r e e s p l a n t e d i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e o f g r a n i t e h i l l (52133). F i c u s av i -av i B1. - One s m a l l t r e e s e e n on e a s t s i d e of t o r t o i s e pen, n o r t h e a s t of w e l l ( 5 2 l 4 3 ) , s t e r i l e . F i c u s nautarum Baker -- Very common on g r a n i t e h i l l (52142, 52154), o c c a s i o n a l e l sewhere . F i c u s a f f . --- t h o n i n e B 1 . Occas iona l t o common on s l o p e s of g r a n i t e h i l l (52084, 52134), r a r e e l sewhere , a s a t Anse Frgga te . NYCTAGINACEAE Boerhavia r e p e n s L. Very abundant everywhere on f l a t s back o f beaches (52145, 52146), o c c a s i o n a l e l sewhere a t low e l e v a t i o n s , a l s o on Roche Canon (52077). Very common i n a n a r e a w i t h i n t h e coconut p l a n t a t i o n i n from t h e n o r t h c o a s t (52180). P i s o n i a g r a n d i s R . B r . G e n e r a l l y common, l o c a l l y abundant on "p la teau" (52063) , ex tend ing somewhat up on t h e g r a n i t e s l o p e s . Undoubtedly formed s o l i d f o r - e s t s o v e r lowlands i n pre-human t i m e , judging by t h e e x t e n t of t h e p h o s p h a t i c s o i l and hard-pan o f t h e Jemo s e r i e s . AMARANTHACEAE Achyranthes a s p e r a L. One of t h e most u b i q u i t o u s p l a n t s on t h e i s l a n d , e s p e c i a l l y abundant back of beach r i d g e s and i n coconut p l a n t a t i o n , but found g e n e r a l l y a t a l l e l e v a t i o n s ; an e s p e c i a l l y v i g o r o u s form of t h e s p e c i e s (52173). *Amaranthus dub ius Mart . e x T h e l l . Found g e n e r a l l y a t low e l e v a t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y common n e a r houses and p a t h s (52034) bu t w e l l d i s t r i b u t e d even i n t h e dense coconut f o r e s t . Lagrez ia o l igomero ides (C. H . Wright) Fosberg One t i n y colony on Roche Canon (52075), n o t seen e l sewhere , n o r i s t h e r e any pub l i shed r e c o r d from t h e S e y c h e l l e s . Very s i m i l a r t o , i f n o t i d e n t i c a l w i t h , t h e p l a n t common on Aldabra. AIZOACEAE Mollugo o p p o s i t i f o l i a A. DC. One s m a l l colony i n d r y d e p r e s s i o n a t mangrove swamp (52086) . PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L. 2 5 Anse F r g g a t e n e a r edge of Very g e n e r a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d excep t i n d e n s e s t f o r e s t and on t o p of g r a n i t e h i l l , e s p e c i a l l y abundant a l o n g p a t h s (52120), v e r y l a r g e p l a n t s on Roche Canon (52079). ANNONACEAE *Annona m u r i c a t a L. S e v e r a l t r e e s p l a n t e d i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l , n e a r w e l l (52111). *Annona squamosa L. Commonly p l a n t e d a l o n g d e p r e s s i o n s a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52123), f r u i t i n g abundant ly . LAURACEAE *Persea americana M i l l . -- One t r e e b e a r i n g f r u i t , p l a n t e d n e a r w e l l i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h base of g r a n i t e h i l l (52128). CAPPARIDACEAE *Cleome v i s c o s a L. A few dwarfed p l a n t s i n c r e v i c e s on summit of g r a n i t e h i l l (52052) and a s m a l l colony back of beach a t e a s t end of g r a n i t e h i l l (52185). MORINGACEAE *Moringa o l e i f e r a Lam. ---- One o r two t r e e s p l a n t e d i n d e p r e s s i o n a t e a s t b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52131). CRASSULACEAE *Kalanchoe p i n n a t a (Lam,) P e r s . Very abundant a lmos t everywhere i n lowlands (52109), e s p e c i a l l y on o l d s t o n e w a l l s and i n s m a l l open ings i n woods. LEGUMINOSAE *Adenanthera pavonina L. One t r e e on nor thwes t s l o p e of g r a n i t e h i l l n o t f a r below t o p (52162). C a e s a l p i n i a bonduc Roxb. A s i n g l e s e e d l i n g a t t o p of beach a t e a s t end of g r a n i t e h i l l (52187), n o t s e e n e l sewhere . Canava l i a c a t h a r t i c a Thou. -- Very common, c l i m b i n g i n t r e e s o v e r most of w e s t e r n h a l f of i s l a n d (52138) . *Cass ia o c c i d e n t a l i s L. Common i n open and semi-open p l a c e s , e s p e c i a l l y n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52069). *Sesbania c f , cannab ina (Re tz . ) Roxb. Common a t Anse F r g g a t e (52051) , seen once o r t w i c e e l sewhere n e a r d w e l l i n g s . *Vigna u n g u i c u l a t a (L. ) Walp. P l a n t e d i n garden around d w e l l i n g (52100) . OXALIDACEAE *Averrhoa b i l i m b i L. -- -- S e v e r a l t r e e s i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52112): f r u i t i n g . RUTACEAE * C i t r u s a u r a n t i f o l i a (Chr is tm.) Swingle Seen b u t n o t c o l l e c t e d on lower n o r t h s l o p e of g r a n i t e h i l l , r a r e . * C i t r u s s i n e n s i s (L. ) Osbeck Oranges s a i d t o be p r e s e n t b u t no t s e e n on t h i s v i s i t . * C i t r u s "calamondin" ? Occas iona l n e a r w e l l a t b a s e of n o r t h s l o p e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52124), f r u i t r e sembl ing a l i m e b u t n o t s o u r ( "Bigarad ie r" ) . SURIANACEAE Sur iana mar i t ima L. L o c a l l y common on beach r i d g e s (52065). EUPHORBIACEAE "Acalypha i n d i c a L. - Very common a l o n g t r a i l s and around d w e l l i n g s (52070) i n open and semi-shade. *Euphorbia h i r t a L. --- Common a l o n g p a t h s (52122) , around d w e l l i n g s , and i n open s p o t s g e n e r a l l y . "Euphorbia p r o s t r a t a A i t . One s m a l l colony i n p a t h n e a r d w e l l i n g (52148) a t n o r t h e a s t c o r n e r of i s l a n d . Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a Lam. Common on g r a n i t e h i l l , dominant i n s c r u b n e a r t o p (52056, 52053, 52136, 52155, 52156, 52157). "Euphorbia t h y m i f o l i a L. Local i n p a t h a l o n g n o r t h c o a s t n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52030). *Manihot e s c u l e n t a Cran tz One poor p l a n t i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l , d o u b t l e s s p l a n t e d (52127). *Phy l lan thus a c i d u s (L. ) S k e e l s A few t r e e s a t Anse F r g g a t e (52089) , w e l l i n l a n d , l a r g e one probably p l a n t e d , s m a l l e r ones spon taneous . *Phyl lan thus amarus Schum.& Thonn. --- Common a l o n g p a t h s and i n openings n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52082, 52121). P h y l l a n t h u s cas t i cum Willem. Common on s l o p e s of g r a n i t e h i l l , v e r y common n e a r t o p , l e s s s o i n coconut p l a n t a t i o n n o t f a r from b a s e of h i l l (52031, 52129, 52158). 2kRicinus communis L. G e n e r a l l y common i n lowlands , e s p e c i a l l y n e a r p a t h s and i n semi- open p l a c e s (52165). ANACARD IACEAE "Mangifera i n d i c a L. Two o r t h r e e t r e e s p l a n t e d n e a r w e l l i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h base of g r a n i t e h i l l (52113). *Spondias p u r p u r e a L. One t r e e a t manager ' s house on e a s t c o a s t (52183). MALVACEAE *Abut i lon indicum (L. ) Sweet Local a l o n g p a t h on n o r t h c o a s t n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52068). *Gossypium h i r s u t u m L. Here and t h e r e a l o n g p a t h s i n semi-open a r e a s , e s p e c i a l l y n e a r d w e l l i n g s a l o n g n o r t h c o a s t (52073). *Hib i scus t i l i a c e u s L. One s m a l l clump n e a r *Sida a c u t a Burm. f . -. - A few p l a n t s n e a r dw d w e l l i n g on n o r t h c o a s t (52170). e l l i n g s on e a s t co T h e s p e s i a -- populnea (L . ) S o l . e x Cor rea Abundant i n and around mangrove swamp a t Anse ~ r g g a t e (52085) and a t e a s t end o f d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h base o f g r a n i t e h i l l ; a form w i t h r a t h e r l a r g e p y r i f o r m f r u i t , GUTTIFERAE Calophyllum inophyllum L. - Common on s l o p e s of g r a n i t e h i l l (52141), uncommon e l sewhere . TURNERACEAE *Turnera u l m i f o l i a L. Common i n edges of coconut p l a n t a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y n e a r n o r t h e a s t c o r n e r o f i s l a n d (52035). CARICACEAE "Car ica papaya L. Abundant i n coconut p l a n t a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y i n more open a r e a s (52096). PASSIFLORACEAE * P a s s i f l o r a f o e t i d a L. Common on lower s l o p e s of g r a n i t e h i l l (52083, 52151). " P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L. Occas iona l i n edges o f coconut p l a n t a t i o n , on back s l o p e s of beach r i d g e s , and on semi-open sand f l a t s n e a r c o a s t s (52169). CUCURBITACEAE *Cucurbi ta moschata Duch. P l a n t e d i n and n e a r d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52163), a l s o n e a r d w e l l i n g s . *Momordica c f . c h a r a n t i a L. P l a n t e d i n ga rden a t manager ' s house , t r a i n e d up on t r e l l i s , l a r g e f r u i t hanging through t r e l l i s ; n o t c o l l e c t e d . COMBRETACEAE " Q u i s q u a l i s i n d i c a L. -- Well e s t a b l i s h e d i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52132). kTermina l i a c a t a p p a L. One t r e e s e e n b u t n o t r e l o c a t e d , p robab ly n e a r w e l l ; p o s s i b l y an e r r o r i n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , LECYTHIDACEAE *Barr ingtonia a s i a t i c a (L.) Kurz One smal l t r e e a t manager's house on e a s t coas t (52182). MY RTACEAE *Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. Abundantly p lan ted on middle s lopes of w e s t end of g r a n i t e h i l l (52137, 52150). *Eugenia aquea L. One l a r g e tree p lan ted a t w e l l , no r th base of g r a n i t e h i l l (52114), f r u i t i n g f r e e l y . ONAGRACEAE *Ludwigia oc tova lv i s (Jacq. j Raven Common i n s tanding water and mud i n depress ion a t no r th base of g r a n i t e h i l l (52116). UMBELLIFERAE *Cente l la a s i a t i c a (L.) Urb. One smal l colony near w e l l , i n depress ion a t no r th base of g r a n i t e h i l l (52107). APOCYNACEAE *Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don Well e s t a b l i s h e d h e r e and t h e r e i n lowlands, e s p e c i a l l y i n s e m i - open a r e a s and groves back of beach r i d g e s (52147). Neisosperma o p p o s i t i f o l i a - (Lam.) Fosb. & Sachet Occasional i n lowlands, e s p e c i a l l y on f l a t s j u s t back of beach r i d g e s (52067). CONVOLWLACEAE Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. B r . Common t o abundant on beach r i d g e s and sand f l a t s a long c o a s t (52189), a l s o on g r a n i t e h i l l on open rock s l o p e s and summit (52161), a l s o on Roche Canon (52076). The form seems in t e rmed ia t e between s sp . p e s c a p r a e and s s p . b r a s i l i e n s i s . Ipomoea macrantha R. & S. Common on s o u t h c o a s t , a t Anse F r g g a t e (52049), and back of beaches a t east end of g r a n i t e h i l l . Ipomoea c f . venosa R. & S. Occasional on s l o p e s of g r a n i t e h i l l , on low g r a n i t e a r e a west of Anse F r s g a t e (52091) and n e a r d w e l l i n g i n l a n d from e a s t c o a s t (52103). A c u r i o u s abnormal form w i t h d e e p l y lobed c o r o l l a was c o l l e c t e d on t h e west s l o p e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52152). BORAGINACEAE Cordia s u b c o r d a t a Lam. -- - Common g e n e r a l l y on beach r i d g e s (52064). *Hel iot ropium indicum L. Very r a r e i n wet d e p r e s s i o n n e a r w e l l a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l (52117). T h i s is an u n u s u a l l y g l a b r o u s form of t h i s nor- mal ly h i r s u t e , widespread weedy s p e c i e s . There are v a r i o u s s p e c i - mens from I n d i a n Ocean l o c a l i t i e s i n t e r m e d i a t e i n h a i r i n e s s between t h i s and t h e c o a r s e r more h i r s u t e o r d i n a r y forms. T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a L. f . -- One s m a l l bush a t t o p o f beach on n o r t h c o a s t (52174). VERBENACEAE Avicennia marina L. Common i n mangrove swamp a t Anse F r g g a t e (52048) and l o c a l a t e a s t end o f d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h b a s e of g r a n i t e h i l l . "S tachy ta rphe ta j a m a i c e n s i s (L.) Vahl Common back of beach r i d g e s i n semi-open a r e a s and around dwel l - i n g s (52074). LAB IATAE Coleus s u b f r u t e c t o s u s Summ. L o c a l l y v e r y abundant on lower n o r t h s l o p e s o f g r a n i t e h i l l , com- p l e t e l y c o v e r i n g some rock s l o p e s (52057). SOLANACEAE Capsicum f r u t e s c e n s L. L o c a l l y common i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h base of g r a n i t e h i l l (52125), o c c a s i o n a l e l s e w h e r e i n lowlands a long p a t h s and n e a r d w e l l i n g s . *Datura mete1 L. Common n e a r d w e l l i n g s , e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g e a s t c o a s t -(52190) . *Nico t i ana tabacum L. Two o r t h r e e p l a n t s s e e n i n ga rden n e a r manager ' s house. *Solanurn melongana L. -- S p a r i n g l y p l a n t e d i n g a r d e n s and around d w e l l i n g s (52144). ACANTHACEAE A s y s t a s i a m u l t i f l o r a Klo tzsch -- Very abundant g e n e r a l l y (52153, 52166). f < J u s t i c i a gendarussa Burm. f . One t i n y colony a t Anse F r g g a t e (52088). RUBIACEAE *Coffea a r a b i c a L. A few t r e e s p l a n t e d i n d e p r e s s i o n a t n o r t h base of g r a n i t e h i l l (52130). G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L. -- A v e r y few s c a t t e r e d t r e e s on beach r i d g e s and f l a t s behind beaches (52178). *Hedyot i s corymbosa (L. ) Lam. - Very l o c a l i n p a t h s , bo th on phosphate rock and on g r a n i t e (52081, 52139). Morinda c i t r i f o F i a L, Very common everywhere (52179) , an impor tan t component of most woody v e g e t a t i o n . GOODEN IACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a Vahl L o c a l l y a b u n d a n t a l o n g beach r i d g e s (52047) , t e n d i n g t o form a t a l l hedge on r i d g e , o r f r i n g e seaward of o t h e r v e g e t a t i o n . COMPOS ITAE " S y n e d r e l l a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) G a e r t n . L o c a l l y common a l o n g p a t h s and n e a r d w e l l i n g s (52102) . 9cVernonia c i n e r e a (L. ) L e s s . Common a l o n g p a t h s (52071) , n e a r d w e l l i n g s and i n open weedy p l a c e s . ADDENDUM TO SYSTEMATIC LIST I n f o r m a t i o n on c h a n g e s i n t h e f l o r a h a s been p r o v i d e d f rom s e v e r a l Cous in I s l a n d R e s e a r c h S t a t i o n s c i e n t i f i c a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ' r e p o r t s and f rom T e c h n i c a l Repor t No. 1 6 , by G. M . and H. V . B a t h e , s i n c e t h e above v e r s i o n o f t h e p l a n t l i s t was p r e p a r e d . The f o l l o w i n g s p e c i e s may b e added t o t h e l i s t on t h e b a s i s of t h e s e n o t e s . I h a v e n o t s e e n t h e spec imens s u p p o r t i n g t h e s e o b s e r v a t i o n s . Lemna s p . ( ~ e m n a c e a e ) Common i n The Pond. 9cSaccharum o f f i c i n a r u m L. (Poaceae ) P l a n t e d i n d e p r e s s i o n , N . E. b a s e o f G r a n i t e H i l l . *Haemanthus m u l t i f l o r u s Martyn ( L i l i a c e a e , s. 1 . ) P e r s i s t i n g a round abandoned h o u s e back of N. s h o r e . *Peperomia p e l l u c i d a (L . ) H . B . K . ( P i p e r a c e a e ) Found a r o u n d p a t h s on P a r v e la tea&, s a i d t o b e n a t i v e b u t s u r e l y n o t , a s t h i s i s a n American s p e c i e s . * G l i r i c i d i a sep ium H. B. I<. (Fabaceae ) P l a n t e d n e a r house . *Euphorbia t i r u c a l l i L. ( E u p h o r b i a c e a e ) Near h o u s e s . 1 A p p a r e n t l y t h e " p l a t e a u , " f l a t n o r t h h a l f o f i s l a n d . H i b i s c u s s u r a t t e n s i s L. (Malvaceae) ( a s - H . s w a t t e n s i s , a name n o t l i s t e d i n Index Kewensis) . Found i n S . E. end of d e p r e s s i o n a t b a s e of G r a n i t e H i l l . Rhizophora mucronata Lam. I n c o a s t a l b r a c k i s h wa te r on s o u t h and e a s t c o a s t s . Many m i s c e l l a n e o u s n o t e s on t h e v e g e t a t i o n o c c u r i n t h e s e r e p o r t s . They shou ld be c o l l e c t e d t o g e t h e r and summarized f o r p u b l i c a t i o n a f t e r a p e r i o d of y e a r s , a s t r e n d s of change may be e s t a b l i s h e d . I n t h e accoun t of t h e fauna , above, I i n a d v e r t e n t l y o m i t t e d mention- i n g t h e p r e s e n c e of f i v e g i a n t t o r t o i s e s , presumably brought from Aldabra I s l a n d , conf ined i n a n e n c l o s u r e surrounded by a low s t o n e w a l l . I was n o t a b l e t o l e a r n how l o n g t h e y had been t h e r e , b u t t h e e n c l o s u r e was ob- v i o u s l y n o t new. The t o r t o i s e s seemed i n good h e a l t h b u t were n o t suc- c e s s f u l l y b reed ing . The e n c l o s u r e was l o c a t e d on t h e "p la teau" between t h e d w e l l i n g s and t h e d e p r e s s i o n a t t h e f o o t of t h e g r a n i t e h i l l . Figure 3. Cousin: vegetation. From C o u s i n I s l a n d N a t u r e R e s e r v e Management P lan 1975-79 , by A. W . Diamond (London: International Council for Bird Preservation [British Section]), Appendix 4. Key: 1. Tall herbs on flat sandy coast. Characteristic species P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a , a o e r h a v i a r e p e n s . 2. Herbs on rocky coast. A s y s t a s i a sp., Ipomoea pes -caprae . 3. Open woodland regenerating through coastal tall herbs; intermediate between types 1 and 4. 4. Closed woodland on plateau, regenerating through coconut plantation. Morinda c i k r i f o l i a , P i s o n i a g r a n d i s , P h y l l a n t h u s c a s t i c u m . 5. Tall closed plateau woodland. Taller and more open (ground layer) than type 4. F i c u s nau tarum replaces P h y l l a n t h u s c a s t i c u m . 6. Low-lying woodland near the coast, subject to tidal inundation. A v i c e n n i a m a r i n a , T h e s p e s i a popu lnea , Ipomoea macran tha . 7. Mature P i s o n i a forest. P i s o n i a g r a n d i s , some Morinda ci t r i f o l i a . 8 . E u c a l y p t u s plantation. E u c a l y p t u s c a m a l d u l e n s i s . 9. Closed Euphorbia scrub. Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a , N e p h r o l e p i s m u l t i f l o r a . 10. Tall herbs on the top and southwest slopes of the hill. N e p h r o l e p i s mu1 ti f l o r a . 11. Herbs on the northeast slopes of the hill. Cyperus p o l y p h y l l a , Cyperus l i g u l a r i s . 12. Groves or individual trees of C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a . 13. F i c u s grove. F i c u s nau tarum, F . r e f l e x a , F . a v i - a v i . 14. Open P i s o n i a regenerating through dense A s y s t a s i a sp. under Cocos n u c i f e r a . 15. Very varied vegetation, almost entirely planted, in the depression at the foot of the hill; on deep soil, much of it under standing water according to rainfall. Not sampled. 16. Bamboo. 17. Not sampled. Figure 3. Cousin Island, vegetation types. Adapted, by permission, from map by A. W. Diamond,. by S. A . Robertson and D. M. Todd Introduction Frggate Island i s the most eas te r ly of the is lands which comprise the Seychelles Group in the western Indian Ocean. I t i s one of the smaller is lands in the group, and has been run a s a p r iva te e s t a t e since the f i r s t permanent settlement was established ear ly in the nineteenth century. A l l of the o r ig ina l vegetation has been c leared over the years so t h a t a var ie ty of crops could be planted, and the i s l and ' s f l o r a i s now dominated by introduced species. Ann Robertson made several v i s i t s t o ~ r g ~ a t e Island in 1978 t o co l l ec t p lan t s and was able t o compile a preliminary l i s t f o r the island which included those col lected by Jeff rey in 1962 and Procter in 1972. David Todd spent some time on the island in 1981 and 1982, par t i c ipa t ing in an International Council f o r Bird Preservation pro jec t t o study the Seychelles Magpie Robin and t o eradicate f e r a l c a t s , and was able t o add t o the p lan t l i s t and t o describe and map the vegetation types. We have combined our records and information t o provide a b r ie f h is tory of the island and a f a i r l y comprehensive plant l i s t . Frggate Island Frggate (Figure 4a) i s a low, rocky is land of about 202 ha, r i s i ng t o a height of 125 m above sea l eve l . Its two h i l l s a re composed mainly of a p l i t e , unlike the other grani te islands of the group. Although a p l i t e weathers rapidly t o produce a deep and f e r t i l e , though bouldery, s o i l l ayer , large areas of bare rock remain on the is land. In the north-east and the west a r e two areas of f l a t , low-lying land, loca l ly ca l led 'p la teaux ' , which have a combined area of about 26 ha. On these coasta l plateaux, there a r e r i c h , phosphatic s o i l s of the Jemo s e r i e s , which indicate t h a t the is land once supported large colonies of breeding Atoll Research Bulletin No. 273: 39-64, 1983. Figure 4 . ~ r g g a t e . A: topography. B: vegetation. seab i rds , while Shioya type s o i l s a r e found behind the beach c r e s t s (P iggo t t , 1968) . Even though Frggate exper iences t h e same seasonal weather p a t t e r n s a s t h e o t h e r i s l a n d s i n t h e group, it a t t r a c t s f a r l e s s r a i n than t h e l a r g e r and higher i s l a n d s . The l i m i t e d records suggest t h a t t h e r a i n f a l l is approximately 1250 mm pe r annum, about two-thirds of t h a t i n c o a s t a l a r e a s of ~ a h g (Watson, 1978). The e a r l y h i s t o r y of Frggate i s very poorly documented. The i s l a n d was apparent ly f i r s t s e t t l e d by p i r a t e s e a r l y i n t he e igh teen th century , b u t , though some of t h e s tone wa l l s and enc losu res which they b u i l t s t i l l su rv ive , they had abandoned t h e i s l a n d be fo re t h e French s t a r t e d t o explore t he group. In 1774, Lazare P i c a u l t , on h i s second voyage t o t he Seychel les from Maur i t ius , anchored o f f Frggate , b u t was unable t o land . It was a t t h i s time t h a t t h e i s l a n d was given t h e name ' I l e aux F rgga te s ' , presumably a f t e r f r i g a t e b i r d s seen i n t h e v i c i n i t y . Apart from a b r i e f per iod i n 1801, when one of t h e Jacobin t e r r o r i s t s , who had been deported from France a f t e r an at tempted a s sas - s i n a t i o n of Napoleon, and t h r e e s l aves were marooned on Frggate f l i o n n e t , undated) , t h e i s l a n d remained uninhabi ted u n t i l 1813 a t l e a s t . In t h a t yea r , t h e i s l a n d o f f i c i a l l y came i n t o t h e ownership of t h e Savy family, a l though t h e r e is a r e f e rence t o "Lieutenant Savy de Frggate" a s e a r l y a s 1785 (Fauvel , 1909). By 1851, t h e number of people r e s i d e n t on i s l a n d had r i s e n t o 60, and subsequent census r e p o r t s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e populat ion has s ince f l u c t u a t e d , reaching a peak of 118 i n 1947, before dropping t o i t s p r e s e n t t o t a l of l e s s than 25. In 1787, Malavois, t h e Commandant of t h e Seychel les , descr ibed Frggate a s being covered by timber t r e e s of poor q u a l i t y and l ack ing coconuts and o t h e r palms. However he d i d cons ider t h a t t he i s l a n d might be s u i t a b l e f o r t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of r i c e and maize (Fauvel , 1909). There a r e no records of t he e a r l y e x p l o i t a t i o n of t h e i s l a n d , b u t by 1868, t h e r e were f i e l d s of r i c e and l a r g e mango t r e e s , and bananas were grown. However, t he major crop was sugar cane, and between 20,000 and 30,000 g a l l o n s of h igh-qual i ty rum were produced each yea r . A few sheep were a l s o kep t on t h e i s l a n d (Wright, 1868). A few y e a r s l a t e r , another v i s i t o r noted a f l o u r i s h i n g vegetable garden and a number of Madagascar c a t t l e i n a d d i t i o n t o t he f i e l d s of sugar cane (P ike , 1872) . Twenty y e a r s l a t e r , p l a n t a t i o n s of coconuts had been added t o those of sugar cane ( ~ u g r a r d , 1891). Coconut palms have s i n c e been widely p l an ted , even i n t h e most marginal of h a b i t a t s , and sugar cane has a l l b u t disappeared. Judging by t h e i r p re sen t abundance, cashew t r e e s must a l s o have been ex tens ive ly c u l t i v a t e d a t one t ime, while groves of c i t r u s t r e e s were e s t a b l i s h e d a long the base of t h e h i l l behind t h e main p l a t eau . The presence of a pa tch of co t ton sugges ts t h a t t h i s t o o may have been grown commercially a t some s t age . More r e c e n t l y , e f f o r t s were made t o e s t a b l i s h a s e r i e s of v a n i l l a p l a n t a t i o n s , b u t they f a i l e d p a r t l y due t o t h e presence of a fungal p a r a s i t e . However, t h e sandragon t r e e s p l an ted t o suppor t t h e v a n i l l a v ines have t h r i v e d and now form a d i s t i n c t i v e vege ta t ion type. A t p r e s e n t , t h e major c rops a r e coconuts , from which copra is prepared, and, t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t , bananas and oranges. C a t t l e , p i g s and chickens a r e kep t on t h e p la teaux . S i n c e t h e i s l a n d w a s f i r s t s e t t l e d , a l l o f t h e ind igenous vegeta- t i o n h a s been c l e a r e d o v e r t h e y e a r s t o make way f o r man's c r o p s . The r e s u l t h a s been t h a t an overwhelming p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e p l a n t s p e c i e s now found on ~ r g g a t e have been i n t r o d u c e d by man, and t h a t t h e s e s p e c i e s now dominate t h e v e g e t a t i o n . The d i sappearance of n a t i v e p l -an t s p e c i e s and t h e s p r e a d o f i n t r o d u c e d ones may h a v e b e e n h e l p e d b y t h e p r e s e n c e o f Javan Rusa Deer C e r v u s t i m o r i e n s i s (a l though t h e s e d i e d o u t sometime i n t h e 1950s) , House Mice Mus m u s c u l u s , and such b i r d s as I n d i a n Mynahs A c r i d o t h e r e s t r i s t i s and Madagascan F o d i e s Foudia m a d a g a s c a r i e n s i s . Vegeta t ion Types The p r e s e n t v e g e t a t i o n o f Frgga te c o n s i s t s o f a mosaic of d i f f e r e n t t y p e s dependent b o t h on t h e n a t u r e of t h e u n d e r l y i n g s u b s t r a t e and t h e p e r i o d s i n c e t h e a r e a w a s e i t h e r l a s t c l e a r e d o r p l a n t e d by man. There a r e few a r e a s w i t h what c o u l d be termed a c l imax v e g e t a t i o n . Because o f t h i s , it i s a lmos t a lways imposs ib le t o f i n d c l e a r b o u n d a r i e s between v e g e t a t i o n t y p e s . Desp i te t h i s , t h i r t e e n v e g e t a t i o n t y p e s were recognised and a r e summarised below. F i g u r e 4b i n d i c a t e s b o u n d a r i e s which a r e b o t h s u b j e c t i v e and approximate . BC. Beach c r e s t : h e d g e s o f S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a s u r v i v e a l o n g t h e t o p s o f t h e beaches a t Grand' Anse and Anse P a r c , though t h e one on t h e main p l a t e a u a t La Cour h a s been l a r g e l y d e s t r o y e d ; w i t h Ipomoea p e s - c a p r a e and S p o r o b o l u s v i r g i n i c u s , and i n p l a c e s C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a , G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a and C o l u b r i n a a s i a t i c a . Rock : i n t h e c r a c k s a n d d e p r e s s i o n s i n t h e l a r g e expanses o f b a r e rock grow such p l a n t s as C y p e r u s d u b i u s , Panicum maximum, P e n n i s e t u m p o l y s t a c h y o n , Furc raea f o e t i d a , Premna o b t u s i f o l i a , F i c u s b e n g h a l e n s i s , F - n a u t a r u m , F . r e f l e x a , C h r y s o b a l a n u s i c a c o and Anacard ium o c c i d e n t a l e . G r a s s l a n d : a r e a s w i t h a low growth o f g r a s s e s , sedges and h e r b s w i t h o n l y o c c a s i o n a l t r e e s o r s h r u b s ; on t h e main p l a t e a u , a wide range of s p e c i e s i n c l u d i n g Cynodon d a c t y l o n , D i g i t a r i a h o r i z o n t a l i s , L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a , S i d a s p p . , S t a c h y t a r p h e t a s p p . , C a s s y t h a f i l i f o r m i s , Ipomoea o b s c u r a , e t c . a r e found; on t h e s o u t h c o a s t i n a r e a s exposed t o s a l t sp ray S t e n o t a p h r u m d i m i d i a t u m o c c u r s wi th Ipomoea pe s - caprae a n d some A c r o s t i c h u m aureum. Fatak g r a s s l a n d : a r e a s dominated by Panicum maximum w i t h o c c a s i o n a l Cocos n u c i f e r a and o t h e r emergent t r e e s , and i n some a r e a s a low growth of C h r y s o b a l a n u s i c a c o . C 'h ry soba lanus s c r u b : C h r y s o b a l a n u s i c a c o w i t h a canopy a t a b o u t 2 o r 3 m w i t h o c c a s i o n a l emergent C o c o s n u c i f e r a , Anacard ium o c c i d e n t a l e and F i c u s b e n g h a l e n s i s . The C h r y s o b a l a n u s may have been p l a n t e d t o h a l t e r o s i o n . Mixed scrub : a r e a s with vary ing p ropor t i ons of Panicum maximum, C h r y s o b a l a n u s i c a c o and Anacardium o c c i d e n t a l e , always wi th a very broken canopy o f t e n a t l e s s than 7 m , though with emergent spec i e s ; with a wide range of o t h e r spec i e s inc lud ing Cocos n u c i f e r a , Cinnamomum z e y l a n i c u m , S t r y c h n o s s p i n o s a , A s y s t a s i a g a n g e t i c a , C i t r u s spp. , A l b i z i a lebbeck, Mangi fera i n d i c a , F i c u s b e n g h a l e n s i s , T e r m i n a l i a c a t a p p a and Furcraea f o e t i d a . Mixed woodland : a r e a s with a h igher and more complete canopy than I S ' , u s u a l l y with Anacardium o c c i d e n t a l e a s t h e dominant s p e c i e s , b u t i nc lud ing many o t h e r t r e e spec i e s such a s F i c u s b e n g h a l e n s i s , Cocos n u c i f e r a , Adenan thera p a v o n i n a , A l b i z i a l e b b e c k , Hevea b r a s i l i e n s i s , E u c a l y p t u s s p . , e t c . Breaks i n t h e canopy a l l ow some growth of C h r y s o b a l a n u s i c a c o , Dracaena a n g u s t i f o l i a , N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a and Polypodium s c o l o p e n d r i a . Coconut p l a n t a t i o n : a r e a s wi th complete, o r a lmost complete, canopy of Cocos n u c i f e r a . 6Jhere t h e canopy i s incomplete, t he undergrowth may resemble vege t a t i on types ' G I , ' F ' , I D ' , o r I S ' ; i n a r e a s on t h e main p l a t e a u , t h e coconuts have been underplanted with Musa spp., C a r i c a papaya, C i t r u s spp. and Persea amer i cana . C i t r u s p l a n t a t i o n : a r e a s p l an t ed with C i t r u s spp . , most commonly C - a u r a n t i u m , and inc luding o t h e r spec i e s such a s Cinnamomum z e y l a n i c u m , A r t o c a r p u s h e t e r o p h y l l u s and J a t r o p h a c u r c a s , and where t h e canopy i s broken, a ground f l o r a resembling ' G I . A smal l a r e a of C o f f e a canephora growing under ~ l b i z i a lebbeck and Cananga o d o r a t a has been mapped wi th t h i s type . B r e a d f r u i t woodland : mature A r t o c a r p u s a l t i l i s growing on t h e main p l a t e a u , wi th occas iona l H e r i t i e r a l i t t o r a l i s , Cocos n u c i f e r a , C a l o p h y l l u m i n o p h y l l u m and Mangi f e ra i n d i c a , with Averrhoa bilimbi, Annona r e t i c u l a t a and C o f f e a canephora around t h e f r i n g e s . T e r m i n a l i a woodland : small s t ands of T e r m i n a l i a c a t a p p a growing a t sou thern end of t h e main p l a t e a u with p a r t i a l ground cover of Maranta a r u n d i n a c e a . Sandragon woodland : even-aged s t ands of P t e r o c a r p u s i n d i c a , o r i g i n a l l y p l a n t e d a s suppor t s f o r V a n i l l a p l a n i f o l i a ; t hose on t h e p l e a t e a u inc lude a few A r t o c a r p u s a l t i l i s , T e r m i n a l i a c a t a p p a and T h e s p e s i a p o p u l n e a , whereas t hose up t h e h i l l have occas iona l Anacardium o c c i d e n t a l e . There i s l i t t l e o r no ground cover . Bamboo : Bambusa v u l g a r i s grows down t h e course of t h e main seasonal stream on t h e i s l a n d , with occas iona l F i c u s b e n g h a l e n s i s , Mang i f e ra i n d i c a and A l b i z i a f a l c a t a . L i s t of p l a n t s C o l l e c t o r s ' names and numbers i n t h e fo l lowing l i s t r e f e r t o specimens depos i t ed i n t h e Herbarium of t h e Minis t ry of Agr i cu l tu re , Mahe, Seyche l les . S i g h t r eco rds by Robertson and Todd a r e a l s o i nd i ca t ed . No a t t empt was made t o record a l l t h e ornamental s p e c i e s growing around houses , b u t t hose found f u r t h e r a f i e l d have been included i n t h e l i s t . Commonly-used Creole and Engl i sh names have a l s o been given. ACANTHACEAE A s y s t a s i a g a n g e t i c a (L . ) T. Anders. Robertson 2681 AIZOACEAE G l i n u s o p p o s i t i f o l i u s ( L . ) m. Todd 13 -- Gro Lavervenn AGAVACEAE Agave s i s a l a n a (Pe r r . ex Engl . ) Drum. & Pra in Todd, s i g h t Dracaena a n g u s t i f o l i a Bak. Robertson 26 70 Furcraea f o e t i d a (L. ) Haw. Robertson 2656 AMARANTHACEAE A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L . A l t e r n a n t h e r a sessilis ( L . ) R . B r . P roc t e r 4158 - Robertson 2467, 2715 -- Amaranthus d u b i u s Mart. ex The l l . Todd 15 -- Manz Tou Lalwa, S i s a l Sandel Lalwa , Maur i t ius Hemp Serzan Anbalaz, Bred Malabar Paya te r C y a t h u l a p r o s t r a t a (L . ) B 1 . Robertson 2689 ANACARDIACEAE Anacardi um o c c i d e n t a l e L. Robertson 2666 Mangi fera i n d i c a L. Robertson , s i g h t Todd, s i g h t Spond ias d u l c i s Park. Todd, s i g h t Annona m u r i c a t a L. Todd, s i g h t Annona r e t i c u l a t a L . Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t Annona squamosa L . Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t Cananga o d o r a t a DC. Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t APIACEAE (UMBELLIFERAE) C e n t e l l a a s i a t i c a ( L . ) Urb. Todd, s i g h t Daucus c a r o t a L . Robertson, s i g h t A l s t o n i a macrophy l la Wall. Todd, s i g h t C a t h a r a n t h u s r o s e u s ( L . ) G . Don Todd, s i g h t APOCYNACEAE P l umer ia acuminata A i t . Todd, s i g h t Plumeria rubra L . Todd, s i g h t Kazou , Cashew Mang, Mango F r i s i t e r , Golden Apple Korosol , Sour sop Ker-d-be?, Ox-heart Zat, Custard-Apple Langila , Ylang-Ylang Karot Bwa Zonn Rozarner , Saponer , Madagascar Periwinkle Prensipann , Frangipani Prensipann, Frangipani ARACEAE A1 o c a s i a m a c r o r r h i z a ( L . ) Schott T o d d , s i g h t Caladium bicolor ( ~ r y a n d . ) V e n t . odd, s i g h t C o l o c a s i a e s c u l e n t a (L. ) Schott R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t T o d d , s i g h t ARALIACEAE P o l y s c i a s p i n n a t a J. R . and G. Fors t . T o d d 2 7 -- ARECACEAE (PALMAE ) Areca c a t e c h u L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t T o d d , s i g h t Cocos n u c i f e r a L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t T o d d , s i g h t Lodoicea m a l d i v i c a ( J .F. Gm. ) P e r s . T o d d , s i g h t ASCLEPIADACEAE C a l o t r o p i s p rocera ( A i t . ) A i t - f . R o b e r t s o n 2 7 3 1 C r y p t o s t e g i a g r a n d i f l o r a R . B r . R o b e r t s o n 2 7 3 2 - Sarcostemma v i m i n a l e R . B r . R o b e r t s o n 2 7 4 2 ASTERACEAE (COMF'OS ITAE ) Ageratum c o n y z o i d e s L . T o d d 53 -- L a r o u y , C o c o y a m K o k o P a k , A r e c a P a l m K o k o , C o c o n u t P a l m K o k o - d - M e r , C o c o de M e r L y a n n san Fey E m i l i a s o n c h i f o l i a ( L . ) DC. R o b e r t son 26 44 M e l a n t h e r a b i f l o r a ( L . ) Willd. T o d d 58 -4- S y n e d r e l l a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) G a e r t n . R o b e r t s o n 2 6 7 2 - V e r n o n i a c i n e r e a ( L . ) L e s s . R o b e r t s o n 2 6 7 6 - G e r i v i t B IGNONIACEAE ~ a b e b u i a h e t e r o p h y l l a ( L i n d l . ) Miers T o d d , s i gh t K a l is-d-pap BOMBACACEAE C e i b a p e n t a n d r a (L. ) G a e r t n . T o d d , s igh t L a w e t , K a p o k BORAG INACEAE H e l i o t r o p i u m i n d i c u m L . P r o c t e r 4 2 4 8 - R o b e r t s o n 2 7 3 5 - L e r b P a p i y o n Bwa T a b a T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a L . f . T o d d , s i g h t B r a s s i c a c h i n e n s i s L . T o d d , s i g h t S o u - d - s i n n Kreson, Water C r e s s N a s t u r t i u m o f f i c i n a l e R . B r . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t BROMELIACEAE A n a n a s c o m o s u s ( L . Merr. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t T o d d , s i gh t Z a n a n a , P i n e a p p l y CAPPARIDACEAE C l e o m e v i s c o s a ( L . ) DC . T o d d 20 -- Cleome gynandra L. J e f f r e y 1 1 7 3 Todd , s i g h t CARICACEAE C a r i c a papaya L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t Todd , s i g h t P a p a y , Pawpaw CARYOPHYLLACEAE Drymeria c o r d a t a (L. ) Willd. Todd 1 4 -- CASUARINACEAE Casuar ina e q u i s e t i f o l i a L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t Todd , s i g h t S e d CHRYSOBALANACEAE P r i n n - d - f r a n s , Coco-plum Chrysoba lanus i c a c o L. R o b e r t s o n 2 7 0 0 - Takamaka C a l o p h y l l urn i n o p h y l l um L. Todd s i g h t COMBRETACEAE Lumni t z e r a racemosa Willd. T o d d 3 7 -- T e r m i n a l i a c a t a p p a L. T o d d , s i gh t Badamye, I n d i a n Almond COMMEL INACEAE Commel i n a sp . T o d d , s i g h t L e r b Koson CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea b a t a t a s (L.) Lam. Robertson, s i g h t Ipomoea macrantha Roem. & Schul tes Todd, s i g h t Ipomoea o b s c u r a (L . ) Ker-Gawl Todd 10 -- Ipomoea pes -caprae L . Todd, s i g h t Pa ta t r an Rouz, Beach Morning Glory CUCURBITACEAE Cucumis m e l o L. Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t Cucumis s a t i v u s L. Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t P a t a t , Sweet Po ta to G r o Pa t a t Koven Melon-d-frans, Melon Kokn, Cucumber C u c u r b i t a moschata (Duch. ex Lam.) Duch. ex Poi r . Ziromon , Pumpkin Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t T r i c h o s a n t h e s cucumer ina L . Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t CYPERACEAE C y p e r u s a r o m a t i c u s (Ridl . Mattf. and K&. Robertson 2683 - C y p e r u s c o m p r e s s u s L. Proc ter 4213 -- Robertson 2729 - C y p e r u s d u b i u s Rottb. Proc ter 4161 - Robertson 2661 - C y p e r u s k y l l i n g i a Endl. K y l l i n g a monocephala R o t t b . Robertson 2699 - C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L. P roc te r 4175 - P a t o l , Snake Gourd Lerb Zonyon Lerb Zonyon Lerb Zonyon Lerb Sent l 'Mar i C y p e r u s p o l y s t a c h y o s (Rot tb . ) Beauv. Robertson 2663 C y p e r u s r o t u n d u s L . Robertson 2723 -- F i m b r i s t y l i s complanata (Retz.) Link Robertson 2669 F i m b r i s t y l i s d i cho toma ( L . ) Vahl Robertson 2695 F i m b r i s t y l i s s p a t h a c e a Rottb. Proc ter 4151 Robertson 2643, 2725 -- - Remirea mar i t i m a ( L . ) Aubl . Robertson 2727 E BENACEAE D i o s p y r o s d i s c o l o r Willd. Todd 23 -- - Acalypha i n d i c a L . Robertson 27 16 Euphorbia h i r t a L . Robertson 2641 Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a Lam. J e f f r e y 1179 Robertson 2658 Euphorbia t h y m i f o l i a L . Robertson 2724 Hevea b r a s i l i e n s i s Muell.-Arg. Todd, s i g h t J a t r o p h a c u r c a s L . Robertson 271 1 Manihot e s c u l e n t a Crantz Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t EUPHORBIACEAE P e d i l a n t h u s ti t h y m a l o i d e s (L. ) P o i t . Todd, s i g h t Lerb Zonyon Barb Anri Manbolo Lerb S a t Zan Rober Tangen, Bwa-dile Trenas Kaoutsou; Rubber Piyondenn Manyok , Cassava Bwa Malgas P h y l l a n t h u s amarus Sch. & Thonn. Robertson 2713 P h y l l a n t h u s u r i n a r i a L . Robertson 27 14 - FABACEAE (LEGuMINOSAE) A b r u s p r e c a t o r i u s L . Robertson 2680 - A c a c i a c o n f usa Merr . Proc te r 4172 Adenan t h e r a pavonina L . Todd, s i g h t A l b i z z i a f a l c a t a ( L . ) Book. Todd, s i g h t A l b i z i a lebbeck (L. ) Benth. Robertson 2720 - C a e s a l p i n i a bonduc (L. ) Roxb. Robertson 2738 - C a e s a l p i n i a pul c h e r r i m a ( L . ) Swartz Todd 24 --- C a n a v a l i a cathartics Thonn. Robertson 2649 C a n a v a l i a r o s e a (Sw. ) DC. J e f f r e y 1186 - C a s s i a o c c i d e n t a l i s L. Robertson 2692 Cen t rosema p u b e s c e n s Benth. Robertson 2744 Todd 31 --- C r o t a l a r i a p a l l i d a A i t . P roc t e r 4160 Todd 16 -- C r o t a l a r i a r e t u s a L. Robertson 2684 D e l o n i x r e g i a (Hook. ) Raf . Todd, s i g h t 51 K i r a n e l i Blan K i r a n e l i Rouz Reg l i s Laga t i , Bead Tree Albizya Bwa Nwar Zegret , Pr ide of Barbados Pwa Maron Kaspyant Flanbwayan Desmodium canum (Gm. ) Sch. & Thel l . Robertson 2660 Desmodium t r i f l o r u m (L. ) DC. Robertson 2660 I n d i g o f e r a s u f f r u t i c o s a M i l l . P roc t e r 4173 Robertson 2694 Leucaena 1 eucocepha la (Lam. ) de W i t Todd, s i g h t Mimosa pudica L. Robertson 2698 P i t h e c e l l o b i u m u n g u i s - c a t i (L. ) Benth. Todd 49 -- P t e r o c a r p u s i n d i c u s Willd. Robertson 2737 Sophora tomen tosa L . Robertson 2726 - Tamarindus i n d i c a L . Todd, s i g h t T e p h r o s i a n o c t i f l o r a Boj. ex Baker J e f f r e y 1176 P roc te r 4159 Robertson 2673 Teramnus l a b i a l i s (L. f . ) Spreng. Robertson 2647 GOODENIACEAE Scaevo la s e r i c e a Vahl Robertson 2653 Sansib Kanpe s Sandragon Tamaren, Tamrind Veloutye HERNANDIACEAE Hernandia sonora L. Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t P t i Tref P t i Tref Lendigo Bwa Blan LAMIACEAE (LABIATAE) C o l e u s sp. R o b e r t s o n 2 6 7 5 L e u c a s l a v a n d u l i f o l i a Sm. P r o c t e r 4 1 5 4 R o b e r t s o n 2 6 4 4 Ocimum b a s i l i c u m L . T o d d , s i g h t LAURACEAE C a s s y t h a f i l i f o rmi s L . R o b e r t s o n 2 6 8 2 Cinnamomum z e y l a n i c u m B l u m e R o b e r t s o n 2 6 6 7 L i t s e a g l u t i n o s a ( L a u r . ) C . B . R o b . T o d d 2 1 -- P e r s e a a m e r i c a n a M i l l . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t T o d d , s i g h t LECYTH IDACEAE B a r r i n g t o n i a a s ia t ica (L . ) K u r z R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t T o d d , s i g h t LILIACEAE ( s e n s u l a to ) C r i n u m a m a b i l e Ker -Gawl ? T o d d , s i g h t L y a n n san F e n Kane 1, C i n n a m o n Bwa Zwazo Z a v o k a , A v o c a d o B o n e K a r e L i s MALVAC EAE A b u t i l o n i n d i c u m ( L . ) S w e e t T o d d 2 6 -- 5 3 G r obon L e r b H e r i s o n B l a n c A b u t i l o n m a u r i t i a n u m ( J a c q . ) Medic P r o c t e r 4 1 5 6 -- - T o d d , s i g h t Gossypium hirsutum L. Todd 39 -- Hibiscus abelmoschus L. Todd 2741 -- Hibiscus mutabilis L. Todd, s i g h t Hibiscus tiliaceus L. Todd, s i g h t Sida acuta Burm. f . Robertson 2748, 2691 -- Sida pusilla Cav. J e f f r e y 1180 Todd, s i g h t Sida rhombifolia L. Robertson 2651, 2749 -- Sida stipulata Cav. Robertson 2747 Thespesia populnea (L. ) Sol . ex Correa Todd, s i g h t Urena lobata L. Robertson 2650 Maran ta arundinacea L . Todd 59 -- Lerb D i r Lerb D i r Bwa-d-roz Larourout , Arrowroot MEL IACEAE Melia azederach L. ? Robertson 2690 Swietenia macrophylla Jacq . Todd, s i g h t Xylocarpus granatum Koen. Todd, s i g h t Koton, Cot ton Zanbre t B i s k i s , Hib iscus V a r , Tree Hibiscus Lerb D i r L i l a Mahogany Pasyans, Cinese Puzzle Nut MORACEAE A r t o c a r p u s a1 t i l i s (Park.) Fosb. Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t A r t o c a r p u s a1 t i l i s (Park. ) Fosb. var . Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t A r t o c a r p u s h e t e r o p h y l l u s Lam. Todd, s i g h t F i c u s a v i - a v i B 1 . Todd 28 -- F i c u s benghal e n s i s L. Robertson 2668 F i c u s nau tarum Bak. Todd, s i g h t F i c u s r e f l e x a Thunb. Robertson 26 57 Moringa 01 e i f e r a Lam. Todd, s i g h t Musa spp. Todd, s i g h t E u c a l y p t u s sp . Todd, s i g h t Eugenia j a v a n i c a Lam. Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t Eugenia m a l a c c e n s i s L. Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t P s i d i urn 1 i t t o r a l e Raddi Todd, s i g h t 5 5 Fri-a-pen, Breadfrui t Rima, Breadfrui t Zak, Jackf r u i t P i l t i p l y a n , Banyan Lafous Gran Fey Lafous P t i Fey MORINGACEAE Bred Moronq, Horse Radish.Tree MUSACEAE Banann Sen Zak, Gabou, Minyon, Kare MYRTACEAE K a l i p t i s Zamalak , Java Apple Porn, Pomerac Gouyav (Rouz) , Chinese Guava 5 6 Ps id ium l i t t o r a l e R a d d i va r . l u c i d u m D e g e n e r T o d d , s i g h t ~ o e r h a v i a sp . Jeffrey 1181 T o d d 32 -- B o u g a i n v i l l ea g labra C h o i s y T o d d , s i g h t Ludwigia e r e c t a (L . ) H a r a R o b e r t s o n 2 6 4 8 V a n i l l a mexicana M i l l . T o d d , s i g h t Averrhoa b i l i m b i L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t R o d d , s i g h t O x a l i s c o r n i c u l a t a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 7 1 7 -- Pandanus u t i l i s B o r y T o d d , s i g h t NYCTAGINACEAE ON AGRACEAE P a t a t K o v e n V i l y a L e r b L a m a r L a v a n y , V a n i l l a OXALIDACEAE PASSIFLORACEAE P a s s i f l o r a f o e t i d a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 6 9 7 -- ORCH IDACEAE Pandanus b a l f o u r i i M a r t e T o d d , s i g h t PANDANACEAE 11 i G o u y a v ( Z o n n ) V a k w a - d - r ivyer V a k w a Sak P o k - p o k , B o n b o n P l i m PEPEROMIACEAE P e p e r o m i a p e l 1 u c i d a (L . ) HBK. J e f f r e y 11 74 Todd 51 -- POACEAE (GRAMINEAE) A x o n o p u s c o m p r e s s u s (L . ) P . Beauv. Robertson 2665 Bambusa v u l g a r i s Schrad. Todd 11 -- Chloris b a r b a t a Sw. Robertson 2739 --- Coix l a c h r y m a - j o b i L. Todd 54 -- C y n o d o n d a c t y l o n (L. ) Pers . P roc t e r 4157 4250 ' - D a c t y l c c t e n i u m c t e n o i d e s (Steud. ) Bosser Robertson 2722 D e n d r o c a l a m u s g i g a n t e u s Munro ? Robertson 2749a -- Todd 18 -- D i g i t a r i a h o r i z o n t a l i s Willd. Robertson 2685 D i g i t a r i a t i m o r e n s i s (Kunth. ) Bal . Proc t e r 41 70 E l e u s i n e i n d i c a (L. ) Gaertn . Robertson 2696 E n t e r o p o g o n s e c h e l l e n s i s (Bak. ) Dur. and Schinz Robertson 2466 ~ r a g r o s t i s c i l i a r i s ( L . ) R . B r . P roc t e r 4169 ~ r a g r o s t i s t e n e l l a (L. ) Beauv. va r . i n s u l a r i s Hubb. Robertson 2743 5 7 Lerb Glase Banbou Zob, J o b ' s Tears Gazon Sovaz Lerb Touloulou Banbou Zean Gazon Lave Pat-d-poul Lerb D i r i Lerb Tou te re l L e p t u r u s r a d i c a n s (S t eud . ) Camus J e f f r e y 1182 Panicum b r e v i f o l i u m L . Robertson 2640 Panicum maximum L . J e f f r e y 11 75 Robertson 2686 Panicum subquadr iparum Trin . Robertson 2719 Panicum sp. nea r umbe l la tum Trin . P r o c t e r 4153 Robertson 2693 Paspal i d i urn geminatum (Forsk . ) Stapf P r o c t e r 4174 Robertson 2645 Paspalum con jugatum Berg. Robertson 2671 Paspal urn s c r o b i c u l a t um L . P r o c t e r 4171 Robertson 2664 P e n n i s e t u m pol y s t a c h y o n (L . ) Schul t . Robertson 2688 Penn i se tum purpureum Schum. Todd, s i g h t Saccharum o f f i c i n a r u m L . Todd, s i g h t S e t a r i a b a r b a t a (Lam. ) Kunth P roc t e r 4162 Robertson 2642 Sporobo l u s v i r g i n i c u s (L . ) Kunth P roc t e r 4150 Robertson 2740 S teno taphrum d i m i d i a t u m (L. ) Bronqn. Robertson 2679 Gazon banbou Fatak Ma Tant Lerb Le te fan Kann, Sugar Cane Lerb Banbou V e t i v e r i a z i z a n i o d e s (L. ) Nash Robertson 2734 POLYPODIACEAE ( s e n s u l a to ) A c r o s t i c h u m a u r e u m L . T o d d , s i g h t F o u z e r M a n g l y e F o u z e r T a b a N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a ( S w a r t z ) S c h o t t R o b e r t s o n 2 6 7 4 P i t y rogramma c a l o m e l a n o s (L . ) L i n k T o d d , 1 2 , 1 9 - - - K a p i l e r P o l y p o d i um scol o p e n d r i a Burm. f . T o d d 5 6 -- V i t t a r i a e n s i f o r m i s L . T o d d , s i g h t PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 7 2 8 - K o u r p y e P S ILOTAC EAE P s i l o t u r n c o m p l a n a t u m Sw. R o b e r t s o n 2 7 4 5 P t i S e d RHAMNACE AE C o l u b r i n a a s i a t i c a ( L . ) B r o n g . T o d d , s i g h t Bwa S a v a n RUBIACEAE C o f f e a c a n e p h o r a P i e r r e ex F r b h n e r R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t T o d d , s i g h t K a f e , R o b u s t a C o f f e e Bwa K a s e G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L . T o d d , s i g h t H e d y o t i s c o r y m b o s a L . J e f f r e y 1 1 8 3 P r o c t e r 4 1 6 6 R o b e r t s o n 2736 H e d y o t i s m a c r o p h y l l a DC. J e f f r e y 1 1 7 7 -- - Todd 3 0 -- M i t r a c a r p u m vert ici l l a t um Vatke Robertson 2662 Morinda c i t r i f o l i a L . Robertson 2659 RUTACEAE C i t r u s a w r a n t i i f o l i a (Christm. ) Swing. Todd, s i g h t C i t r u s a u r a n t i u m L . Todd, s i g h t C i t r u s h y s t r i x DC Todd, s i g h t C i t r u s l i m o n ( L . ) Burm-f. Todd, s i g h t C i t r u s p a r a d i s i Mac f . Todd, s i g h t C i t r u s r e t i c u l a t a Blanco Todd, s i g h t C i t r u s s inensis ( L . ) Osbeck Todd, s i g h t Zoranz Mozarnbik, Bigarad, Gro Bogarad, S e v i l l e Orange S t r i g a a s i a t i c a L. Procter 4163 Robertson 2733 C a p s i c u m annuum L. Robertson, s i g h t Bwa T o r t i Limon, L i m e SAPINDACEAE C a r d i o s p e r m u m ha1 i c a c a b u m L . Robertson 2468 SCROPHULARIACEAE S c o p a r i a d u l c i s L. Robertson 2712 SOLANACEAE Kavava S i t ron , Lemon Panplemous, Grapefrui t Mandarinn , Tangerine Zoranz Po Finn, Sweet Orange Lerb Dife, Lerb D i r i Piman Salad, Sweet Pepper Capsicum f r u t e s c e n s L . Todd, s i g h t Datura m e t e l L . Robertson 2730 P h y s a l i s pe ruv iana L. Todd, s i g h t Solanum i n d i c u m L. Todd, s i g h t Solanum 1 ycopers i cum L . Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t S o l a n um me1 ongena L . Robertson, s i g h t Todd, s i g h t Solanum n igrum L. P roc t e r 4149 Robertson 2718 H e r i t i e r a l i t t o r a l i s A i t . Todd, s i g h t S t r y c h n o s s p i n o s a Lam. Robertson 2646 STERCULIACEAE STRYCHNACEAE TILL IACEAE T r i u m f e t t a rhomboidea Jacq. P roc t e r 4168 Robertson 2677 TURNERACEAE Turnera u l m i f o l i a L . 6 1 Piman, C h i l l i e F l e r Pwazon Brenzel maron Tomat, Pomdamou, Tomato Brenzel , Eggplant Bred Marten Kalbasye Koket Robertson 2654 VERBETJACEAE L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) Michx. Todd 47 -- Premna o b t u s i f o l i a R . B r . Robertson 2655 S t a c h y t a r p h e t a i n d i c a (L . ) Vahl Robertson 2678 S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s ( L . ) Vahl Robertson 2687 T e c t o n a g r a n d i s L . Todd, s i g h t Bwa S i r o Zepi Ble Zepi Ble Tek, Teak V i t e x t r i f o l i a L. Todd, s i g h t Acknowledgements We should l i k e t o exp re s s our thanks t o t h e owner and management of ~ r g g a t e I s l a n d f o r a l lowing u s t o s t a y on t h e i s l a n d and t o c o l l e c t p l a n t s ; t o ICBP f o r t h e i r suppor t ; t o t h e P r i n c i p a l Sec re t a ry , Ministry of Agr i cu l tu re , f o r a l lowing u s t o use t h e Herbarium; t o t h e D i r ec to r of Kew and h i s s t a f f f o r v e r i f y i n g i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s ; t o Guy Lionnet f o r he lp ing u s with l o c a l names of p l a n t s and f o r a s s i s t i n g with t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e h i s t o r y of t h e i s l a n d . References Fauvel , A . A. (1909) U n p u b l i s h e d documen t s o n the h i s t o r y o f the S e y c h e l l e s I s l a n d s p r i o r t o 1810 . Govt. P r i n t i n g Of f i ce , Seyche l les . ~ u g r a r d . P.-J. (1891) S e p t a n n g e s a u x S e y c h e l l e s . S t ~ a l g r y - s u r - Sornrne: Kober. Lionnet , G. (undated) A short h i s t o r y o f S e y c h e l l e s . ~ a h 6 , Seyche l les . P i g g o t t , C . J. (1968) A s o i l survey of Sey.chelles. Tech. B u l l . No. 2, Land Resources D iv i s ion , D i r e c t o r a t e of Overseas Surveys, Tolworth. P ike , L. (1872) A v i s i t t o t h e Seyche l les . T r a n s . R . S o c . A r t s S c i . , Maur. 6 , 83-142. Watson, J. (1978) The Seyche l les Magpie Robin (Copsychus sechel larum) . WWF P r o j e c t 1590. F i n a l Report 1 ( a ) . Typescr ip t . Wright, P. (1868) S i x months a t the S e y c h e l l e s . L e t t e r t o A . S e a r l e H a r t . P r i v a t e l y p r i n t e d , Dublin. 4. BIOLOGICAL HISTORY OF AGALEGA, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BIRDS AND OTHER LAND VERTEBRATES. by A.S. Cheke and J . C . Lawley I n t r o d u c t i o n The twin i s l a n d s o f Agalega l i e a t 10?25 'S, 56'40'E i n t h e wes te rn I n d i a n Ocean, a b o u t 560 km s o u t h o f ~ a h 6 ( S e y c h e l l e s ) , 990 km n o r t h of M a u r i t i u s and 700 km e a s t - n o r t h - e a s t o f Diego Suarez (Madagascar) . They were d i s c o v e r e d i n 1509 by t h e Por tuguese Diego Lopez d e S e q u i e r a ( S c o t t 1 9 6 1 ) , and f i r s t appeared on a map i n 1517, l a b e l l e d I l h a do Gale (Fauvel 1909) . S c o t t ' s book, L i m u r i a , is t h e o n l y comprehensive h i s t o r y of t h e e x p l o r a t i o n and s e t t l e m e n t o f Agalega, though t h e impor tan t compi la t ion by Leduc ( 1 8 4 8 ) , and t h e books o f L ionne t (1924) and Dusse rc le (1949) a r e a l s o u s e f u l . S c o t t took p a i n s t o l a y t o r e s t v a r i o u s e a r l i e r t h e o r i e s a s t o t h e d i s c o v e r e r , d i s c o v e r y d a t e , and o r i g i n o f t h e i s l a n d s ' name. The o f t e n a c c e p t e d a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h ' G a l e g o ' , nickname of t h e mar iner J O ~ O (=Juan) de Nova, a p p e a r s t o be i n v a l i d a t e d , a s t h e a c t u a l account o f t h e d i s c o v e r y e x p l a i n s how t h e long low i s l a n d s were nicknamed B a i x o s d o G a l e ( G a l i a s s Banks - a g a l i a s s be ing a long low s a i l i n g g a l l e y ) ( S c o t t , 1961 ) . A f t e r two c e n t u r i e s of o b s c u r i t y , Agalega was r e d i s c o v e r e d by t h e French s h i p R u b i s i n 1758 ( S c o t t 1961) . Fauve l (1909) c r e d i t e d t h e r e d i s c o v e r y t o t h e C h a r l e and t h e E l i s a b e t h i n 1742, b u t S c o t t c o n s i d e r e d t h e i r i t i n e r a r y ve ry d o u b t f u l ) . The i s l a n d s became a dependency o f t h e t h e n I l e de France , and remain t o t h i s day p a r t o f t h e S t a t e of M a u r i t i u s . The i s l a n d was c o l o n i s e d from M a u r i t i u s i n 1808 ( S c o t t 1961) . Agalega i s c u r r e n t l y run by t h e Outer I s l a n d s C o r p o r a t i o n , a consor t ium of government and commercial i n t e r e s t , r e p r e s e n t e d by a Manager, who a p a r t from e x p l o i t i n g t h e c o p r a , h a s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and j u d i c i a l powers a s government r e p r e s e n t a t i v e . There a r e however p e r i o d i c v i s i t s by p o l i c e and j u d i c i a l o f f i c e r s t h r e e t i m e s a y e a r when A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n No. 273: 65-108, 1983. Tappe a Terre .TROMELIN ADAGASCAR 0 M A U R I T I U S OREUNION - \ , '' La passe+ \ , Gangaram S O U T H I S L 5 A N D P l a ~ n e Feu11 I ( h)erade Pte Tal l levent - I Cap La Dtgue ?igure 5. Agalega t h e t r a d i n g v e s s e l Mauri t ius c a l l s , and much i s l e f t over t o await t hese v i s i t s . The only o t h e r v i s i t s a r e those of yachts s a i l i n g i n t h e Indian Ocean. The human popula t ion , around 425 i n 1961, had f a l l e n t o 200 by 1974 (L'Express, Maur i t ius , 7.7.741, and f u r t h e r t o about 150 i n 1978. History of exp lo ra t ion and study Of a l l the i s l a n d s i n t he western Indian Ocean, Agalega has been t h e most neglec ted by s c i e n t i s t s . There has never been a f u l l geologica l survey, and n e i t h e r t he Percy Sladen Expedit ions ( e a r l y 1900s) nor any sh ip of t he I n t e r n a t i o n a l Indian Ocean Expedition (1963-4) ever went t h e r e . The only b i r d l i s t previous ly publ ished d a t e s from the 1830s (Leduc 1848; o f t e n r e p r i n t e d , e . g . Watson, Zusi & S t o r e r 1963) , and l ikewise the only l i s t of p l a n t s (Bojer 1835). Auguste Leduc's c o l l e c t i o n s of molluscs and cryptogams remain the only s i g n i f i c a n t ones from the i s l a n d s (Poisson 1954, Montagne 1841). No adequate map e x i s t s , and no a e r i a l photographs have been flown (search by Cheke i n both the Mauri t ius Survey Department and the UK Minis try of Defence). Af te r t he a c t i v i t y of the 1830s it was a century before the i s l a n d s were aga in v i s i t e d by a s c i e n t i s t , R iva l t z Dupont i n 1934, Since then v i s i t s have been somewhat more f requent a l though very l i t t l e has been publ ished. The gaps can p a r t l y be f i l l e d from i n c i d e n t a l observa t ions by o t h e r , non - sc i en t i f i c , v i s i t o r s ; f o r such a l i t t l e f requented i s l a n d t h e i r con t r ibu t ion i s s u b s t a n t i a l . A l l sources from which we have taken b i o l o g i c a l information a r e l i s t e d i n Table 1 . Contact with Agalega was i n i t i a l l y from Mauri t ius , and l a t e r a l s o with the Seychel les ( S c o t t 1961). I t i s no t c l e a r a t what time connect ions with the l a t t e r became r e g u l a r , b u t probably before 1830 t o judge by the presence of a coco-de-mer (Lodoicea) nu t on the Bojer-Leduc l i s t (Leduc 1848; a c o l l e c t i o n of o b j e c t s from Agalega: see below, under Bi rds , f o r d a t i n g ) . B r i t i s h naval v e s s e l s , on Indian Ocean p a t r o l s t o prevent i l l e g a l s l ave t r a d i n g i n t he ~ e y c h e l l e s , c a l l e d r e g u l a r l y i n the e a r l y 1830s (Lionnet 1924, S c o t t 1961) , and merchant c a p t a i n F. ~ i g n a r d was c o l l e c t i n g i n t he Seychel les and Agalega i n t h e 1830s ( see Rappzrts Annuels and ~ r o c . 6 ~ - v e r b a u x of t he ~ o c i 6 t 6 d l H i s t o i r e Na tu re l l e de 1 ' I l e Maurice) . There i s no evidence of any d i r e c t c o n t a c t a t any time with v gun ion o r Madagascar, b u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t he i s l a n d s were known t o and used by 17th and 18th century p i r a t e s cannot be ru l ed o u t , though no t r a c e s have been r epor t ed . In an e a r l i e r paper Cheke (1975) s t a t e d t h a t he and John P roc te r were prepar ing f o r pub l i ca t ion a review of the l i t e r a t u r e , a d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of t he i s l a n d s , and a survey of t he p re sen t d i s t r i b u t i o n of p l a n t s and animals . John P r o c t e r ' s dea th (Oryx 15:129 (1979)) has most un fo r tuna te ly removed the d e t a i l e d bo tan ica l element of t h i s review: he was going t o wr i t e up the f l o r a i n f u l l , using t h e unpublished c o l l e c t i o n s of Dupont, Mamet and ~ i e h 6 a s wel l a s h i s own specimens and no te s . I t i s t o be hoped t h a t h i s MSS w i l l be depos i ted i n a p lace a c c e s s i b l e t o f u t u r e s tuden t s of Agalegan botany. We only in tend here t o g ive a very gene ra l survey of t h e vege t a t i on and i t s h i s t o r y , while Fosberg e t d l . ( t h i s i s s u e ) have compiled a p l a n t l i s t t o appear a t t h e same time . S c i e n t i f i c names used i n t h i s paper fo l low Fosberg e t a l . ( t h i s i s s u e : p l a n t s ) , Morony, Bock & Farrand (1375: b i r d s ) , Wermuth & Mertens (1977: Chelonians) , Cheke ( i n p r e s s a: l i z a r d s ) and Mamet (1978: i n s e c t s ) . Local names a r e those recorded by u s ( b u t s e e Bai ley 1971 and Cheke 1982a) . We have throughout s p e l t t h e name of t h e i s l a n d s ' f i r s t c o l o n i s t a s he s p e l t it himself i n h i s r e p o r t (Rozemont 1809) , n o t ' de Rosemond' a s w r i t t e n by many o t h e r au tho r s . Geological His tory Some n o t e s on t h e s t r u c t u r e and o r i g i n of Agalega have been publ i shed by Leduc (1841) and DUpOnt (1936) , b u t t h e r e has been no formal survey. Leduc, who knew t h e i s l a n d before man had s e r i o u s l y a l t e r e d t h e vege t a t i on , argued t h a t t h e land su r f ace had only been emerged some 600 y e a r s ( i . e . s i n c e ca.1200-1250). He based h i s evidence p r imar i l y on t h e apparen t age of t r e e s and t h e i r d i s t ance from t h e shore - assuming t h e f i r s t seeds were washed up and each genera t ion was a b l e t o move f u r t h e r i n l and only a t a l i m i t e d r a t e . S c o t t (1961) supported h i s view on t h e grounds t h a t t h e Portuguese o r i g i n a l l y termed Agalega a bank (ba ixos) r a t h e r than an i s l a n d , sugges t ing , according t o him, t h a t t h e r e may have been l i t t l e o r no vege t a t i on i n t h e e a r l y 1500s. Without s t r a t i g r a p h i c evidence t h e r e seems no way of eva lua t ing t h e s e t h e o r i e s , b u t one can confirm from i ts landform t h a t Agalega is of r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t formation. The t o t a l absence of l and b i r d s be fo re human c o l o n i s a t i o n (Rozemont 1809) sugges t s t h e same, a s does t h e r e l a t i v e l y undeveloped s t age of t he n a t i v e vege t a t i on (Bojer 1835) . Agalega (F igure 5 ) c o n s i s t s of two low-lying i s l a n d s of conso l i - da t ed c o r a l d e b r i s ( p l a t i n ) s epa ra t ed by a 1 .5 km c o r a l l i f e r o u s channel n e a r l y dry a t low t i d e . F igures f o r t h e s i z e of t h e i s l a n d s given t h e l i t e r a t u r e vary enormously. Those given here a r e taken by d i r e c t measurement from Admiralty Chart No.1881 (1963 p r i n t i n g ) , and a r e s l i g h t l y l a r g e r than those p rev ious ly quoted by Cheke (19751, which were taken from a d e r i v a t i v e map. Lionnet (1924) claimed t h a t t h e then c u r r e n t Admiralty Chart (No.2299) showed North I s l a n d a s much t o o long and narrow, and himself gave a map showing a s t o u t e r shape, perhaps based on ~ o u f f 6 (191 3) . Mamet (1978) , without g iv ing sources , gave i n t he t e x t t h e t o t a l l and a r e a a s 44 sq-km, over double t h e value we obta ined from t h e c u r r e n t Admiralty Char t ; l i kewi se h i s f i g u r e f o r t h e maximum width of North I s l a n d i s 2.4 km, a s a g a i n s t 1.6 km; measurements taken from h i s map, however, agree with ours . Note t h a t Renvoize ( 1975) , i n a paper comparing t h e f l o r a s of Indian Ocean c o r a l i s l a n d s , gave t h e l and a r e a a s only 4 sq.km; h i s f i g u r e f o r t h e number of p l a n t s recorded was a l s o t o o small by an o rde r of magnitude. On t h e c h a r t North I s l a n d i s long and narrow, 12.4 km by 1.6 km, while South I s l a n d is pear-shaped, measuring 6.6 km by 3.6 km. The Table 1. S c i e n t i f i c s t u d i e s a t Agalega Date 1758 1823, December 1824 1824 1831, February 1835, Apr.-Jun. 1837, June 1838, June V i s i t o r and s tudy I s l a n d s i g h t e d by t h e Pubis , co-ord ina tes e s t a b l i s h e d . De Richery (on t h e ~ a r g c h a l de C a s t r i e s ) . Vegetation descr ibed from o f f sho re . Ships s e n t i n search of t o r t o i s e s . Unsuccessful a t tempts a t s e t t l emen t . C a i l l o u (de) Rozemont. General obse rva t ions ; survey of coconuts and a g r i c u l t u r a l p o t e n t i a l . C.T. Hilsenberg. Brief b o t a n i c a l and zoologica l no tes . Remarks on coconut c u l t i v a t i o n . Anon. ( 'A-Lec. . . I ) . General remarks. Werner & C.T. Hoart . General remarks and a g r i c u l t u r a l observa t ions . Also a map surveyed by Hoart . Auguste Leduc. Observations on vege t a t i on , growth r a t e s of t r e e s ; c o l l e c t i o n s of b i r d s , i n v e r t e b r a t e s , p l a n t s ; no t e s on human ecology i n t h e i s l a n d s , e t c . Capt. T r o t t e r (on H.M.S. Cur lew)col lec ted an i b i s . Wencelaus Bojer . Complete p l a n t l i s t . Notes on b i r d s , game. Capt. Laplace (on 11drt6mise). General remarks. C . Anderson. General remarks; b i r d s , game a g r i c u l t u r e . Reference Fauvel (1909, Dussercle ( 1949) S c o t t ( 1961 Leduc ( 1848) , ~ r o b e r v i l l e ( 1848) , Dussercle ( 1949) F r o b e r v i l l e (18481, Dussercle (1949) Leduc (1848) , Dussercle (1949) Rozemont (1809) , Dussercle (1949) Hilsenberg ( 1823) Anon (1828) , Leduc (1848) Werner (1824); Toussaint & Adolphe (1956) f o r map d e t a i l s . Des ja rd ins (18311, Leduc (1841) , Montagne (18411, Leduc (1848) , Lionnet (1924) , Dussercle (1949) , Poisson (1953) , S c o t t (1961) e t c . Des ja rd ins ( 1832) Table 1 cont inued: 1842 ca . 1875 1883 1889 1889-1903 1891, September 1893 1912-13 1955, May 1955, September Capt. ~ i 6 n a r d brought a l i v i n g t o r t u e t o Maur i t ius . Feu i l l e rhade . Col lec ted b i r d s ' eggs. I. Dupont. General remarks. A . Boucherat. General remarks; b i r d s , game, a g r i c u l t u r e . G . Lionnet . General remarks; b i r d s , game, coconut c r abs , r a t s , a g r i c u l t u r e ( h i s book a l s o con ta in s more r e c e n t information from o t h e r sources ; Dussercle (1948: 51) g ives L ionne t ' s d a t e s ) . Math i lde wrecked; r a t s introduced. Gabr ie l Lincoln. General remarks; b i r d s , game. G. ~ o u f f 6 . Agr i cu l tu re ( h i s r e p o r t con ta in s t h e only reasonable map of t h e i n t e r i o r of t h e i s l a n d s ) R iva l t z Dupont. Topographical obse rva t ions and gene ra l remarks. P l a n t s c o l l e c t e d (now i n Maur i t ius Herbarium, ~ g d u i t ) . Roger Dussercle . General remarks; b i r d s , r a t s , a g r i c u l t u r e . Raymond Mamet. I n s e c t s and p l a n t s c o l l e c t e d ( l a t t e r preserved i n t he Maur i t ius Herbarium). S i r Robert S c o t t . General remarks, b i r d s , game, a g r i c u l t u r e . Octave Wiehe. P l a ~ t s c o l l e c t e d ( i n Maur i t ius Herbarium) Bouton Newton Dupont ( 188 3 ) Boucherat ( 1890) Lionnet (1924) , ~ u s s e r c l e (1949) Lincoln (1893) , Lionnet (1924) ~ o u f f 6 (1913) Dupont ( 1936) Dussercle ( Mamet ( 1 9 78 S c o t t (1961) - Table 1 con t inued : 1972, A p r i l 1976, J u l y 19-20 1978, November 5-6 John P r o c t e r . P l a n t s c o l l e c t e d ( d u p l i c a t e s a r e - i n t h e Maur i t i u s Herbarium; l o c a t i o n o f main c o l l e c t i o n unknown). Probably a l s o gene ra l f a u n a l no t e s . Anthony Cheke. B i rd s ; l i z a r d s c o l l e c t e d ; gene ra l Cheke (1865, 1982a,b) ; This r e p o r t . ob se rva t i ons on v e g e t a t i o n and o t h e r fauna . D.R. S todda r t and M . J . Coe. Geology and f l o r a . Fosberg, Sache t & Stodda r t , t h i s i s s u e . Jonathan Lawley. B i rd s ; l i z a r d s c o l l e c t e d . Th is r e p o r t ; Cheke 198213 1 . Bojer wrote numerous pape r s i n which Agalegan p l a n t s are mentioned; s e e Vaughan (1958) f o r a f u l l b ib l i og raphy . t o t a l l a n d a r e a i s 21 sq.km (North I s l a n d : 11 .7 , South I s l a n d : 9 . 3 ; map t r a c i n g s c u t o u t and weighed) . The two i s l a n d s a r e su r rounded by a f r i n g i n g r e e f e n c l o s i n g a v e r y narrow lagoon (25-100 m wide) w i t h no n a t u r a l p a s s e s . A t t h e c u r r e n t l a n d i n g p l a c e , P o r t S t . James (Nor th I s l a n d ) , t h e r e e f comes t o w i t h i n a few m e t r e s o f t h e s h o r e , and a p a s s h a s been b l a s t e d o u t . The s i z e and s t r u c t u r e o f Agalega a p p e a r s t o be comparable w i t h t h a t o f ~ o e t i v ~ , 315 km t o t h e n o r t h , d i s c u s s e d by G a r d i n e r & Cooper ( 1 9 0 7 ) . k g e l e g a a p p e a r s however t o be o f younger fo rmat ion t h a n c o e t i v y , which h a s a s h a l l o w s h e l f t o t h e west and a broken f r i n g i n g r e e f . I n s i d e t h e lagoon t h e i s l a n d s a r e bounded th roughout by a sandy beach abou t 20-30 m wide , a few f e e t h i g h e r above s e a l e v e l than t h e i n t e r i o r , and v e g e t a t e d on t h e i n l a n d s i d e . A t t h e s o u t h - e a s t of South I s l a n d t h e r e a r e c o a s t a l dunes (Grande Montagne) r i s i n g t o some 7 m o r s o i n h e i g h t , and h i g h e r ones (Montagne dlErnrnerez; 15 m accord- i n g t o Dusse rc le ( 1 9 4 9 ) ) towards t h e n o r t h - e a s t of North I s l a n d . I n l a n d of t h e beach and dunes i s v e r y f l a t t e r r a i n composed o f c o n s o l i - d a t e d c o r a l sand ( p l a t i n ) w i t h a sandy s u r f a c e , o r , i n c e r t a i n a r e a s , s o i l . Depress ions f i l l w i t h wa te r d u r i n g t h e r a i n y s e a s o n , e s p e c i a l l y t h e l a r g e a r e a i n t h e c e n t r e of South I s l a n d where t h e c o c o n u t s ( s e e below) a r e d e n s e s t . Dupont (1936) c o n s i d e r e d t h i s a r e a t o be below s e a l e v e l . There i s permanent wa te r ( b r a c k i s h ) a t B a s s i n Capucin (Nor th I s l a n d ; P a t e 1 1974) and ( f r e s h ) i n t h e d i t c h e s su r round ing t h e company's ga rden a t S t e . R i t a (South I s l a n d ) . S u p e r f i c i a l phospha te rock a s s o c i a t e d w i t h P i s o n i a g r a n d i s o c c u r s n e a r t h e n o r t h end o f North I s l a n d a s a t y p i c a l Jemo S e r i e s cemented l a y e r . Guano h a s been i n t e r m i t t e n t l y e x p o r t e d from Agalega on a s m a l l s c a l e . According t o t h e Annual R e p o r t s of t h e Customs ( l a t e r Customs and E x c i s e ) Department, M a u r i t i u s , t h i s amounted t o 4 t o n s i n 1934, 350 t o n s i n 1935, 385 t o n s i n 1936, 235 t o n s i n 1937, 366 t o n s i n 1938, 50 t o n s i n 1947 and 465 t o n s i n 1952, a t o t a l of 1855 t o n s . L i n c o l n (1939) gave t h e f o l l o w i n g phosphate d e t e r m i n a t i o n s , q u o t e d by Hutchinson (1950, p . 294) : 29.5% P205, of which 28.9% is s o l u b l e i n n e u t r a l c i t r a t e and 74.5% i n 2% H N 0 3 25.8% P205, o f which 27.6% i s s o l u b l e i n n e u t r a l c i t r a t e and 58.9% i n 2% H N 0 3 24.5% P2O5, of which 23.3% i s s o l u b l e i n n e u t r a l c i t r a t e and 63 .6% i n 2% HN03. A sample of t h e cemented l a y e r c o l l e c t e d by D.R. S t o d d a r t i n 1976 h a s been a n a l y s e d by X-ray f l u o r e s c e n c e , and g i v e s t h e f o l l o w i n g compos i t ion ( S t o d d a r t and S c o f f i n 1983, p . 370) : SiO A1,0, Fe, 0, MgO CaO Na, 0 K, 0 TiO, MnO P, O s T o t a l C l i m a t e A m e t e o r o l o g i c a l s t a t i o n h a s been m a i n t a i n e d on Sou th I s l a n d f o r some y e a r s , a n d r a i n f a l l d a t a are p u b l i s h e d i n M e t e o r o l o g i c a l Observa- t i o n s a n d C l i m a t i c Summaries f o r M a u r i t i u s . A s c a t t e r d i ag ram o f monthly r a i n f a l l s f o r t h e p e r i o d 1947-1966 w a s p r o v i d e d by S t o d d a r t (1971a1, a n d t h i s i s r e v i s e d w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f d a t a f o r t h e y e a r s 1967-1971 i n F i g u r e 6 . The a v e r a g e a n n u a l t o t a l f o r t h e 25 y e a r s o f a v a i l a b l e d a t a i s 1706 mrn, w i t h e x t r e m e s o f 2458 mm i n 1951 a n d 1290 mm i n 1956 (Tab le 2 ) . Most r a i n f a l l s d u r i n g t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e h o t s e a s o n (December-February) b u t it c o n t i n u e s w e t t h r o u g h May. Agalega i s a b o u t a t t h e s o u t h e r n l i m i t o f t h e Nor thwes t Monsoon, e x p e r i e n c i n g v a r i a b l e b u t o f t e n n o r t h e r l y winds ( b r i n g i n g t h e r a i n ) from November t o A p r i l . Dur ing l a t e May t o Oc tobe r t h e d r i e r S o u t h e a s t T r a d e s domina te t h e w e a t h e r . Agalega l i e s j u s t w i t h i n t h e zone o f t r o p i c a l s t o r m s ; c y c l o n e s are i r r e g u l a r , b u t c a n b e j u s t as d e v a s t a t i n g as t h o s e f u r t h e r s o u t h . Al though t h e r e was o n l y one b a d c y c l o n e d u r i n g t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y ( i n 1833: L i o n n e t 19241, t h e r e have been f i v e s e v e r e s t o r m s s i n c e 1900, i n 1911, 1922, 1933, 1950 a n d 1952 ( D u s s e r c l e 1949, S c o t t 1961, c o n t r a M a m e t 1 9 7 8 ) . I n t h e p e r i o d 1939-1970 t h r e e weaker s t o r m s a l s o p a s s e d o v e r t h e i s l a n d a n d a n o t h e r e l e v e n p a s s e d c l o s e by (Davy 1 9 7 1 ) . F o r a n a c c o u n t o f t h e c l i m a t e o f A g a l e g a , see Newnham ( 1 9 4 9 ) . V e g e t a t i o n a n d a g r i c u l t u r e -- The ea r l i e s t a c c o u n t o f t h e v e g e t a t i o n , g i v e n by d e R i c h e r y on t h e ~ a r 6 c h a l d e C a s t r i e s i n 1785, d e s c r i b e d t h e i s l a n d f rom c l o s e i n s h o r e : " t h e s h o r e s a p 2 e a r e d t o be c o v e r e d w i t h a lawn o f a t t r a c t i v e g r e e n ; a t a v e r y s h o r t d i s t a n c e i n l a n d it was e a s y t o d i s t i n g u i s h a f o r e s t o f c o c o n u t pa lms l a d e n w i t h n u t s ..." ( F r o b e r v i l l e 1848, D u s s e r c l e 1949; Cheke' s t r a n s l a t i o n ) . Rozemont (1809) s p e n t e i g h t months on t h e i s l a n d when o n l y a h a n d f u l o f u n s u c c e s s f u l a t t e m p t s t o s e t t l e had been made ( S c o t t 1961) a n d had p re sumab ly n o t a l t e r e d t h e v e g e t a t i o n . H e d e s c r i b e d t h e v e g e t a t i o n a s f o l l o w s : "These i s l a n d s a p p e a r a t f i r s t s i g h t t o be c o v e r e d i n c o c o n u t pa lms , b u t t h e y a r e i n f a c t n o t s o , e x c e p t down t h e m i d d l e i n a s t r i p t h a t f o l l o w s t h e i r [ t h e i s l a n d s ' ] d i r e c t i o n a n d which o c c u p i e s o n l y 3/4 o f t h e i r l e n g t h [ D u s s e r c l e (1849) h a s "2 /5" ] . The re e x i s t s i n t h e s e i s l a n d s o n l y one k i n d o f spongy wood, o f t h e v a r i e t y o f bois b l a n c [Hernand ia s o n o r a ] ; it grows amongst t h e c o c o n u t s b u t n o t e l s e w h e r e . One a l s o f i n d s t h e r e a s p e c i e s o f f a l s e badamie r [ ? G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a ; badamie r i s T e r m i n a l i a c a t a p p a l which grow h i g h enough b u t which d o n o t become t h i c k . A l l t h e s e t r e e s are w o r t h l e s s wood a n d can o n l y s e r v e f o r making w a t t l e h u t s . The o t h e r trees are mapoux [ P i s o n i a g r a n d i s ] a n d v e l o u t i e r s [ T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a a n d S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a 1 . ... There i s o n l y o n e k i n d o f g r a s s , a n a s t y l i t t l e Bermuda-grass [ " c h i e n d e n t " ] which grows i n t h e r a i n y s e a s o n a n d which d i s a p p e a r s c o m p l e t e l y when it i s d r y . The s p i n y Bermuda-grass [ ?S teno taphrum s p . ] t h a t w e have h e r e ( a t t h e I s l e o f F r a n c e [ = M a u r i t i u s ] ) grows t h e r e t o o . ' ' (Rozemont 1809, D u s s e r c l e 1949; C h e k e ' s t r a n s l a t i o n ) . J F M A M J J A S O N D Figure 6. Monthly rainfall on Agalega 1957-1971 T a b l e 2 . Tempera tu re a n d r a i n f a l l a t Agalega - - - - - - - Oct Nov Dec J a n Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug Sep - - - Year Average t e m p e r a t u r e "cl 2 7 . 3 2 7 . 3 2 7 . 6 2 7 . 5 2 6 . 9 25 .7 25 .0 2 4 . 9 2 5 . 3 2 5 . 9 26 .6 2 7 . 1 2 6 . 4 Average r a i n f a l l rnrn 256 204 1 6 3 160 146 9 6 1 1 3 7 2 8 2 1 0 8 110 1 9 8 1706 Maximum r a i n f a l l Minimum r a i n f a l l Number o f r a i n y d a y s ( > I mm) 17 17 1 5 14 1 3 1 3 1 5 12 1 1 12 12 1 5 166 D a t a f o r 1951-1970 o n l y ; maximum a n d minimum f i g u r e s n o t a v a i l a b l e Da ta f o r 1951-1970 o n l y Since t h e r e i s no evidence of any landings p r i o r t o t h e 1780s, it seems most probable t h a t coconuts a r e n a t i v e , a s i s presumed f o r t h e Seyche l les (Sauer 1967) . The r e s t of t h e vege ta t ion i s t y p i c a l of r e c e n t l y emerged low c o r a l i s l a n d s ( e . g. S toddar t 1971b, Renvoize 1975) , a l b e i t depauperate i n such t y p i c a l s p e c i e s a s Pemphis ac idu l a and Thespesia populnea . The b o t a n i s t C h a r l e s H i l s e n b e r g v i s i t e d t n e i s l a n d f o r t w o o r t h r e e days i n December 1823, b u t a p a r t from coconuts , only mentions Tournefor t ia , Scaevola , Sur iana , a Cyperus and a Po r tu l aca i n h i s account (Hilsenberg 1823) . The i s l a n d was v i s i t e d twice i n 1824. One v i s i t o r (Anon 1828) r epo r t ed 'wi ld lemon t r e e s 1 and " those o t h e r palms which g ive b i r t h t o t h a t remarkable f r u i t , r ep re sen t ing t h e image of two t h i g h s , and c a l l e d 'Nois mato i re1 o r coco-de-mer [Lodoicea maldivica] ". Perhaps some n u t s had been brought from t h e Seyche l les and were growing. A coco-de-mer n u t was included amongst p roducts of t h e i s l a n d s e n t t o Bojer in 1831 (Leduc 1848, Lionnet 1924) , b u t Bojer (1835) d id n o t inc lude t h e palm i n h i s p l a n t l i s t . The o t h e r v i s i t o r , Werner (1824) from Maur i t ius , l a i d more emphasis on t h e shrubby vege t a t i on than Rozemont, s t r e s s i n g t h a t t h e " g r e a t e s t p a r t of t h e i s l a n d is overrun wi th t h e v e l o u t i e r [Tourne fo r t i a ] . and manioc [Scaevola] t r e e S t 2 and which i s t h e g r e a t e s t source of f e r t i l i t y , f o r when it i s r equ i r ed t o p l a n t a c e r t a i n p i e c e of ground with maize, t h e s e shrubs a r e c u t down and b u r n t , which produces enough s o i l t o have two o r t h r e e c rops from the same p i ece of l and , a f t e r which it i s allowed t o remain f o r t h r e e y e a r s , when it w i l l be f i t t o c u l t i v a t e aga in . " He con t inues : "The n a t u r a l produce of t h e i s l a n d i s cocoa [ s i c ] n u t s , t h e t r e e s run is [ s i c ] a vein f o r n e a r l y t h e whole l eng th of t h e i s l a n d s , i n a kind of marsh.. . . The South i s l a n d c o n t a i n s 2144 a c r e s , and t h e coco p l a n t a t i o n t a k e s up nea r ly 1050 a c r e s . The North i s l a n d c o n t a i n s 4736 a c r e s , b u t t h e ve in of coco t r e e s i s s o very i r r e g u l a r t h a t no e s t ima t ion could be formed a s t o t h e space of ground they covered. There i s very l i t t l e wood on t h e i s l a n d , t h e only v a r i e t i e s a r e t he b o i s b l anc [Hernandia] , Mango wood [ ? b o i s manque, a term f o r Ochna sp . on Aldabra (C Gibson, p e r s . cornm.) though t h i s seems un l ike ly ] and a l i t t l e takamaka [Calophyl l um inophy l l urn1 " . B o j e r l s v i s i t i n 1835, t h e l a s t by a b o t a n i s t f o r 136 y e a r s , was very f r u i t f u l . In a d d i t i o n t o gene ra l impressions, he compiled a l i s t of about 150 p l a n t s p e c i e s he found on the i s l a n d s (Bojer 1835) , of which some 30-35 appear t o be n a t i v e . L i t t l e had changed s ince 1824, a p a r t from some p rog re s s i n coconut p l a n t i n g and h o r i t i c u l t u r e . Among n a t i v e p l a n t s of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t he noted t h e cl imbing f e r n Stenochlaena t e n u i f o l i a (known then a s brgde Andinque, and e a t e n ) , 2 I manioc t r e e 1 i s a t r a n s l a t i o n (by Werner) of b o i s manioc, i - e . , i n Maur i t ius , Scaevola; 'manioc' a lone i n Mauri t ian French would of course be cassava Manihot u t i l i s s i m a , bu t t h e con tex t here c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e s Scaevola. patches of Suriana marit ima amongst t h e f r i n g i n g band of v e l o u t i e r , and l a r g e specimens of P i son ia g rand i s . B o j e r ' s p l a n t l i s t was a l s o reproduced i n Leduc (1848) and Lionnet (1924) , and h i s genera l remarks, i n p a r t , by Dussercle (1949) . Over t h e nex t cen tury t h e main vege t a t i on changes appear t o have been t h e ex tens ion of coconut p l a n t a t i o n s a t t h e expense of t h e v e l o u t i e r , with c l ea rance of spec i e s growing amongst t h e palms ( e .g . P i sonia and Hernandia) . D e t a i l s of t h e expansion of p l a n t a t i o n s , made p o s s i b l e by d igging h o l e s f o r each n u t i n t h e p l a t i n , can be found i n ~ o u f f g (1913) , Lionnet (1924) and Dussercle (1949) . Casuarina e q u i s e t i f o l i a ( f i l a o ) was in t roduced by Leduc i n 1828 (Leduc 1841) , and was used f o r t imber and a s a windbreak f o r a long time t h e r e a f t e r . Dussercle (1949) noted t h e ex i s t ence i n 1948 of a b e l t of Casuarina almost a l l t he way round t h e i s l a n d s , and a l a r g e p l a n t a t i o n a t t h e south end of South I s l a n d . The cyc lones of 1950 and 1952 apparen t ly devas t a t ed t h e Casuarina ( S c o t t 1961) , and l i t t l e a t tempt has been made s ince then t o r e p l a n t on any s c a l e . During t h e 19th cen tury bo th cocoa Theobroma cacoa and c i t r u s f r u i t s C i t r u s spp. were developed a s important c rops , b u t were bo th even tua l ly defea ted by p e s t s . Dupont (1883) r e p o r t e d nea r ly 4000 cocoa t r e e s des t royed by ' b o r e r s ' , and Boucherat (1890) wrote of " the t o t a l d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e lemon and orange t r e e s which grew on t h e i s l a n d owing t o t h e presence of a k ind of i n s e c t s known t h e r e by t h e name of "Pous Blancs" [ I ce rya seyche l la rum]" ; t h i s p e s t has s ince been c o n t r o l l e d by t h e i n t roduc t ion of t h e l adyb i rd Rhodolia chermesina (Mamet 1978) . Both i s l a n d s a r e surrounded by a b e l t of v e l o u t i e r growing on t h e upper p a r t of t h e beach. The dominant s p e c i e s i s Scaevola s e r i c e a , b u t t h e r e i s some Tournefor t ia , Sur iana , P i son ia g r a n d i s and r a t h e r more Guet ta rda , e s p e c i a l l y on t h e e a s t c o a s t of North I s l a n d . The c r e s t of t h e dunes a t t he south end of South I s l and i s l a r g e l y vege ta ted with Sur iana , with Scaevola t o seaward. North of t h e s e t t l emen t a t S t . James t h e r e i s a copse of Hernandia sonora. Around t h e same s e t t l e m e n t a r e clumps of b r e a d f r u i t Artocarpus a l t i l i s , and s c a t t e r e d Calophyllum and Terminalia ca tappa . The r e s t of North I s l a n d c o n s i s t s l a r g e l y of coconut p l a n t a t i o n wi th a ground l a y e r of g r a s s , Kalanchoe p inna ta and t h e p a r a s i t e Cassytha f i l i f o r m i s ( l i a n e s a n s f i n ) . There a r e some a r e a s more o r l e s s dominated by Casuarina, and i n d i v i d u a l s of t h i s s p e c i e s , and a l s o P i son ia , s c a t t e r e d throughout t h e coconuts . On t h e e a s t s i d e t h e b e l t of Scaevola i s up t o 200 m wide, though a long s t r e t c h between S t . James and Vingt Cinq has been c l e a r e d t o make an a i r s t r i p . Nei ther of u s a t t h e time of our v i s i t s was aware of t h e b rack i sh pool Bassin Capucin, b u t t h e photograph i n Pa te1 (1974) shows it t o be surrounded by g ra s sy dunes with Casuar ina , . and t o have mangroves Rhizophora mucronata growing i n it . We saw no obvious t r a c e of su rv iv ing n a t i v e coconuts on North I s l a n d . The v e g e t a t i o n o f South I s l a n d i s dominated by t h e l a r g e mass o f n a t i v e c o c o n u t s ( c o c o bon d i e u ) growing a t v e r y h igh d e n s i t y i n a n o v a l d e p r e s s i o n i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h e i s l a n d . T h i s was d r y a t t h e t ime o f Cheke ' s v i s i t ( J u n e ) , b u t it f l o o d s i n t h e r a i n s , presumably forming a b r a c k i s h swamp a s t h e p r i n c i p a l s p e c i e s i n t h e ground l a y e r i s t h e mangrove f e r n Acrost ichum aureurn; a l s o abundant i s a t h e l y p t e r o i d f e r n t h a t Cheke n o t e d i n 1974 a s a Cyc losorus . Around t h e c e n t r a l w i l d coconut a r e a and t o t h e n o r t h of it a r e coconu t p l a n t a t i o n s , b u t towards t h e s o u t h o f t h e i s l a n d t h e r e a r e p a t c h e s o f Casuar ina ( i n t h e e a s t ) and Terrninalia c a t a p p a ( s o u t h and w e s t ) ; Casuar ina a l s o l i n e s t h e eas t -e rn beach n o r t h of S t e . R i t a . There is an open g r a s s y a r e a i n l a n d o f Grande Montagne i n t h e South- e a s t . One o f t h e more remarkable c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f South I s l a n d ( l e s s marked on North I s l a n d ) is t h e gr0wt.h o f normal ly e p i p h y t i c p t e r i d o p h y t e s on t h e ground. Langue de boeuf (Asplenium n i d u s ) i s common under Terrninal ia , whi le Ps i lo turn nudurn is f r e q u e n t on o l d stumps and t u s s o c k s i n swampier a r e a s . Under t h e n a t i v e c o c o n u t s , and t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t o u t s i d e them, a r e a r e a s w i t h a n u n d e r s t o r e y of Morinda c i t r i f o l i a ( b o i s t o r t i ) . The c l i m b i n g f e r n S tenoch laena t e n u i f o l i a t h a t s o a t t r a c t e d Boje r s t i l l grows commonly i n p a r t s o f South I s l a n d , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t o f t h e w i l d coconu t p a t c h . The a r e a around t h e ' c a p i t a l ' , S t e . R i t a , i s p l a n t e d w i t h a v a r i e t y o f e x o t i c v e g e t a t i o n - v e g e t a b l e s i n t h e company's g a r d e n , bananas Musa s p . , f l amboyan t s Delonix r e g i a , b r e a d f r u i t , papayas C a r i c a papaya, cocoa Theobrorna c a c a o , C i t r u s spp . e t c . The nearby c e m e t e r i e s a r e dominated by C a s u a r i n a . S ince t h e i s l a n d was n a t i o n a l i s e d i n 1975 t h e to t -a1 p o p u l a t i o n h a s d e c l i n e d t o a b o u t 150, and human p r e s s u r e on t h e environment a s a whole h a s s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i m i n i s h e d a s a r e s u l t . By 1978 many c o c o n u t s were b e i n g l e f t u n h a r v e s t e d , and a l lowed t o run t o seed i n many a r e a s . The i r r i g a t i o n scheme n e a r S t e . R i t a was comple te ly n e g l e c t e d , and a s a r e s u l t t h e r e arcz now s e v e r a l a c r e s o f l u s h we t l and . The a r e a under Casuar ina i s expanding t o o , p a r t i c u l a r l y on South I s l a n d where t h e r e a r e new l a r g e a r e a s of untouched woodland. F i n a l l y we shou ld mention t h a t t h e ' b o i s b l a n c ' a c c i d e n t a l l y r e f e r r e d t o by one o f u s e a r l i e r (Cheke 1975:42) a s H i b i s c u s t i l i a c e u s was o f c o u r s e i n f a c t ~ e r n a n d i a s o n o r a , though b o t h s p e c i e s a r e p robab ly p r e s e n t and a r e i n f a c t r e c o r d e d by Manet (1978) . H i s t o r y and p r e s e n t s t a t u s o f l a n d v e r t e b r a t e s a n d s e a t u r t l e s R e p t i l e s Geochel one qiqan tea G i a n t T o r t o i s e ; t o r t i 3 S t o d d a r t & Peake (1979) c i t e d F r o b e r v i l l e (1848) as a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e p r e s e n c e o f "a few l a n d t o r t o i s e s t h e r e i n 1785" , a n d s u g g e s t e d t h e y had been l a n d e d f rom a p a s s i n g s h i p . I n f a c t F r o b e r v i l l e u s e d t h e n o n - s p e c i f i c word ' t o r t u e ' , a n d t h o s e a c t u a l l y found on t h e i s l a n d ( a s opposed t o what had been hoped f o r f o l l o w i n g d e R i c h e r y ' s r e p o r t ) were a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y sea t u r t l e s . The re i s no u n e q u i v o c a l r e f e r e n c e i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e t o l a n d t o r t o i s e s ; t h e l a r g e l i v i n g ' t o r t u e ' b r o u g h t t o M a u r i t i u s by ~ i g n a r d i n 1842 (Bouton 1846) was a l s o no d o u b t a t u r t l e . I n 1974 Cheke was t o l d by an o l d ? l o i s whose name he d i d n ' t o b t a i n ( b u t s u b s e q u e n t l y r e f e r r e d t o as Bonhom, o l d man) , t h a t t h e r e had been a good number o f t o r t o i s e s p r e s e n t , b u t t h a t " t h e S e y c h e l l o i s had e a t e n them", t h e l a s t o n e s h a v i n g s u r v i v e d u n t i l a b o u t 12 y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y . A s S c o t t (1961) p o i n t e d o u t , a l l e v i l s a r e blamed on " t h e S e y c h e l l o i s " , s o t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n s h o u l d n o t be t a k e n t o o l i t e r a l l y . M r P a u l ~ o u l i n i g c o n f i r m e d t o Cheke t h e sometime p r e s e n c e o f t h e s e an ima l s , , s a y i n g he t h o u g h t t h e y had been b r o u g h t i n some f i f t y y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y ( i . e . c a . 1 9 2 5 ) ; s o u r c e s t o c k s a r e a v a i l a b l e i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s a n d M a u r i t i u s . Bonhom s a i d he n e v e r saw any young, s o presumed t h e y n e v e r b r e d s u c c e s s f u l l y ; t h i s may have been due t o f e r a l c a t s a n d p i g s . I t is s l i g h t l y odd t h a t D u s s e r c l e (1949) made n o ment ion o f any t o r t o i s e s . Pelusios s p . T e r r a p i n ; supap T e r r a p i n s , p re sumab ly o f t h i s g e n u s , were r e p o r t e d t o Cheke a s o c c u r r i n g i n p o o l s a n d swamps. These a n i m a l s a r e p o s s i b l y n a t i v e , b u t more l i k e l y t o have been i n t r o d u c e d from Diego G a r c i a o r t h e S e y c h e l l e s where t h r e e s p e c i e s have r e c e n t l y been r e c o g n i s e d (Bour 1983) . Chelonia mydas Green T u r t l e ; t o r t i T u r t l e s seem n e v e r t o have been p a r t i c u l a r l y common. Rozemont (1809) commented t h a t " t h e s e a t u r t l e i s n o t v e r y a b u n d a n t t h e r e , t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e s e i s l a n d s , s u r r o u n d e d eve rywhere by r e e f s , f o r m i n g a b a r r i e r t h a t t h e y c a n n o t c r o s s " ( C h e k e ' s t r a n s l a t i o n ) . T u r t l e s a r e ment ioned a s o c c u r r i n g i n s m a l l numbers by most s u b s e q u e n t w r i t e r s . D u s s e r c l e (1949) w r o t e t h a t t h e y were d e c r e a s i n g due t o human p r e d a t i o n , 3 ~ r e o l e names a r e g i v e n i n t h e o r t h o g r a p h y u s e d i n Cheke (1982a ) d e v i s e d by P h i l i p Baker f o r a d i c t i o n a r y o f M a u r i t i u s C r e o l e ( i n p r e p . ) . N a m e s g i v e n were c o l l e c t e d on t h e i s l a n d u n l e s s b r a c k e t e d : round b r a c k e t s i n d i c a t e a name t a k e n f rom t h e Agalega l i t e r a t u r e , s q u a r e b r a c k e t s t h e presumed name ( = u s u a l M a u r i t i u s o r S e y c h e l l e s name) . t hough S c o t t (1961) r e p o r t e d t h a t a b o u t two dozen were t u r n e d e v e r y y e a r i n t h e mid-1950s. Sma l l numbers were s t i l l r e p o r t e d i n 1974. A g a l e g a ' s b e a c h e s a r e l o n g enough, a n d t h e human p o p u l a t i o n s m a l l enough, f o r t u r t l e s s t i l l t o be a b l e t o l a n d w i t h o u t n e c e s s a r i l y b e i n g d e t e c t e d . E r e t r m c h e l y s i m b r i c a t a Hawksb i l l T u r t l e ; c a r e L i o n n e t (1924) and D u s s e r c l e (1949) a r e t h e o n l y a u t h o r s t o men t ion h a w k s b i l l s , t h e l a t t e r s a y i n g t h e y were found " q u i t e o f t e n " and u s e d t o make t o r t o i s e s h e l l t r i n k e t s . P h e l suma b o r b o n i c a a g a l e g a e Day Gecko; l e z a r F i r s t d e s c r i b e d (Cheke 1975) a s a new s p e c i e s , b u t l a t e r (Cheke 1982b) r e d u c e d t o a n endemic r a c e o f t h e ~ G u n i o n day gecko . H i l s e n b e r g (1823) w a s t h e o n l y a u t h o r t o ment ion l i z a r d s . The g e c k o s a r e a b u n d a n t on c o c o n u t pa lms on b o t h i s l a n d s , u p t o f i v e i n d i v i d u a l s p e r t r e e , t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n r u n n i n g i n t o h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s (Cheke 1 9 7 5 ) . Gehyra m u t i l a t a House Gecko; l e z a r ( g r i ) Common, t hough much l e s s s o t h a n t h e day gecko , on b o t h i s l a n d s ; spec imens c o l l e c t e d by Cheke are d e p o s i t e d i n t h e B r i t i s h Pluseum ( N a t u r a l H i s t o r y ) . Occur s i n h o u s e s a n d on pa lms a n d o t h e r t r e e s . Eggs found by Cheke i n J u n e 1974 were l a i d cemented t o g e t h e r i n p a i r s u n d e r b a r k , i n c r e v i c e s e t c . I t w a s p re sumab ly i n t r o d u c e d from M a u r i t i u s (Cheke i n p r e s s , a ) . [Hemidac ty lus f r e n a t u s ] [House Gecko] T h i s s p e c i e s h a s n o t been r e c o r d e d f rom Aga lega , a l t h o u g h i t s p r e s e n c e would b e l i k e l y on b i o g e o g r a p h i c a l g r o u n d s (Cheke i n p r e s s , Cheke saw and pho tog raphed a gecko on a t r e e on Nor th I s l a n d which a p p e a r e d t o b e t h i s s p e c i e s , b u t t h e p i c t u r e i s n o t c l e a r enough f o r c e r t a i n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . B i r d s a ) . a Agalega w a s a ma jo r s e a b i r d s t a t i o n i n t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y , a n d most a u t h o r s commented on t h e immense numbers o f n e s t i n g b i r d s , e s p e c i a l l y ' g o e l e ' t t e s ' (Soo ty T e r n s ) . A l i s t o f b i r d s by W . B o j e r w i t h n o t e s on b r e e d i n g e t c . by A. Leduc w a s i n c l u d e d i n Leduc (1848) a n d r e p r i n t e d by L i o n n e t (1924) a n d , less c o m p l e t e l y , by Gibson-Hi l l (1 952) and Watson, Z u s i & S t o r e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) . A s r e c e n t l y as 1978, F e a r e r e p o r t e d t h e s t a t u s o f b o o b i e s on Agalega as 'unknown' , a l t h o u g h t h e s e a b i r d c o l o n i e s are known t o have been d e s t r o y e d d e l i b e r a t e l y by f i r e i n 1943 ( D u s s e r c l e 1 9 4 9 ) . A p p a r e n t l y a f t e r h i s s e a b i r d wardens had been t h r e a t e n e d a n d b i r d s massac red , t h e t h e n manager, Volcy Monnier , se t f i r e t o t h e P l a i n e d e s Oi seaux ( n e a r Montagne d'Emmerez, Nor th I s l a n d ) t o s o l v e t h e p rob lem once a n d f o r a l l - a n d s u c c e e d e d , t h u s d e p r i v i n g t h e i s l a n d e r s o f a t r a d i t i o n a l s o u r c e o f f o o d . The e g g s u s e d a l s o t o b e e x p o r t e d t o M a u r i t i u s ( S c o t t 1 9 6 1 ) . 'The f r i g a t e s and b o o b i e s p robab ly d i s a p p e a r e d b e f o r e t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y ( s e e s y s t e m a t i c l i s t ) . Newton (1883) r e f e r r e d t o s e a b i r d eggs c o l l e c t e d i n t h e 1870s by t h e t h e n i s l a n d manager M . F e u i l l h e r a d e , a s r e p r e s e n t i n g " a l l well-known s p e c i e s " . A s he d i d n o t name them we do n o t know i f f r i g a t e s and boob ies s u r v i v e d t o t h i s d a t e . Newton a l s o f a i l e d t o s p e c i f y t h e i d e n t i t i e s o f t h e s m a l l b i r d s which "had most undoubtedly been i n t r o - duced by man 's agency" . These eggs a r e n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e b r o t h e r s Newton's c o l l e c t i o n p r e s e r v e d i n Cambridge (Cheke, p e r s . o b s . ) . There appear t o have been two p h a s e s i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f l a n d b i r d s t o Agalega: game b i r d s , and Madagascar T u r t l e Doves ( i f n o t n a t i v e ) , b r o u g h t i n by t h e f i r s t s e t t l e r s , fo l lowed by p a s s e r i n e s and Zebra Doves a f t e r August L e d u c ' s a r r i v a l i n 1827. I n t h i s c o n t e x t it s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l Bojer-Leduc b i r d l i s t (Leduc 1848, L ionne t 1924) i n c l u d e d a number o f s p e c i e s t h a t were over looked by Jean Vinson when he t r a n s m i t t e d it t o Gibson-Hil l (1952) ; t h e s e b i r d s a r e l i k e w i s e a b s e n t from Watson, Z u s i & S t o r e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) . These l a s t two d e r i v a t i v e r e f e r e n c e s w i l l n o t be c i t e d f u r t h e r e x c e p t t o c l e a r up c e r t a i n c o n f u s i o n s . Dupont (1883) r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e management i n t e n d e d t o i n t r o d u c e i n s e c t i v o r o u s b i r d s "such a s ' o i s e a u x b l a n c s ' [ Z o s t e r o p s b o r b o n i c a l , ' o i s e a u x bananes ' [Foudia r u b r a l , and ' o i s e a u x manioc' [ Z . c h l o r o n o t h o s ] " t o c o n t r o l p e s t s ; t h i s a p p e a r s never t o have t aken p l a c e . The most n o t a b l e e x i s t i r g member of t h e a v i f a u n a i s t h e Glossy I b i s , o c c u r r i n g i n t h e I n d i a n Ocean o t h e r w i s e on ly on Madagascar. The p o p u l a t i o n i s now v e r y smal l and endangered (Cheke 1 9 7 8 ) . I n d i a n Ocean c r e o l e b i r d names and t h e i r o r i g i n s a r e d i s c u s s e d a t l e n g t h i n a n o t h e r paper (Checke 1982a) . P u f f i n u s s p . Shearwate r ; f u k e Bonhom r e p o r t e d t o Cheke t h a t an a l l - d a r k ' f o u q u e t ' n e s t e d a l l over t h e i s l a n d d u r i n g t h e n o r t h wind ( i . e . Nov . -Apr i l ) . T h i s i s presumably P u f f i n t i s p a c i f i c u s . The o n l y p r e v i o u s ment ion o f a s h e a r w a t e r from t h e i s l a n d i s by Bouton (1846) l i s t i n g some o f t h e genera of b i r d s g iven by B o j e r t o t h e N a t u r a l H i s t o r y S o c i e t y o f M a u r i t i u s . The l i s t i n c l u d e s t h e genus ' P r o c e l l a r i a ' . I t i s s t r a n g e t h a t , i f r e a l l y common, such a n o t o r i o u s l y e d i b l e b i r d ( t h e c h i c k ) shou ld n o t have been mentioned by Leduc o r v i s i t o r s t o t h e i s l a n d . Phaethon r u b r i c a u d a Red- t .a i led T r o p i c - b i r d ; pa yanke [ r u z l Former b r e e d e r , r e f e r r e d t o by Dusse rc le (1949) a s p r e s e n t up t o t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e s e a b i r d colony i n 1943. Leduc (1848, L ionne t 1924) .gave l a y i n g d a t e s a s August and September, on sand under s c r u b ( i . e . v e l o u t i e r ) by t h e s e a ; such a b r i e f b r e e d i n g season seems improbable i n view o f t h e v e r y ex tended s e a s o n s found i n M a u r i t i u s ( G i l l e t d l . 1970, Temple 1976) and t h e S e y c h e l l e s (~r$s- ones & P e e t 1980 , . M r ~ e r v 6 Sylva r e p o r t e d t o Cheke t h a t h i s wi fe had once seen a p a y a n k e , and Lawley was l i k e w i s e t o l d of t h e i r o c c a s i o n a l o c c u r r e n c e . The s p e c i e s c o u l d n o t be de te rmined . S u l a s u l a Red-footed Booby; f u Former b r e e d e r , e v i d e n t l y once numerous. Leduc (1848) d e s c r i b e d t h e e a s e w i t h which 20 o r 30 c o u l d be k i l l e d i n a few minu tes by a t t r a c t i n g them t o a handkerchief a t t a c h e d t o a p o l e . There a r e no l a t e r r e c o r d s . 'Fous ' were a l s o n o t e d by Rozemont (1809) , anon. (1828) and B o j e r ( 1 8 3 5 ) . Leduc (1848, L i o n n e t 1924) r e p o r t e d l a y i n g through- o u t t h e y e a r : s i n g l e e g g s i n c r u d e n e s t s on P i s o n i a (Bojer-Leduc l ist) o r up " t r e e s and coconu t palms" ( t e x t ) . On Aldabra , a t a b o u t t h e same l a t i t u d e , b r e e d i n g o c c u r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r w i t h p e a k s o f l a y i n g i n November, J a n u a r y , March and August-September (Diamond 1 9 7 1 ) . There i s an unda ted specimen p r e s e n t e d t o Boje r i n t h e N a t u r h i s t o r i s c h e s Museum i n Vienna (H. S c h i f t e r i n l i t t . t o Cheke) . I t is e r r o n e o u s l y c i t e d a s from M a u r i t i u s by H a r t l a u b (1877) on t h e b a s i s o f i t s c u r r e n t l a b e l . The a c c e s s i o n s r e g i s t e r , however, r e v e a l s t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l l a b e l s t a t e d it was from Agalega (photocopy t r a n s - m i t t e d by H . S c h i f t e r ) . Bonhom r e p o r t e d t o Cheke t h a t a k i n d o f f u , b l a c k a l l o v e r w i t h a w h i t e b e l l y , was o c c a s i o n a l l y seen . T h i s would a p p e a r t o be t h e Brown Booby S . l e u c o g a s t e r , b u t d a r k phase S . s u l a and immature S - d a c t y l a t r a canno t be r u l e d o u t . F r e g a t a s p . F r i g a t e - b i r d ; ( f r e g a t ) Former b r e e d e r , s p e c i e s undetermined. Recorded by Rozemont ( 1 8 0 9 ) , anon ( 1 8 2 8 ) , B o j e r (1835) and Leduc (1848, L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 ) , b u t n o t t h e r e a f t e r . Leduc s t a t e d t h a t , l i k e t h e Red-footed Booby, t h e y n e s t e d th roughout t h e y e a r , l a y i n g one egg i n P i s o n i a (Bojer-Leduc l i s t ) o r " t r e e s and coconu t palms" ( t e x t ) ; anon (1828) a l s o r e f e r r e d t o n e s t s i n c o c o n u t s . On Aldabra , a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e young i n t h e n e s t through- o u t t h e y e a r , l a y i n g i s c o n f i n e d t o t h e p e r i o d June-December (Diamond 1 9 7 1 ) , and t h e p a t t e r n i s s i m i l a r a t S t . Brandon, t h e n e a r e s t co lony t o t h e South ( S t a u b & GuGho 1968) . Ducks; S a r s e l Bonhom r e p o r t e d t o Cheke t h a t s a r s e l were seen o c c a s i o n a l l y . These a r e l i k e l y t o be e i t h e r White-faced Tree Ducks Dendrocygna v i d u a t a o r Garganey Anas q u e r q u e d u l a , t h e two ducks which most r e g u l a r l y v i s i t t h e S e y c h e l l e s (C. J. Feare & R.P. ~rqs- ones, p e r s . comrn. t o Cheke) . A r d e o l a ibis C a t t l e E g r e t ; [madam p a t o n ] S t a t e d by Gugrin (1940-53) , w r i t i n g i n 1941, t o be an o c c a s i o n a l v i s i t o r t o Agalega. T h i s seems l i k e l y enough, a l t h o u g h Gugrin gave no s u p p o r t i n g e v i d e n c e , and no one mentioned C a t t l e E g r e t s t o u s a s hav ing been s e e n on t h e i s l a n d s . B u t o r i d e s s t r i a t u s L i t t l e Green Heron; gas Recorded by Leduc (1848, Lionnet 1924) and Dussercle (1949) . Leduc r epo r t ed c l u t c h e s of a s i n g l e egg i n bushes, and t h a t t h e b i r d s a t e mice, smal l b i r d s and a l s o ' f i s h e d ' on t h e shore . B o j e r ' s specimens, examined by Des ja rd ins i n t h e 1830s, a r e mentioned by O u s t a l e t (1897) . The c l u t c h s i z e f o r t h i s s p e c i e s i n Maur i t ius (Staub 1976) and t h e Seyche l les (Benson & Penny 1971, Penny 1974) i s normally two o r t h r e e , though o f t e n only one young is r ea red (Cheke, pe r s .obs . , Benson & Penny, 1 o c . c i t . ) ; Leduc may have assumed a s i n g l e egg from obse rva t ions of s i n g l e ch i cks . N o t a very numerous b i r d today. In 1974 Cheke saw t.wo b i r d s on North I s l a n d , none on South I s l a n d ; i n 1978 Lawley saw s e v e r a l b i r d s on South I s l a n d , p a r t i c u l a r l y around t h e abandoned i r r i g a t i o n scheme, b u t none on North I s l and . Heron sp . An unnamed t a l l wading b i r d , apparen t ly a l a r g e heron, was des- c r i b e d t o Cheke by Bonhom a s an occas iona l v i s i t o r . P l e g a d i s f a l c i n e l l u s Glossy I b i s ; t e l i n g a , t a ranga F i r s t recorded by Werner (1824) under t h e same name, t e l i n g a , a s i s c u r r e n t today. There i s no information i n t he l i t e r a t u r e on numbers, u n t i l S c o t t (1961) r e p o r t e d an es t imated 200 i n 1950, wi th a dec l ine by t h e time of h i s v i s i t i n 1955. Dussercle (1949) l i s t e d t h e i b i s amongst o t h e r ' o r d i n a i r e ' ( i . e . everyday, common) b i r d s , and it was c l e a r l y cons idered f a i r l y numerous by Lincoln (1893) . ~ u g r i n (1940- 5 3 ) , who appears t o have had c o n t a c t s on the i s l a n d s , wrote i n 1940 t h a t i b i s e s were "not numerous". Leduc (1848, Lionnet 1924) r epo r t ed l a y i n g in September and October i n n e s t s i n bushes; by c o n t r a s t Bonhom t o l d Cheke t h a t t h e b i r d s nes t ed up coconuts dur ing t h e n o r t h wind - i . e . November onwards. Leduc gave t h e c l u t c h a s two; Bonhom t h r e e , r e a r i n g 2-3 young ( "ug ly , grey wi th a white head" ) . A s many a s t h r e e p a i r s a r e s a i d t o n e s t t oge the r i n a s i n g l e palm, bu i ld ing gene ra l l y on an i n f l o r e s c e n c e , and cons t ruc t ed with f r e s h green coconut l eaves . Lawley however found a presumed i b i s n e s t 20 f t up i n a mature C a s u a r i n a . I t was roundish , messy and about 30 i n . i n d iameter . I t was cons t ruc t ed of t i g h t l y packed twigs and o t h e r m a t e r i a l , and appa ren t ly v i r t u a l l y impenetrable from below by t h e l o c a l t ree-cl imbing r a t s ; t h e n e s t d i d n o t appear t o be occupied. He was t o l d by l o c a l s t h a t they had seen s i m i l a r n e s t s deep i n t h e ca su r ina f o r e s t . A s f a r a s we can determine only t h r e e specimens of t h e Agalega i b i s have eve r been c o l l e c t e d ; two by August Leduc f o r Bojer i n 1830 (Des ja rd ins 1831, Leduc 1848, Lionnet 1924) , and one by Captain T r o t t e r of H.M.S. Cur lew t h e yea r a f t e r (Des ja rd ins 1832) . Two of t h e s e specimens formed p a r t of t h e Des ja rd ins museum in P o r t Louis , b u t have s i n c e vanished. The Glossy I b i s e s now i n t h e Maur i t ius I n s t i t u t e (which took over the Desjardins Museum) were shot i n Mauri t ius i n t h e 1930s (Gugrin 1940-53). A s t h i s population has presumably been i s o l a t e d f o r a long time on Agalega it would be most i n t e r e s t i n g t o examine b i r d s a t c l o s e hand t o see i f any d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n has taken p lace . The c reo le name t e l i n q a is no t , a s Dussercle (1949) a s s e r t e d , a "Malagasy name f o r the black i b i s " , bu t an o ld c reo le name f o r Indians now known a s Telegu (Cheke 1982a) . The b i r d was no doubt named a f t e r t he sk in colour of t he Indians , i n the same way a s the Common Noddy, makwa, was named a f t e r members of t he Mozambican Maccoa ( o r Macoua) t r i b e (Cheke, 1 o c . c i t . ) . The c u r r e n t s t a t u s of t he i b i s , now confined t o South I s l and , i s precar ious . Cheke saw a p a i r and i s o l a t e d ind iv idua l s i n 1974, though f i v e were seen together by Bonhom one morning during h i s v i s i t , and a group of 12 had r e c e n t l y been seen. These groups were seen in the i r r i g a t e d vegetable garden near S te . R i t a . On the b a s i s of l o c a l r e p o r t s Cheke est imated a maximum populat ion of about 20 (Cheke 1978). In 1978 Lawley saw a t o t a l of e i g h t b i r d s , a l l i n the a rea of open grass land in the south-east and was given r e p o r t s of r egu la r s i g h t i n g s around S te . R i t a ( i r r i g a t e d a rea and cemetery) . The t o t a l populat ion was again est imated a s about 20. Cheke was t o l d i n 1974 t h a t t he young were good t o e a t , and t h a t eggs and young were shaken out of coconut t r e e s . Lawley heard of b i r d s ( ? a d u l t s ) being k i l l e d by ch i ld ren . The reduced human populat ion i n r ecen t years may have allowed the i b i s numbers t o s t a b i l i z e somewhat, bu t t h e dec l ine s ince the 1950s has been p rec ip i tous . Proper p ro tec t ion i s c l e a r l y necessary i f t h e popu la t ions ' s su rv iva l i s t o be assured (Cheke 1978) . Birds seen by Lawley were foraging on the sur face on dry ground; Bonhom recpor ted t o Cheke t h a t they fed on cockroaches and 'worms' ( v e r ) . The fondness f o r the i r r i g a t e d a r e a suggests t h a t they a l s o seek aqua t i c food. [ Threskiornis ae th iop ica I [Sacred I b i s ] Newton (18881, i n e r r o r f o r the Glossy I b i s , l i s t e d ' I b i s b e r n i e r i ' the Madagascar race of t he Sacred I b i s a s occurr ing on Agalega; Gugrin (1940-53) repeated the mistake, assuming t h a t Newton had recorded t h e b i r d a s an acc iden ta l v i s i t o r . Marqaroperdix madaqascariensis Madagascar Pa r t r idge ; p e r d r i [ka y ] ' Perdr ix ' were f i r s t mentioned by Hilsenberg i n 1823, though Hartlaub (1877) was the f i r s t t o ass ign them t o a p a r t i c u l a r spec ies . He r e f e r r e d them, without c i t i n g any evidence, t o the Madagascar Pa r t r idge . Cari6 (1904) suppor tedHar t laubls a s s e r t i o n , adding t h a t i n Mauri t ius the spec ie s was known a s C a i l l e d . ~ q a l & ~ a . La te r , t he same author ( ~ a r i 6 1916) repor ted t h a t c a t s , introduced t o des t roy r a t s (whichhad a r r i v e d i n 1891 (Lionnet 1 9 2 4 ) ) , had wiped ou t t he p a r t r i d g e s . Lionnet (1924) a t t r i b u t e d t h e l o s s o f game a n i m a l s t o f e r a l h u n t i n g d o g s , r e l e a s e d i n 1897; by c a . 1911 ( s e e be low, unde r P a r o a r i a , f o r d a t i n g ) p a r t r i d g e s were s a i d t o be d e c l i n i n g f a s t ( L i o n n e t , 1 9 2 4 ) . The d o g s were a p p a r e n t l y l a t e r c o n t r o l l e d by s h o o t i n g , b u t e v i d e n t l y t o o l a t e t o s ave t h e game b i r d s a n d h a r e s . We a r e unaware o f any spec imens e x i s t i n g t o c o n f i r m t h a t t h e p a r t r i d g e on Agalega w a s i n d e e d Marga rope rd ix , though t h e r e is no r e a s o n t o d o u b t ~ a r i g ' s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . The s t o c k p re sumab ly came f rom M a u r i t i u s , where t h e s p e c i e s , now e x t i n c t , was p e r h a p s s t i l l common a r o u n d 1820 (Cheke i n p r e s s b) . D u s s e r c l e (1949) men t ioned a ' r e c e n t ' r e - i n t r o d u c t i o n o f ' p e r d r i x ' t o N o r t h I s l a n d s u b s e q u e n t t o t h e i r e x t i r p a t i o n by dogs [ o r c a t s ? ] , b u t t h e s p e c i e s i n v o l v e d t h i s t i m e i s more l i k e l y t o have been F r a n c o l i n u s p o n d i c e r i a n u s , t h e o n l y p a r t r i d g e i n M a u r i t i u s t o s u r v i v e t h e i n t r o - d u c t i o n o f t h e mongoose H e r p e s t e s e d w a r d s i i ( ~ a r i 6 1916, S t a u b 1976) . S c o t t (1961) r e p o r t e d ' p a r t r i d g e s ' a r o u n d Montagne d ' Emrnerez (Nor th I s l a n d ) i n 1955. Cheke w a s t o l d i n 1974 by P . ~ o u l i n i g a n d Bonhom t h a t p a r t r i d g e s s t i l l o c c u r r e d on Nor th I s l a n d , b u t n e i t h e r o f u s saw o r h e a r d a n y , s o t h e i r i d e n t i t y r e m a i n s i n d o u b t . G a l l u s g a l l u s F e r a l c h i c k e n ; ( p u l maron) F e r a l c h i c k e n s were f i r s t n o t e d by H i l s e n b e r g ( 1 8 2 3 ) , a n d t h e n by most a u t h o r s up t o a n d i n c l u d i n g L i n c o l n ( 1893) . They may have been d e v a s t a t e d by t h e f e r a l d o g s a n d c a t s a r o u n d t h e t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y . N e i t h e r L i o n n e t (1924) n o r D u s s e r c l e (1949) ment ioned f e r a l f o w l , and S c o t t (1961) s t a t e d t h e r e were none i n 1955. One o f t h e l a s t b i r d s Cheke saw on t h e i s l a n d i n 1974, i n t h e c o p s e n o r t h o f S t . James (Nor th I s l a n d ) , was a cock t h a t f l u s h e d a t 150 y a r d s and f l e w o f f . Such b e h a v i o u r i s h a r d l y t y p i c a l o f d o m e s t i c c h i c k e n s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y it w a s by t h e n t o o l a t e t o a s k t h e l o c a l s whe the r f e r a l c h i c k e n s were p r e s e n t . Numida m e l e a g r i s G.uinea Fowl; Guinea Fowl were f i r s t r e p o r t e d by H i l s e n b e r g (1823) ; L i n c o l n (1893) w a s t h e l a s t t o do s o . They p re sumab ly s h a r e d t h e f a t e o f t h e p a r t r i d g e s and c h i c k e n s a f t e r t h e e s c a p e o f h u n t i n g dogs i n 1897. E a r l i e r i n t h e c e n t u r y t h e y were a l w a y s r e f e r r e d t o a s v e r y a b u n d a n t , Leduc (1848) a l l o w i n g t h e i s l a n d s ' l a b o u r e r s t o h u n t Guinea Fowl ( a n d w i l d c h i c k e n s ) b u t n o t t h e p a r t r i d g e s and h a r e s . R e f e r e n c e t o ' p e a c o c k s ' by Bouche ra t (1885) and L i n c o l n (1893) seems l i k e l y t o be due t o a m i s t r a n s l a t i o n i n t o E n g l i s h o f ' p i n t a d e ' ; b o t h were M a u r i t i a n s whose f i r s t l anguage would have been F r e n c h , n o t t h e E n g l i s h t h e y u s e d f o r p r e p a r i n g t h e i r r e p o r t s . L i n c o l n , however, d i d a l s o r e f e r t o 'Guinea f o w l s ' . P l o v e r s p . Bouton (1846) u s e d t h e genus 'Aedicnernus' ( s i c ) f o r one o f t h e b i r d s p e c i e s f rom Agalega p r e s e n t e d by B o j e r t o t h e N a t u r a l H i s t o r y S o c i e t y o f M a u r i t i u s i n 1844. T h i s w a s p re sumab ly a p l o v e r , p e r h a p s t h e Grey P l o v e r P l u v i a l i s s q u a t a r o l a o r t h e G r e a t e r Sand P l o v e r C h a r a d r i u s l e s c h e n a u l t i i ; D e s j a r d i n s , B o u t o n ' s p r e d e c e s s o r a s s e c r e t a r y o f t h e S o c i e t y , u s e d t h e name 'Oedicnemus' f o r t h e l a t t e r i n 1832 ( O u s t a l e t 1 8 9 7 ) . E i t h e r s p e c i e s is t o b e e x p e c t e d , as b o t h o c c u r i n M a u r i t i u s ( S t a u b 1976) a n d t h e S e y c h e l l e s (Penny 1974) . Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel; k o r b i z o F i r s t ment ioned b y Werner ( 1 8 2 4 ) , a n d r e g a r d e d by most s u b s e q u e n t v i s i t o r s as a game b i r d o f q u a l i t y . Leduc (1848, L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 ) , e v i d e n t l y unaware o f t h e Whimbre l ' s m i g r a t i o n s , remarked t h a t h e had been u n a b l e t o f i n d i t s n e s t a n d t h u s presumed it must be e l s e w h e r e t h a n Aga lega . A s t h e r e is no men t ion o f s e a s o n a l i t y by v i s i t o r s , it a p p e a r s t h a t b i r d s are p r e s e n t t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r . S c o t t (1961) r e p o r t e d a f l o c k o f s e v e r a l hundred ' c u r l e w s ' a t t h e n o r t h p o i n t o f N o r t h I s l a n d i n September 1955. A s migh t b e e x p e c t e d t h i s P a l a e a r c t i c s p e c i e s w a s s c a r c e i n J u n e 1974 ( C h e k e ) , a few b e i n g s e e n on b o t h i s l a n d s , w i t h a maximum o f 12 i n s o u t h S o u t h I s l a n d . By c o n t r a s t i n November 1978 t h e s p e c i e s w a s common on b o t h i s l a n d s b o t h i n l a n d a n d n e a r t h e s h o r e l i n e (Lawley) . More w e r e s e e n s i n g l y a m o n g s t t h e t rees i n c o c o n u t p l a n t a t i o n s t h a n anywhere else. A r e n a r i a i n t e r p r e s T u r n s t o n e ; z a l w e t F i r s t men t ioned i n t h e Bojer-Leduc l i s t , as ' S t r e p s i l u s ' ( s i c ) , a l o u e t t e a n d T o u r n e - p i e r r e (Leduc 1948, L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 ) . ' A l o u e t t e s ' o r ' l a r k s ' are o f t e n men t ioned by v i s i t o r s , b u t t h e name c o u l d a l s o a p p l y t o o t h e r s p e c i e s o f s m a l l wade r s (Cheke 1 9 8 2 a ) . B o j e r ' s spec imens , examined by D e s j a r d i n s i n t h e 1830s , are ment ioned by O u s t a l e t ( 1 8 9 7 ) . S c a t t e r e d i n d i v i d u a l s a n d s m a l l g r o u p s s e e n b o t h i n J u n e 1974 (Cheke) a n d November 1978 (Lawley) , b o t h i n l a n d a n d on t h e c o a s t . C a l i d r i s a 1 ba S a n d e r l i n g ; k a v a l y e Cheke' s a w one on t h e a i r s t r i p (Nor th I s l a n d ) . C h i l d r e n a t S t e . R i t a d e s c r i b e d a s m a l l w h i t e s h o r e b i r d known as k a v a l y e ( = ' c a v a l i e r 8 ) t h a t w a s p re sumab ly t h i s s p e c i e s , t hough t h e name i s a p p l i e d i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s t o t h e much l a r g e r Crab P l o v e r Drornas a r d e o l a (Penny 1974, Cheke i n p r e s s , b ) . [ S t e r n a a n a e t h e t u s l [ B r i d l e d T e r n ] L i s t e d by G i b s o n - H i l l (1952) a n d Watson, Z u s i & S t o r e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) , b u t n o t a c c e p t a b l e f o r r e a s o n s g i v e n be low unde r Anous t e n u i r o s t r i s . S t e r n a f u s c a t a Sooty Tern; g o l e t , (yeye) Formerly b r e d i n huge numbers. L inco ln (1893) r e f e r r e d t o " a c r e s of ground ... covered w i t h eggs and b i r d s " and L i o n n e t (1924) s a i d it was p o s s i b l e , d u r i n g t h e s e a s o n , t o " c o l l e c t thousands [o f e g g s ] e v e r y day" . D u s s e r c l e (1949) d e s c r i b e d t h e f i r i n g of t h e co lony i n 1943, s i n c e when t h e b i r d s have n e v e r r e t u r n e d . Leduc (1848, L ionne t 1924) d e s c r i b e d t h e b r e e d i n g season a s f o l l o w s : " B i r d s o f passage . They come and l a y an egg on t h e sand i n Ju ly and August , and l e a v e a g a i n i n February" . T h i s s t a t e m e n t was a c c e p t e d u n c r i t i c a l l y by Gibson-Hil l (1952) and Watson, Zus i & S t o r e r ( 1 9 6 3 ) , d e s p i t e t h e known f a c t t h a t t h e i n c u b a t i o n and f l e d g i n g p e r i o d i n t h e Sooty Tern i s o n l y t h r e e months and t h a t n e s t i n g i s h i g h l y synchron i sed ( e . g . F e a r e 1 9 7 6 ) . L a t e r a u t h o r s r e p o r t e d l a y i n g i n September-October ( L i n c o l n 18931, e x t e n d i n g t o November ( L i o n n e t 1924) - s o I presume Leduc meant t h a t t h e b i r d s a r r i v e d i n J u l y o r August i n o r d e r t o l a y , l a t e r , a n egg on t h e sand ... T h i s i s i n keep ing w i t h t h e t o t a l p e r i o d o f p r e s e n c e , and t h e s t a g e s o f t h e b r e e d i n g season a t Ar ide I s l a n d i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s (Warman & Todd 1979) , though t h e season a p p a r e n t l y s t a r t e d f o u r months l a t e r i n t h e y e a r a t Agalega. Sooty T e r n s were common o f f s h o r e (South I s l a n d ) i n June 1974 (Cheke) . Anous s t o l i d u s Common o r Brown Noddy; (makwa), k ' l e k , maryan, mandria The o n l y p a s t mention i s i n Leduc (1848, L i o n n e t 1924) b o t h i n t h e 'Bojer-Leduc l i s t ' and i n t h e t e x t . The name 'maka' ( l i s t ) o r 'macoua' ( t e x t ) i s d i a g n o s t i c f o r t h i s s p e c i e s (Cheke i n p r e s s , b ) , a l t h o u g h t h e i s l a n d e r s no l o n g e r d i s t i n g u i s h t h e two n o d d i e s today . Leduc r e p o r t e d l a y i n g i n May and June i n bushes ( l i s t ) and " t r e e s and coconu t palms" ( t e x t ) . T h i s noddy may have been l e s s common t h a n t h e mar iannes ( A . t e n u i r o s t r i s ) which B o j e r (1835) r e f e r r e d t o a s d a r k e n i n g t h e sky; h i s v i s i t was i n A p r i l and May (Vaughan 1958) b e f o r e t h e Sooty T e r n s had r e t u r n e d . I t i s n o t c l e a r t o what e x t e n t t h e two n o d d i e s s u f f e r e d from t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e s e a b i r d c o l o n y , b u t none now n e s t on North I s l a n d . The c r e o l e name mandria (=mandreii) i s unique t o t h e o i l i s l a n d s 4 o f Agalega and t h e Chagos (Cheke 1 9 8 2 a ) . The French mandrin means a mandrel , presumably r e c a l l e d by t h e b i r d ' s l o n g p o i n t e d beak. B i r d s were seen f l y i n g i n l a n d i n June 1974 (Cheke, South I s l a n d ) b u t o n l y o f f s h o r e i n November 1978 (Lawley) . P. ~ o u l i n i g t o l d Cheke t h a t t h e y n e s t e d . Agalega and t h e i s l a n d s o f t h e Chagos group a r e known i n M a u r i t i u s a s t h e ' o i l i s l a n d s ' a f t e r t h e i r p r i n c i p a l p r o d u c t , coconu t o i l . A s t h e y were much o f t h e t ime c o n t r o l l e d by t h e same company t h e r e was r e g u l a r movement o f peop le from one t o t h e o t h e r ( S c o t t 1 9 6 1 ) , hence t h e sha red c r e o l e names. A . t e n u i r o s t r i s Les se r o r Black Noddy; maryan, k ' l e k , mandria D e t a i l s from Leduc (1848, Lionnet 1924) a r e t h e same as f o r t h e Common Noddy, b u t it i s t h i s s p e c i e s t h a t Bojer (1835) c la imed w a s i n such numbers as t o darken t h e sky. Some confus ion h a s a r i s e n i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e (Gibson-Hil l 1952, Watson, Zusi & S t o r e r 1963) because of B o j e r ' s use of t h e s c i e n t i f i c name ' S t e r n a a n t a r c t i c a ' f o r t h e 'marianne ' i n t h e 'Bo jer-Leduc l i s t ' (Leduc 1848, L ionne t 1924) . Gibson-Hil l , fo l lowed by Watson e t d l . , assumed t h e s p e c i e s was t h e Br id l ed Tern S . anae the tu s a n t a r c t i c a ; had they known anyth ing of Ind ian Ocean c r e o l e b i r d names they would have r e a l i s e d t h a t 'marianne ' cou ld on ly r e f e r t o Anous t e n u i r o s t r i s (Cheke 1982a) . Where Boje r g o t h i s name ' a n t a r c t i c a ' from we do n o t know; he l e f t t h e 'maka ' , which Gibson-Hill i n t e r p r e t e d c o r r e c t l y , as ' S t e rna s p e c i e s ' . ~ u g r i n ( 1940-53) c i t e d bo th B r i d l e d Tern and Les se r Noddy f o r Agalega, b u t gave no sou rce s . I n June 1974 Cheke saw b i r d s f l y i n g i n l a n d on South I s l a n d and a l s o a few s i t t i n g i n t h e daytime on coconut f r onds . P. ~ o u l i n i g t o l d Cheke they b r ed , and Cheke ' s o b s e r v a t i o n s conf i rm t h a t t h i s i s l i k e l y . No b i r d s were seen on North I s l a n d . Lawley d i d n o t r e co rd any Lesser Noddies i n November 1978. Gygis a l b a F a i r y Tern; gaga r i , ( " g o e l e t t e blanche") Mentioned on ly by Leduc (1848, L ionne t 1924) , Dusserc le (1949) and S c o t t (1961) . Leduc no ted l a y i n g i n May and June: "no n e s t , p l a c e t h e i r egg on a branch". Some b i r d s were i ncuba t i ng and o t h e r s f e ed ing young i n l a t e June 1974 (Cheke; South I s l a n d ) . Seasonal b reed ing seems u n l i k e l y given t h e a l l - y e a r round breed ing i n t h e Seyche l l e s (Penny 1974) and S t . Brandon (Staub & ~ u g h o 1968 ) , a l though t h e r e is a summer (0ct . -Dec.) peak i n t h e l a t t e r i s l a n d s . Not be ing c o l o n i a l t h i s s p e c i e s may n o t have s u f f e r e d from t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e s e a b i r d co lony , b u t i s l i k e l y t o have exper ienced p r e d a t i o n from t r e e - l i v i n g r a t s R a t t u s r a t t u s s i n c e t h e i r i n t r o d u c t i o n i n 1891 ( s e e below) . The onomatopaeic c r e o l e name gaga r i is unique t o t h e o i l i s l a n d s of Agalega and t h e Chagos (Cheke 1982a) . F a i r y Terns were common on South I s l a n d i n June 1974 (Cheke) and i n November 1978 (Lawley) . Ne i t he r of u s saw any on North I s l a n d . [Col umba 1 i v i a I [ F e r a l p igeon; [pizofi]] The o r i g i n a l Bojer-Leduc l i s t (Leduc 1848, Lionnet 1924) i nc ludes a t t h e end a few b i r d s "no t r ep r e sen t ed by specimens", amongst which was 'p igeon de v o l i e r e ' , i . e . , presumably, t h i s s p e c i e s . The sugges t ion i s t h a t t h e y were f e r a l , b u t t h i s i s n o t c e r t a i n . There a r e no f e r a l p igeons p r e s e n t today , no r were they mentioned by any n ine t een th - cen tu ry w r i t e r o t h e r than Leduc . S t r e p t o p e l i a p i c t u r a t a Madagascar T u r t l e Dove ; ( p i z 0 5 ) ramye ' P igeons ' , presumably t h i s s p e c i e s , were noted by Hilsenberg (1823) and l i s t e d amongst t h e game of t h e i s l a n d by many subsequent v i s i t o r s . Boucherat (1885) used the term 'Dutch P igeon ' ; t h e name p i g e o n h o l l a n d a i s , normally s i g n i f y i n g A l e c t r o e n a s spp . , was sometimes used i n Maur i t i u s a t t h a t t ime f o r Nesoenas m a y e r i , a l s o known a s t h e g r o s r a m i e r (Cheke 1982a), a b i r d somewhat resembling S - p i c t u r a t a . The impression from e a r l i e r v i s i t o r s is t h a t t h i s dove was common i n t h e n ine t een th cen tu ry , b u t Gugrin (1940-53), w r i t i n g i n 1940, r epo r t ed a subsequent popu la t i on c r a s h a s fo l lows: "Madagascar T u r t l e Doves were very numerous a t Agalega; a few y e a r s ago they nes t ed i n t h e coconut p l a n t a t i o n s which they en l ivened by t h e i r p l a i n t i v e and monotonous cooing. But fo l lowing a cyclone which caused damage i n t h e i s l a n d [ 1933 ? I , t h e number dec l ined r a p i d l y , and t h e s e b i r d s have today become very r a r e . I t h a s a l s o been r epo r t ed t o me t h a t t h e i s l a n d e r s , who a p p r e c i a t e t h e t a s t e of t h e i r f l e s h , c o n t r i b u t e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y t o t h e i r r educ t ion , k i l l i n g them wi th blows from s t i c k s , p r o f i t i n g , f o r t h i s a c t , t h e moment when t h e b i r d s landed on lumps of p r e s sed coconut (poonac) of which they a r e very fond" (Cheke t r a n s l a t i o n ) . Presumably t h e storm-weakened and s t a r v i n g b i r d s r i s k e d t h e proximity of men t o reach food. The s p e c i e s has never recovered. Assuming they were in t roduced , t h e doves on Agalega appear t o have d i f f e r e n t i a t e d i n t h e 160 o r so y e a r s they have been t h e r e . Gugrin (lot-cit. ) desc r ibed b i r d s r e c e n t l y rece ived from Agalega a s "a l i t t l e sma l l e r than those i n Maur i t i u s , and having a s l i g h t l y darker plumage" (Cheke t r a n s l a t i o n ) . Cheke noted i n 1974 t h a t t h e b i r d s were da rke r than Mauritian examples on t h e back, and had a more o r l e s s green ( i n s t e a d o f p u r p l i s h ) g l o s s . The head was grey l i k e t h e Mauri t ian b i r d s (Malagasy r a c e , S . p . p i c t u r a t a ; Rountree e t a l . 1952) and un l ike t h e Seyche l les o r Aldabra r a c e s (Penny 1974) , whose head i s da rk , l i k e t h e mantle. On t h e b a s i s of t h i s d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n S t r e p t o p e l i a p i c t u r a t a might appear t o be n a t i v e t o Agalega, though i n view of Rozemont's (1809) c a t e g o r i c a l s ta tement t h a t i n 1808 t h e r e were no l andb i rds p r e s e n t , it is more l i k e l y t o be an i n t roduc t ion . The t u r t l e dove is sca rce on Agalega today. Cheke saw only t h r e e o r f o u r dur ing s e v e r a l hours wandering on North I s l a n d i n 1974; Lawley saw none t h e r e i n 1978. Nei ther of u s say any on South I s l and , though P. ~ o u l i n i g t o l d Cheke t h a t t h e r e were some t h e r e . This b i r d may be e x t i n c t o r n e a r l y so . Any seen by f u t u r e v i s i t o r s should be s tud i ed c l o s e l y f o r plumage c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , and any dead ones found saved f o r s tudy . The r ea sons f o r i t s f a i l u r e t o recover a f t e r t h e 1933 cyclone a r e unknown. G e o p e l i a s t r i a t a Zebra Dove; t u t r e l , t u r t r e l The Zebra Dove i s f i r s t mentioned, a s ' t o u r t e r e l l e ' i n t h e f u l l ve r s ion of t h e Bojer-Leduc l is t (Leduc 1848, Lionnet 1924) , and i n Leduc ' s t e x t . Leduc presumably a r ranged f o r t h i s spec i e s , and t h e v a r i o u s p a s s e r i n e s , t o be i n t r o d u c e d s h o r t l y a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l i n 1827, a s t h e l i s t a p p e a r s f rom i n t e r n a l e v i d e n c e t o d a t e f rom b e f o r e B o j e r ' s v i s i t i n 1835. B o j e r i s known t o have r e c e i v e d a c o l l e c t i o n o f b i r d s f rom Leduc i n 1830 ( D e s j a r d i n s 1 8 3 1 ) , and it i s p r o b a b l y t h e s e which a r e c a t a l o g u e d i n t h e s u b s e q u e n t l y famous l i s t . Zebra Doves a r e common t o d a y on b o t h i s l a n d s , shunn ing o n l y t h e Scaevo la t h i c k e t s . They are c o n s p i c u o u s a r o u n d t h e s e t t l e m e n t s and a l o n g t r a c k s . Cheke s a w a newly f l e d g e d j u v e n i l e on Sou th I s l a n d on 27.6 .74 . Apus s p . S w i f t While a b o a r d t h e M a u r i t i u s o f f S t . James on 28 June 1974, w a i t i n g t o s a i l , Cheke watched a s w i f t f l y o v e r t h e s h i p and on sou thwards down t h e c o a s t o f Nor th I s l a n d . I t w a s n o t e d as "a l a r g i s h b l a c k s w i f t w i t h a w h i t e rump and f o r k e d t a i l ; p a l e r t h r o a t ; b e l l y a l i t t l e p a l e r t h a n back" . The t a i l shape s k e t c h e d a t t h e t i m e ( o u t e r f e a t h e r s i n c u r v e d g i v i n g a b a r r e l shape i n s i l h o u e t t e ) w a s immedia te ly r e m i n i s c e n t o f t h e E a s t A f r i c a n A - h o r u s , b u t n o t any o t h e r s p e c i e s f a m i l i a r t o t h e o b s e r v e r . On g e o g r a p h i c a l g r o u n d s , F e a r e (1979) c o n s i d e r e d t h e b i r d more l i k e l y t o b e A . p a c i f i c u s , b u t Brooke & S t e y n ( 1 9 7 9 ) a r g u e d t h a t A.horus was i n f a c t e q u a l l y p r o b a b l e as it i s a p a r t i a l m i g r a n t , and many s o u t h e r n p o p u l a t i o n s a r e on t h e move i n J u n e . [ ' L a r k s ' ] The ' l a r k s ' ment ioned by B o u c h e r a t (18901, L i n c o l n (1893) and S c o t t (1961) are s m a l l waders . The c r e o l e name z a l w e t , o r i n l o c a l F rench a l o u e t t e , i s d e r i v e d f rom m e t r o p o l i t a n F rench a l o u e t t e d e m e r , a n d n e v e r r e f e r s t o Alaud idae ,which d o n o t o c c u r i n t h e Masca renes , S e y c h e l l e s o r o t h e r s m a l l I n d i a n Ocean i s l a n d s (Penny 1974, Cheke 1982a) . Te rps iphone b o u r b o n n e n s i s Mascarene P a r a d i s e F l y c a t c h e r I n c l u d e d , as 'gobe-mouches de l ' ? l e d e ~ r a n c e ' , c o m p l e t e w i t h a page r e f e r e n c e t o Buffon (1770-86) , i n t h e f u l l v e r s i o n o f t h e Bojer-Leduc l i s t (Leduc 1848, L i o n n e t 1924) . Presumably i n t r o d u c e d by Leduc from M a u r i t i u s ca .1827-30 ( q u i t e a f e a t ! ) , b u t s u b s e q u e n t l y d i e d o u t . Z o s t e r o p s c h l o r o n o t h u s M a u r i t i u s O l i v e White-eye I n c l u d e d i n t h e f u l l v e r s i o n of t h e Bojer-Leduc l i s t (Leduc 1848, L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 ) , i n t h e same way a s t h e f l y c a t c h e r , w i t h page r e f e r e n c e t o Buf fon , and B u f f o n ' s name ' c h e r i e [ s i c , = c h e r i c ] ou o e i l b l a n c ' . A l so presumably i n t r o d u c e d f rom M a u r i t i u s and d i e d o u t . P a r o a r i a co rona t a Red-c res t ed C a r d i n a l ; konde ' C a r d i n a l du ~ r g z i l ' C h e k e ' s d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e t h e n (1974) managing d i r e c t o r P a u l ~ o u l i n i g i l l u s t r a t e t h e danger o f r e l y i n g on h e a r s a y t o e s t a b l i s h d a t e s o f b i o l o g i c a l e v e n t s ( c f . a l s o t h e l a n d t o r t o i s e s , a b o v e ) . ~ o u l i n i g s a i d t h a t t h i s s p e c i e s had been d e l i b e r a t e l y i n t r o d u c e d some " twenty y e a r s " b e f o r e . The l i t e r a t u r e e s t a b l i s h e s however t h a t t h e y were c e r t a i n l y a l r e a d y p r e s e n t and common i n 1948 ( a n d p r o b a b l y 1935; D u s s e r c l e 1949) a n d i n d e e d r a t h e r e a r l i e r , as Gugr in (1940-53) , w r i t i n g i n 1940, r e p o r t e d t h e i r i n t r o d u c t i o n a s " twen ty o r s o y e a r s ago". L i o n n e t (1924) c i t e d a n unknown s e a c a p t a i n a s ' r e c e n t l y ' t e l l i n g M H e n r i R o b e r t " e d i t o r o f t h e Revue A g r i c o l e " t h a t no more ' c a Y d i n a l s du ~ r g z i l ' were t o be s e e n ( n o t t r u e , a s it t u r n e d o u t ) . R o b e r t was e d i t o r o f a B u l l e t i n A g r i c o l e f rom 191 1-13 ( T o u s s a i n t & Adolphe 1956) , which w a s p r o b a b l y t h e d a t e o f t h i s exchange ( t h e Revue A g r i c o l e w a s suspended f rom 1902 t o 1922, a n d R o b e r t was n e v e r t h e e d i t o r ( T o u s s a i n t & Adolphe , 1956) ) . Thus t h e b i r d s were c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d b e f o r e 1911, a d a t e somewhat a n t e r i o r t o 1954! Gugr in (1940-53) supposed t h e y had e s c a p e d from a c a g e on a s h i p p a s s i n g Agalega . Whether t h e y were i n t r o d u c e d d e l i b e r a t e l y o r n o t i s i m p o s s i b l e now t o e s t a b l i s h , b u t t h i s s p e c i e s was c e r t a i n l y a p o p u l a r c a g e - b i r d i n t h e Mascarenes from a t l e a s t 1855 onwards ( t o judge by t h e numbers o f f e r r e d t o t h e n a t u r a l h i s t o r y museum i n S t . Den i s gunio ion) ; Cheke, p e r s . o b s . o f t h e museum a c c e s s i o n s r e g i s t e r ) . Gugr in (1940-53) a s c r i b e d t o t h e b i r d t h e b e n e f i c i a l t r a i t o f e a t i n g unwelcome b e e t l e l a r v a e : gons p a r a s t i s i n g c o c o n u t pa lms a n d n u t s , and moutoucs f e e d i n g on c o p r a a n d poonac . P. ~ o u l i n i g ( p e r s . c o m . t o Cheke) r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e s e b i r d s had been e x p o r t e d a s cage b i r d s t o M a u r i t i u s i n t h e p a s t , a n d t h a t t h e y were f o r m e r l y common on b o t h i s l a n d s . I n 1974 t h e r e were o n l y two b i r d s s u r v i v i n g , l i v i n g a round t h e h o u s e s a t Vingt -Cinq ( N o r t h I s l a n d ) , a n d l o c a l s t o l d Cheke t h a t t h e y b r e d o c c a s i o n a l l y , b u t t h a t t h e f l e d g e d young a l w a y s ' d i s a p p e a r e d ' . P. ~ o u l i n i g ( p e r s . c o m . t o Cheke) s a i d t h e r e had been o n l y two f o r s i x y e a r s ( i . e . s i n c e 1968) , b u t t h e p e o p l e a t Vingt -Cinq s u g g e s t e d t h e r e had been t h r e e a d u l t s a n d a j u v e n i l e more r e c e n t l y t h a n t h a t . The re were s t i l l two b i r d s a t Vingt -Cinq i n November 1978 ( L a w l e y ) , which may o r may n o t have been t h e same i n d i v i d u a l s as i n 1974. T h i s un ique w i l d p o p u l a t i o n o f t h i s South American b i r d i s c l e a r l y a b o u t t o d i e o u t . One c a n o n l y s p e c u l a t e a s t o why t h i s b i r d was s o s u c c e s s f u l f o r 40-50 y e a r s , b u t t h e n f a i l e d ; t h e r e was c l e a r l y no human p e r s e c u t i o n , a n d c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h o t h e r i n t r o d u c e d s e e d - e a t e r s seems u n l i k e l y a s t l ley seem t o have been i n t r o d u c e d a b o u t t h e same t i m e . - S e r i n u s mozambicus Y e l l o w - f r o n t e d Cana ry ; s e r e n I n c l u d e d i n t h e f u l l Bojer-Leduc l i s t (Leduc 1848, L i o n n e t 1924) w i t h a page r e f e r e n c e t o Buffon unde r t h e names " O i s e a u du Cap, d i t s e r i n d e Mozambique ou Canar i du Cap" . Presumably i n t r o d u c e d by Leduc ca.1827-30. Not ment ioned by any o t h e r a u t h o r e x c e p t Gu6r in ( 1940-53) . Common t o d a y on b o t h i s l a n d s , f a v o u r i n g e s p e c i a l l y a r e a s o f C a s u a r i n a , f e e d i n g on t h e s e e d s . Cheke a l s o n o t e d f e e d i n g on P i s o n i a s e e d s on Nor th I s l a n d . E s t r i l d a a s t r i l d Waxbill; ( benga l i ) Said by Gugrin (1940-53) , w r i t i n g i n 1940, t o have been in t roduced t o Agalega where it had d i f f i c u l t y e s t a b l i s h i n g i t s e l f . I t presumably even tua l ly f a i l e d , a s it is no longer p r e s e n t today. Padda oryz ivora Java Sparrow; ( k a l f a t ) Mentioned by a sea c a p t a i n t o Henri Robert ( ca . 1912) a s amongst t he s p e c i e s t h a t had d i ed ou t (Lionnet 1924). This is t h e only r e f e r ence t o t h e Java Sparrow on Agalega. Pas se r domesticus House Sparrow; (mwano) Also mentioned by t h e s ea c a p t a i n t o Robert (Lionnet 1924); t h e r e was apparen t ly a t t h a t time a s i n g l e su rv iv ing male. This is t h e only r e f e r ence t o t h e presence of sparrows on Agalega. Foudia madagascar iensis Madagascar Fody o r Card ina l ; ka rd ina l S c o t t (1961) is the only v i s i t o r t o mention c a r d i n a l s , though ~ u g r i n (1940-53), w r i t i n g i n 1940, recorded t h e s p e c i e s from Agalega. It was presumably introduced r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t l y , probably i n t h e l a t e n ine t een th cen tury with t h e Java Sparrows and House Sparrows. The Card ina l occurs today throughout both i s l a n d s , b u t is commoner on North I s l a n d and i s e s p e c i a l l y numerous i n t h e ex t ens ive Scaevola t h i c k e t s t h e r e (Cheke). Males were i n breeding plumage i n J u l y 1974 (Cheke) and November 1978 (Lawley). Acr ido theres tristis Common Mynah; marte; Presumably in t roduced by Leduc, ca.1827-30, a s it occurs i n t h e f u l l Bojer-Leduc l is t under t h e name mart in (Leduc 1848, Lionnet 1924) . It may have dec l ined e a r l y t h i s cen tu ry , a s a sea-capta in r epo r t ed t o Henri Robert ( c a . 1912) t h a t mynahs were no longer t o be seen (Lionnet 1924) . Gugrin (1940-531, w r i t i n g i n 1940, Dussercle (1949) and S c o t t (1961) considered mynahs common, so they ev iden t ly recovered f a i r l y r ap id ly . The d e c l i n e o r disappearance of manybirds around 1912 may have been due t o t h e severe cyclone i n 1911. Mynahs a r e abundant today on both i s l a n d s . Cheke saw a b i r d ca r ry ing n e s t m a t e r i a l on 28.6.74. Mammals [Chi roptera ; b a t s ] Cheke watched f o r , b u t f a i l e d t o see , any b a t s ; none have eve r been recorded from t h e i s l a n d s . Lepus s p . Hare; l i ev Hares were f i r s t r e p o r t e d by Hi l senberg ( 1 8 2 3 ) , presumably hav ing been i n t r o d u c e d a s game an imals by t h e f i r s t s e t t l e r s , a s t h e r e were none i n 1808 (Rozemont 1809) . They t h r i v e d ( s e v e r a l a u t h o r s ) u n t i l 1897 when f e r a l dogs a t t a c k e d a l l game (L ionne t 1 9 2 4 ) ; around 1912 they were s a i d t o b e g e t t i n g d a i l y r a r e r ( c a p t a i n t o Rober t ; L i o n n e t , 1 9 2 4 ) . D u s s e r c l e ' s account (1949) s u g g e s t s t h a t h a r e s d i e d o u t comple te ly , and had t o be r e - i n t r o d u c e d , and t h a t t h i s was done o n l y on North I s l a n d . S c o t t (1961) r e p o r t e d h a r e s i n 1955 around Montagne dlErnmerez (North I s l a n d ) . T h i s s p e c i e s h a s presumably th roughout been t h e Black-naped Hare Lepus n i g r i c o l l i s , t h e o n l y s p e c i e s i n M a u r i t i u s ( ~ a r i 6 1916, Cheke i n p r e s s b ) . R a b b i t s a r e mentioned a t one p o i n t i n t h e t e x t of Leduc (1848) by Saint-Elme Leduc, t h e e d i t o r , b u t t h i s seems t o have been a c a s e o f a s s o c i a t i o n , r a b b i t s be ing thrown i n a s " r a b b i t s and h a r e s " g e n e r a l l y go t o g e t h e r i n t h e European mind. There i s no s u g g e s t i o n from August Leduc, n o r from any v i s i t o r s , t h a t r a b b i t s O r y c t o l a g u s c u n i c u l u s were e v e r e s t a b l i s h e d on t h e i s l a n d s . Cheke was t o l d by P . ~ o u l i n i g and Bonhom i n 1974 t h a t h a r e s s t i l l e x i s t e d on North I s l a n d . N e i t h e r of u s saw any. Mus s p . Mouse; ( t i l e r a ) Leduc (1848) r e p o r t e d t h a t mice were a l r e a d y p r e s e n t when he a r r i v e d ( 1 8 2 7 ) , and t h a t t h e y had r e s i s t e d a l l e f f o r t s t o c o n t r o l them (30,000 were k i l l e d i n 18 months) . The o n l y o t h e r a u t h o r t o mention them a s Laplace ( 184 1-54) . They presumably s t i l l s u r v i v e , t h e i r d e p r e d a t i o n s overshadowed by t h o s e of t h a t l a t e r a r r i v a l , t h e r a t . The s p e c i e s invo lved i s no doubt Mus m u s c u l u s , t h e on ly s p e c i e s i n M a u r i t i u s ( ~ a r i 6 1916, Cheke i n p r e s s b ) . R a t t u s r a t t u s Ship R a t ; l e r a Leduc (1848) r e p o r t e d t h a t r a t s had been i n t r o d u c e d i n 1832, b u t t h a t by 1834 t h e y had been e r a d i c a t e d . I n 1891 t h e supply schooner M a t h i l d e was wrecked on t h e r e e f s , and i t s r a t s c o l o n i s e d t h e i s l a n d s ( L i o n n e t 1924, D u s s e r c l e 1 9 4 9 ) , soon t o c a u s e havoc t o t h e coconut p l a n t a t i o n s , up t o 25-30% of t h e c r o p b e i n g l o s t ( D u s s e r c l e , 1949) . Rat-hunt ing developed i n t o a major i n d u s t r y f o r c h i l d r e n , up t o 60,000 b e i n g k i l l e d p e r y e a r f o r a bounty Dusse rc le ( 1 9 4 9 ) . They a r e s t i l l most abundant . Dusse rc le (1949) r e p o r t e d r a t s l i v i n g p r i m a r i l y i n r o o f s and i n t h e crowns of coconut palms, behaviour t y p i c a l of R. r a t t u s . There i s no ev idence t h a t R. n o r v e g i c u s i s a l s o p r e s e n t . C a n i s d o m e s t i c u s F e r a l dog; l i s y e i i maroii Reported a s p r e v a l e n t a f t e r imported h u n t i n g dogs h y b r i d i s e d w i t h l o c a l mongrels i n 1897, b u t s a i d t o have been e l im ina t ed by shoot ing (Lionnet 1924, Dusserc le 1949) . In 1974 P . ~ o u l i n i g t c l d Cheke t h a t some e x i s t e d on South I s l a n d . F e l i s c a t u s F e r a l c a t ; s a t maron C a t s were r e l e a s e d i n t h e 1890s i n an a t t emp t t o c o n t r o l r a t s ( c a r & 1916, L ionne t , 1924) . F e r a l c a t s were r e p o r t e d by S c o t t (1961) i n 1955, b u t were n o t r e p o r t e d t o u s i n t h e 1970s; t h i s may have been an o v e r s i g h t . Sus s c r o f a F e r a l p i g ; koson maron F e r a l p i g s were mentioned by Werner (1824) and Leduc (1848) b u t by no o t h e r a u t h o r , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t , accord ing t o P. ~ o u l i n i g ( p e r s . comm. t o Cheke) they a r e s t i l l common on bo th i s l a n d s . Ne i t he r of u s saw any. Equus spp. Horses and Donkeys; suva l and ( b u r i k ) Although Leduc (1848) imported h o r s e s , it appea r s n o t t o have been u n t i l l a t e r t h a t f e r a l he rd s developed. Both f e r a l ho r se s and donkeys a r e mentioned by Dussercle ( 1949) , b u t on ly t h e former by S c o t t ( 1961 ; South I s l a n d o n l y ) . Only a handfu l o f ho r se s su rv ive t oday , on South I s l a n d . A n o t e on t h e coconut c r a b B i rqus l a t r o While w r i t i n g on Agalega it seems a p p r o p r i a t e t o c l e a r up an e r r o r i n t he l i t e r a t u r e about t h e on ly o t h e r l a r g e l and animal known from t h e i s l a n d s , t h e Coconut Crab Bi rqus l a t r o . Lionnet (1924) a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e c r a b was in t roduced i n t h e mid-nineteenth c e n t u r y , on t h e grounds t h a t i c was n o t mentioned by Bojer ( i . e . presumably, Boje r 1835 ) . Th i s view was fol lowed by Dussercle (19491, who added s p e c u l a t i v e sou rce s f o r t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n . However Lionnet over looked t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Bojer- Leduc l i s t of ca.1830 (Leduc 1848 ) , reproduced i n h i s own book, i nc ludes two specimens of B i rqus , w i th a s h o r t comment by Leduc on t h e i r behaviour . Leduc (18481, e lsewhere i n t h e t e x t , a l s o s t a t e s t h a t " C i p a i l s (Bi rqus l a t r o ) , c r a b s and Bernard 1 ' e r m i t e [ he rmi t c r a b s ] a r e t h e on ly c r u s t a c e a n s which l i v e on l and" (Cheke t r a n s l a t i o n ) . Although e a r l i e r v i s i t o r s d i d n o t mention them (none mentioned c r u s t a c e a n s a t a l l ) , t h e r e i s no r ea son t o suppose t h e c r a b s were n o t n a t i v e ; t hey would s c a r c e l y , a s coconut p r e d a t o r s , have been in t roduced d e l i b e r a t e l y (though admi t t ed ly good t o e a t ) , and a c c i d e n t a l i n t r o d u c t i o n seems u n l i k e l y . By t h e t ime Dussercle (1949) was w r i t i n g , Coconut Crabs were s c a r c e and d e c l i n i n g , t h e au tho r commenting i n an a s i d e on t h e i r c u l i n a r y exce l l ence . S ince then they appear t o have d i ed o u t . S c o t t (1961) cover ing t h e fauna and t h e i s l a n d e r s ' d i e t i n some d e t a i l d i d n o t mention them, and no th ing was heard of them i n 1974 o r 1978. Acknowledgements We a r e bo th indebted t o ~ e r v & ~ y l v a , t h e n i s l a n d schoolmaster (now, i n 1983, i t s a d m i n i s t r a t o r ) , f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n many ways on Agalega. Cheke i s a l s o g r a t e f u l t o Harold Poponneau, then i s l a n d manager, f o r accommodation, and t o Paul ~ o u l i n i g then Managing Direc tor of t h e Chagos-Agalega Co., f o r permission t o v i s i t t h e i s l a n d and f o r much u s e f u l information. Cheke would a l s o l i k e t o thank Louis Lionnet f o r acces s t o a copy of Leduc's manuscript and f o r photocopying t h e maps from ~ o u f f ; (19131, and Guy Rou i l l a rd and Madeleine Ly-Tio-Fane f o r a photocopy of H i l s enbe rg ' s MS no te s . He i s a l s o g r a t e f u l t o t he s t a f f of t h e Maur i t ius Archives , Maur i t ius I n s t i t u t e , Publ ic Record Of f i ce , B r i t i s h L ib ra ry , Bodleian Library and Rhodes House Library (Oxford) f o r acces s t o m a t e r i a l i n t h e i r c a r e . Robert ~ r ? s - ~ o n e s and Tony Diamond k ind ly commented on a d r a f t of t h i s paper , and D.R. S todda r t provided m a t e r i a l on rock samples, r e c e n t r a i n f a l l d a t a and a s s o c i a t e d r e f e r ences . References Anderson, C . 1838. R e p o r t on a p p r e n t i c e s i n the i s l a n d s d e p e n d e n t on M a u r i t i u s . MS i n t h e Publ ic Record Off ice (CO 167 vo l . 204, No. 105) and (copied) i n t h e Maur i t ius Archives ( ~ / 3 / 2 ) . Anon. ("A.Lec ..." ) . 1828. [ ~ g l a n ~ e s h i s t o r i q u e s e t g60graphiques] I l e ~ a l g g a . N o u v . A n n - V o y . , Ser .2 , 8 , 88-92. Bai ley , D. 1971. L i s t o f the f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s a n d ferns o f S e y c h e l l e s w i t h their v e r n a c u l a r n a m e s . 3rd.ed. ~ a h 6 , Seyche l les : Government P r i n t e r . 46 pp. Benson, C.W. & Penny, M . J . 1971. The Land b i r d s of Aldabra. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 260, 417-527. Bojer , W. 1835. [ L e t t e r from Agalega t o Chief J u s t i c e E . B . Blackburn of Maur i t ius , 12 A p r i l 1935; followed by a l i s t of p l a n t s ] . MS i n t h e Royal Soc ie ty of A r t s and Sc iences , Maur i t ius , p reserved a t t h e Maur i t ius Sugar Indus t ry Research I n s t i t u t e , Le ~ g d u i t . Publ ished, with an i n t roduc t ion by L. 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Washington : Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n . Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1977. L i s t e de r rezenten Amphibien und Repti? i e n . Testudines , Crocodylia , Rhynchocephalia. T i e r r e i c h 100, 174 pp. Werner. ca.1824. M r Werner's r e p o r t on the D e p e n d e n c i e s o f M a u r i t i u s . MS ( 5 pp. on Agalega) i n t h e Mauri t ius Archives (LH 48 & TB l / 3 ) . P l a t e 1. The j e t t y , P o r t S t James, North I s l a n d ( A . S. Cheke) P l a t e 2 . The wreck o f t h e Wajao, o f f S t e R i t a , South I s l a n d . Note t h e C a s u a r i n a f r i n g e a long t h e s h o r e ; look ing n o r t h . ( A . S. Cheke) P l a t e 3. The c h a p e l , S t e R i t a . Note t h e l a r g e o l d Delonix r e y i ~ t r e e ( A . S. Cheke) P l a t e 4 . Two G l o s s y Ibises P l e g a d i s f a l c i n e l l u s o n a c o c o n u t p a l m , S t e R i t a ( A . S . Cheke) P l a t e 5. G l o s s y I b i s o n o p e n g r o u n d w i t h S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t b e h i n d , November 1978 (J. C. L a w l e y ) P l a t e 6 . Red-cres ted C a r d i n a l P a r o a r i s dominicana i n papaya t r e e , Vingt-Cinq, November 1978 (J. C . Lawley) P l a t e 7. Male day-gecko Phelsuma b o r b o n i c a a g a l e g a e on coconut palm t r u n k , North I s l a n d (A. S. Cheke) P l a t e 8. N a t i v e c o c o n u t s , S c a e v o l a u n d e r s t o r y and b a r e g r o u n d , s o u t h e a s t p a r t o f Sou th I s l a n d , j u s t - i n l a n d f rom t h e c o a s t (A. S. Cheke) P l a t e 9. A r e l a t i v e l y open p a t c h o f t h e n a t i v e c o c o n u t area i n t h e c e n t r e o f Sou th I s l a n d showing t h e g round l a y e r o f A c r o s t i c h u m aureum and o t h e r f e r n s (A . S. Cheke) P l a t e 10. Grande Nontagne, South I s l a n d , showing S u r i a n a m a r i t i m a on t h e dunes and a b road b e l t o f S c a e v o l a t a c c a d a f r i n g i n g t h e s h o r e ( A . S. Cheke) P l a t e 11. A s p l e n i u m n i d u s growing on t h e ground, South I s l a n d Plate 12. P s i l o t u m nudum on a grass tussock amongst N e p h r o l e p i s , South Island ( A . S. Cheke) 5. LIST OF THE RECORDED VASCULAR FLORA OF AGALEGA by F. R. Fosbe rg , ~ a r i e - ~ g l z n e S a c h e t and D. R . S t o d d a r t I n t r o d u c t i o n Agalega i s t h e l a r g e s t u n e l e v a t e d c o r a l i s l a n d i n t h e w e s t e r n I n d i a n Ocean (Nor th I s l a n d 1170 h a , Sou th I s l a n d 930 h a , t o t a l 2100 h a ) , and undoub ted ly h a s t h e l a r g e s t f l o r a . However, it h a s n o t b e e n , and is n o t a t p r e s e n t , p o s s i b l e t o o f f e r any r e l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n as t o t h e s i z e a n d c o m p o s i t i o n o f e i t h e r i n d i g e n o u s o r t o t a l f l o r a . U n t i l t h e v i s i t s by John P r o c t e r i n A p r i l 1972 and S t o d d a r t i n August 1976, l i t t l e s e r i o u s c o l l e c t i n g had been done t h e r e . B o j e r c o l l e c t e d m a t e r i a l i n 1835 b u t few o f h i s spec imens s e e m t o be s t i l l e x t a n t . A s y s t e m a t i c s e a r c h i n t h e h e r b a r i a a t P a r i s and Kew would d o u b t l e s s l e a d t o t h e d i s c o v e r y o f some o f h i s spec imens , b u t t h i s would i n v o l v e b o t h much t i m e and a l s o a good knowledge o f t h e f l o r a o f t h e r e g i o n , t o y i e l d s i g n i f i c a n t r e s u l t s . C o l l e c t i o n s made by Dupont i n J u l y 1934, by M a m e t i n May 1955 and by Wiehe i n September 1961 a r e i n t h e Herbar ium o f t h e Suga r I n d u s t r y Resea rch I n s t i t u t e i n M a u r i t i u s . S t o d d a r t l i s t e d t h e s e d u r i n g a v i s i t i n 1969, and l a t e r Fosbe rg examined them, b u t t h e s e c o l l e c t i o n s a s a whole have n o t been d e t e r m i n e d c r i t i c a l l y . P r o c t e r ' s spec imens i n t h e Herbarium o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Mahe, S e y c h e l l e s , a r e more c a r e f u l l y named though w i t h o u t t h e b e n e f i t o f r e l i a b l y d e t e r m i n e d c o l l e c t i o n s f o r compar i son , and some i d e n t i t i e s a r e t h u s d o u b t f u l . Excep t f o r s c a t t e r e d r e f e r e n c e s t o Agalega p l a n t s i n t h e g e n e r a l s y s t e m a t i c l i t e r a t u r e , knowledge o f t h e f l o r a h a s r e s t e d on a pos thumously p u b l i s h e d l i s t by B o j e r (Bouton 18711, which w a s o b v i o u s l y n o t i n t e n d e d by him f o r p u b l i c a t i o n . T h i s w a s added t o , somewhat, and r e p u b l i s h e d by C a p t . J. G . L i o n n e t i n 1924. Both o f t h e s e l i s t s a r e s o f u l l o f m i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s , m i s s p e l l i n g s and i n v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d names, o f t e n u n i d e n t i f i a b l e , t h a t it would have been much b e t t e r i f t h e y had n e v e r been p u b l i s h e d a n d w e c o u l d s t a r t w i t h a somewhat c l e a n e r s la te . A t o l l Resea rch B u l l e t i n No. 273: 109-142, 1983. The p resen t l i s t i s designed t o account f o r the ex tan t specimens and a l l names t h a t we a r e aware of in published records, together with records c i t e d by A.S. Cheke and J. Lawley i n the previous paper and a l s o l i s t e d s e p a r a t e 1 y . b ~ Cheke (pe r s . com, 13 September 1980). Where the name o r spe l l ing given in a published record d i f f e r s from t h a t accepted here by us , the o r i g i n a l spe l l ing i s given i n parentheses a f t e r the record. Some of the spe l l ings , e spec ia l ly those given by Lionnet, a r e so incor rec t t h a t it i s doubtful what was intended. Where there i s se r ious doubt, t h i s i s indicated by pa ren the t i ca l notes. Our own doubful i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s a r e indica ted by quer ies ( ? ) . Synonymy and published mis iden t i f i ca t ions a r e cross-referenced. We a re under no i l l u s i o n , e i t h e r t h a t t h i s i s a complete l i s t , t h a t a l l names a r e c o r r e c t , o r t h a t a l l the species l i s t e d a r e a t present members of the f l o r a . Ordinary c u l t i v a t e d vegetables, recorded by Bojer a s grown in 1835, a r e re ta ined in the l i s t even though it i s unlikely t h a t many of them were ra i sed with any success. The p resen t l i s t is not t o be regarded a s adequate f o r phyto- geographic use. To gather mater ia l fo r a reasonably complete l i s t would requi re a v i s i t of a t l e a s t a week o r two by a competent c o l l e c t o r . Detailed desc r ip t ive notes on the vegetat ion would a l s o be very des i rab le . For records of a lgae , l ichens , hepat ics and mosses of Agalega, see Montagne (1841, 1844-1846 and 1856). L i s t of p l a n t s ACANTHACEAE A s y s t a s i a b o j e r i m a Nees **Stoddart 7262 (US) (S) AMARANTHAC EAE A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L . var . m o l l i s (Moq.) Townsend *Bojer 1835 Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( N ) -- Stoddart 7237 (US) ( N ) A e r v a sp. Dupont i n July 1934 ( M A U ) A1 t e r n a n t h e r a sessil i s L . Stoddart 7271 (US) (S) Amaranthus a s p e r u s ( p r o b a b l y i n e r r o r f o r A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L . , which see) B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 +Amaranthus o l e r a c e u s L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 +Amaranthus t r i c o l o r L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 C e l o s i a s p a t h u l a t a B o j e r B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 +Gomphrena g l obosa L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 (as Gomphryna g l o b o s a ) ANACARDIACEAE +Mangi fera i n d i c a L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1922, p . 54 L i o n n e t 1924 M a m e t 1978, p . 105 * Records c u l l e d from l i t e r a t u r e are l i s t e d w i t h a u t h o r s ' names n o t u n d e r l i n e d , a n d w i t h name o r s p e l l i n g used by t h e a u t h o r f o l l o w i n g i n p a r e n t h e s e s i f d i f f e r e n t from t h a t a c c e p t e d by u s . B o j e r r e c o r d s a r e c i t e d as 1835, when h i s l i s t w a s compi l ed , r a t h e r t h a n as 1871, when it w a s p u b l i s h e d . Comments on some o f t h e s e r e c o r d s are added , i n p a r e n t h e s e s . L i o n n e t 1924 c i t a t i o n s are from pp . 72-76. ** Specimens seen by u s are c i t e d w i t h c o l l e c t o r ' s name u n d e r l i n e d , f o l l o w e d by h i s c o l l e c t i o n number, u n d e r l i n e d , o r by t h e y e a r ; t h e n f o l l o w e d , i n p a r e n t h e s e s , by t h e s t a n d a r d symbols f o r t h e h e r b a r i a i n w h i c h , t h e y are d e p o s i t e d . The symbol MAHE ( f o r t h e he rba r ium o f t h e Depar tment o f A g r i c u l t u r e , V i c t o r i a , Mahe, S e y c h e l l e s ) i s n o t a n o f f i c i a l symbol i n t h e Index Herbar iorum, e d . 7. I n second p a r e n t h e s e s , N o r S a r e u s e d f o r Nor th o r Sou th I s l a n d , Aga lega , where t h i s informa- t i o n is r e c o r d e d . + ~ n t r o d u c e d s p e c i e s . +Spond ias d u l c i s P a r k i n s o n L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Spondia d u l c i s ) ANNONACEAE +Annona r e t i c u l a t a L . B o j e r 1835 ( a s Anona r e t i c u l a t a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Anona r e t i c u l a t a ) Mamet 1978, p. 107 +Anona squamosa L . B o j e r 1835 ( a s Anona squamosa) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Anona squamosa) Mamet 1978, p . 102 APIACEAE (UMBELLIFER +Api um grave01 e n s L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 Mamet 1978, p. 107 +Apium p e t r o s e l i n u m L . B o j e r 3835 ( a s Apium p e t r o s e l i u m ) L i o n n e t 1924 +Daucus c a r o t a L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 APOCYNACEAE +Catharan t h u s r o s e u s ( L . ) G . Don B o j e r 1835 ( a s V i n c a r o s e a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s V i n c a r o s e a l Mamet 1978, p. 106 ( a s ~ i n c a r o s e a ) S t o d d a r t 7287 ( U S ) ( S ) Cerbera o d o l l a m G a e r t n . Cerbera manghas s e n s u a u c t . non L . ( p r o b a b l y i s Cerbera o d o l l a m a s C . manqhas i s n o t found i n t h e w e s t e r n I n d i a n Ocean) B o j e r 1835 ( a s Cerbera s p . ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Cerbera s p . Dupont i n 1934 ( M A U ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU ( S : Le J a r d i n ) Neisosperma o p p o s i t i f o l i a (Lam.) Fosberg & S a c h e t Dupont ~ G / 1 5 ( M A U ) Mamet i n 1955 ( M A U ) ( S ) +Nerium oleander L. Bojer 1835 Lionnet 1924 Stoddar t , s i g h t ( N ) ARACEAE Colocasia e scu len ta ( L . ) Schot t Bojer 1835 ( a s A r u m esculentum) Lionnet 1924 ( a s A r u m esculentum) Typhonodorum lindleyanum Schot t Mamet 1978, p . 99 (S ) ARECACEAE ( PALMAE ) +Cocos nuc i f e ra L. de Richery 1785 Rozemont 1809 P r i o r 1820 Moresby 1822 Hilsenberg 1823 Werner 1824 Bojer 1835 Unienvi l le 1838 F robe rv i l l e 1848 Lionnet 1924 Mamet 1978, p . 103 Cheke, s i g h t ( N , S) S toddar t , s i g h t ( N , S) +Lodoicea maldivica (Gmel.) Pe r s . Anon. 1828 Leduc 1848 Lionnet 1924 ( a s d r i f t seed?) +Phoenix d a c t y l i f e r a L. Bojer 1835 ( a s phoenix d a c t i l i f e r a ) Lionnet 1922, p . 54; 1924 Mamet 1978, p . 106 +Phoenix sp. Recorded by Mamet i n 1955 a s t h e hos t f o r Asplenium and Psiloturn b u t no t c o l l e c t e d ASCLEPIADACEAE T y l o p h o r a 1 a e v i g a t a Decne . Cynanchum m a u r i t i a n u m Bojer ex Decne. Bojer 1835 ( a s Cynanchum m a u r i t i a n u m ) Lionnet 1924 ( a s Cynanchum m a u r i t i a n u m ) ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE) +Agera tum c o n y z o i d e s L. ? A g e r a t u m c o e r u l e u m Bojer (This name i s sometimes appl ied t o a Tropical American weed, b u t t h e r e i s no reason t o t h ink it was ever i n Agalega. Bojer probably had a b l u i s h form of A . c o n y z o i d e s ) Bojer 1835 ( a s A g e r a t u m c o e r u l e u m ) Lionnet 1924 ( a s A g e r a t u m c o e r u l e u m ) + B i d e n s p i l o s a L. S toddar t 7246 ( U S ) ( N ) + B i d e n s p i n n a t a Bo j e r (No such name i s recorded a s v a l i d l y publ ished. Bojer poss ib ly had B i d e n s p i l o s a o r perhaps D a h l i a o r C o s m o s , b u t t h e r e is no way t o know which) Bojer 1835 Lionnet 1924 + H e l i a n t h u s a n n u u s L . H e l i a n t h u s m a j o r Bojer ( no such name has been v a l i d l y publ ished. Bojer poss ib ly used it f o r c u l t i v a t e d large-headed H . a n n u u s ) Bojer 1835 ( a s ~ e l i a n t h u s m a j o r ) Lionnet 1924 ( a s H e l i a n t h u s m a j o r ) + L a c t u c a a n d i v i a Bojer (No such name v a l i d l y publ ished; perhaps t h e c u l t i v a t e d endive, C i c h o r i u m e n d i v i a L .) Bojer 1835 ( a s L a c t u c a a n d i v i a ) Lionnet 1924 ( a s L a c t u c a a n d i v i a ) + L a c t u c a i n d i c a L . Bojer 1835 Lionne t 1924 + L a c t u c a 01 e r a c e a Bo j e r (No such name v a l i d l y publ ished; probably L a c t u c a s a t i v a L . ) Bojer 1835 Lionne t 1924 + S i g e s b e c k i a o r i e n t a l i s L. Bo j e r 1835 ( a s S i e g e s b e c k i a o r i e n t a l i s ) Lionnet 1924 ( a s S i e g e s b e c k i a o r i e n t a l i s ) + T i t h o n i a t e g t i o i d e s Bojer ( T h i s name n o t v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d : c o u l d it b e T i t h o n i a t e g e t i f l o r a D e s f . f r o m M e x i c o ? ) Bojer 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s T a g e t e s t a g e t i c i d e s ) + T r i d a x procumbens L . S t o d d a r t 7283 ( U S ) ( S ) + ~ e r n o n i a c i n e r e a ( L . ) L e s s . Mamet i n 1955 ( M A U ) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7274 ( U S ) ( S ) + I m p a t i e n s b a l s a m i n a L . B o j e r 1835 ( a s B a l s a m i n a h o r t e n s i s , ar! a p p a r e n t l y u n p u b l i s h e d name ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s B a l s a m i n a h o r t e n s i s ) BIGNON IACEAE + T a b e b u i a h e t e r o p h y l l a (DC. ) B r i t t . T a b e b u i a p a l l i d a s e n s u a u c t . non M i e r s Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7267 ( U S ) ( S ) BORAG INACEAE B o r r a g o i n d i c a L . s e e T r i c h o d e s m i a i n d i c a ( L . ) R . B r . C o r d i a s u b c o r d a t a Lam. B o j e r 1835 Mamet i n 1955 ( m u ) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7240 ( U S ) ( N ) T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a L . f . H i l s e n b e r g 1823 W e r n e r 1824 B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 C h e k e , s i g h t ( N ) Mamet 1978 p . 102 Mamet i n 1955 ( m u ) ( N , S ) S t o d d a r t 7241 ( U S ) ( N ) , 7256 ( U S ) ( S ) T r i c h o d e s m i a i n d i c a ( L . ) R . B r B o r a g o i n d i c a L . Bojer 1835 ( a s B o r r a g o i n d i c a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s B o r r a g o i n d i c a ) BRASSICACEAE (CRUCIFERAE) + B r a s s i c a c h i n e n s i s L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 + B r a s s i c a o l e r a c e a L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 M a m e t 1 9 7 8 , p . 1 0 2 + B r a s s i c a p e - t s a i B a i l e y M a m e t 1 9 7 8 , p . 1 0 2 +Raphanus s a t i v u s L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 S i n a p i s p r a t e n s i s B o j e r ( W e do n o t f i n d t h a t t h i s n a m e h a s b e e n v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d : p e r h a p s e i t h e r S i n a p i s a r v e n s i s L . = B r a s s i c a k a b e r (DC. ) W h e e l e r , o r , m o r e l i k e l y , B r a s s i c a n i g r a L . ) B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 BROMEL IACEAE +Ananas c o m o s u s ( L . ) M e r r . B r o m e l i a a n a n a s L . L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 , p . 7 6 (as B r o m e l i a a n a n a s ) C ANNACEAE +Canna i n d i c a L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 +Canna sp . M a m e t 1 9 7 8 , p. 1 0 7 CAPPARIDACEAE C l e o m e v i s c o s a L . M a m e t i n 1 9 5 5 (MAU) (N) +Cleome g y n a n d r a L . G y n a n d r o p s i s p e n t a p h y l l a ( L . ) DC. B o j e r 1 8 3 5 (as G y n a n d r o p s i s p e n t a p h y l l a ) L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 ( a s G y n a n d r o p s i s p e n t a p h i l l a ) S t o d d a r t 7 2 7 6 ( U S ) ( S ) C a l o p h y l l u m i n o p h y l l u m v a r . takamaka F o s b e r g W e r n e r 1824 ( a s T a k a m a k a ) B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 C h e k e , s i g h t ( N ) Mamet i n 1955 ( M A U ) ( S : P t e Takamaka) S t o d d a r t 7281 ( U S ) ( S ) , 7292 ( U S ) ( s ) ; s i g h t ( N ) COMBRETACEAE + T e r m i n a l i d c a t a p p a L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 C h e k e , s i g h t ( S f N ) Mamet 1978, p . 102 S t o d d a r t 7268 ( U S ) ( S ) ; s i g h t ( N ) COMMELI NACEAE + C o m e l i n a d i f f u s a B u r m . f . Dupont i n 1934 (MAU) CONVOLVULACEAE +Ipomoea b a t a t a s ( L . ) Lam. B o j e r 1835 ( a s C o n v o l v u l u s b a t a t a s ) Ipomoea m a c r a n t h a R . a n d S . Ipomoea g l a b e r r i m a Bo j e r e x Hook. Ipomoea t u b a ( S c h l . ) Don B o j e r 1835 ( a s Ipomoea g l a b e r i m a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Ipomoea g l a b e r r i m a ) Wiehe 1606 (MAU) (N) -- Ipornoea m a r i t i m a R. B r . : see Ipomoea p e s - c a p r a e ( L . ) R . B r . s u b s p . p e s - c a p r a e Ipomoea p e s - c a p r a e ( L . ) R. B r . s u b s p . p e s - c a p r a e Ipomoea m a r i t i m a R . B r . Bojer 1835 ( a s Ipomoea m a r i t i m a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Ypomoea m a r i t i r n a ) Mamet 1978, p . 106 S t o d d a r t 7258 ( U S ) ( S ) CRASSULACEAE + K a l a n c h o e p i n n a t a am.) P e r s . C h e k e , s i g h t (N) S t o d d a r t 7243 ( U S ) ( S ) CUCURBITACEAE +Cucumis a c u t a n g u l u s L . : s e e L u f f a a c u t a n g u l a ( L . ) R o x b . + C u c u m i s m e l o L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 S t o d d a r t 7272 ( U S ) ( S ) C u c u m i s m u r i c a t u s W i l l d . : s e e C u c u m i s s a t i v u s L . +Cucumis s a t i v u s L . C u c u m i s m u r i c a t u s W i l l d . B o j e r 1835 ( a s C u c u m i s m u r i c a t u s and C . s a t i v u s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C u c u m i s m a u r i c a t u s and C . s a t i v u s ) C u c u r b i t a a u r a n t i a W i l l d . : s e e C u c u r b i t a p e p o L . C u c u r b i t a m e l o p e p o L . : s e e C u c u r b i t a p e p o L . + C u c u r b i t a p e p o L . C u c u r b i t a a u r a n t i a W i l l d . C u c u r b i t a m e l o p e p o L . B o j e r 1835 ( a s C u c u r b i t a a u r a n t i a W i l l d . a n d C . m e l o p e p o L . ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C u c u r b i t a a u r a n t i a W i l l d . and C . m e l o p e p o L . ) C u c u r b i t a l a g e n a r i a L . : s e e L a g e n a r i a s i c e r a r i a ( M o l d . ) S t a n d l . + L a g e n a r i a s i c e r a r i a (Mol . ) S t a n d 1 . C u c u r b i t a l a g e n a r i a L . B o j e r 1835 ( a s C u c u r b i t a l a g e n a r i a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C u c u r b i t a l a g e n a r i a ) + L u f f a a c u t a n g u l a ( L . ) Roxb . Cucurr i s a c u t a n g u l u s L . B o j e r 1835 ( a s C u c u m i s a c u t a n g u l u s L . ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C u c u m i s a c t u a n g u l u s ) + S e c h i u m e d u l e ( J a c q . ) Sw. Mamet 1978, p . 106 CY PERACEAE C y p e r u s c o m o s u s P o i r . ( p o s s i b l y t h i s b u t t h i s i s o n e o f three homonyms) B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 + C y p e r u s c o m p r e s s u s L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 C y p e r u s g a l a g e n s i s C . B . C1 . B o u t o n a c c . C . B . C l a r k e 1883 ( B o u t o n ' s s p e c i m e n i s the t y p e ) C y p e r u s j a v a n i c u s Houtt. M a r i s c u s p e n n a t u s (Lam. ) Domin. Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( N ) Wiehe i n 1961 ( M A U ) ( N ) C y p e r u s c f . k y l l i n g i a E n d l . Dupont ~ ~ / 2 3 (MAU) C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L . M a r i s c u s g l a n d u l o s u s B o j e r Bojer 1835 ( a s M a r i s c u s g l a n d u l o s u s ) Bouton, B l a c k b u r n a c c . C . B . C l a r k e 1883 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s M a r i s c u s g l a n d u l o s u s ) R e n v o i z e 1975 Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( N ) Wiehe 1605 ( M A U ) ( N ) -- S t o d d a r t 7248 ( U S ) ( N ) C y p e r u s p l a t y s t a c h y u s Griseb . : see C y p e r u s t e n u i s sw . + C y p e r u s p o l y s t a c h y o s R o t t b . P y c r e u s p o l y s t a c h y o s ( R o t t b . ) B e a u v . R e n v o i z e 1975 ( a s P y c r e u s p o l y s t a c h y o s ) S t o d d a r t '7269 ( U S ) ( S ) , 7286 ( U S ) ( S ) C y p e r u s r o t u n d u s L . Mamet 1978, p . 105 C y p e r u s t e n u i f l o r u s R o t t b . B l a c k b u r n a c c . C . B . C l a r k e 1883 C y p e r u s t r i c e p s E n d l . K y l l i n g a t r i c e p s Bojer B o j e r 1835 ( a s K i l l i n g i a t r i c e p s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s K e l l e n g i a t r i c e p s ) C y p e r u s s p . H i l s e n b e r g 1823 Bojer 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 C y p e r u s t e n u i s Sw. (a h i g h l y improbable record) C y p e r u s p l a t y s t a c h y u s G r i s e b . B o j e r 1 9 3 5 (as C y p e r u s p l a t y s t a c h y s ) F i m b r i s t y l i s c y m o s a R. B r . F i m b r i s t y l i s o b t u s i f o l i a K u n t h R e n v o i z e 1 9 7 5 (as F i m b r i s t y l i s o b t u s i f o l i a ) Mamet i n 1 9 5 5 (MAU) K y l l i n g a triceps B o j e r : see C y p e r u s triceps E n d l . K y l l i n g a sp. : see C y p e r u s sp. M a r i s c u s p e n n a t u s (Lam.) Domin: see C y p e r u s j a v a n i c u s H o u t t . M a r i s c u s g l a n d u l o s u s B o j e r : see C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L . P y c r e u s p o l y s t a c h y o s ( R o t t b . ) B e a u v . : see C y p e r u s p o l y s t a c h y o s R o t t b . S c i r p u s g r o s s u s L . f . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 (as S c i r p u s g r o s s u s , b u t t h i s species is n o t o t h e r w i s e known f r o m A f r i c a or the Western I n d i a n O c e a n ) L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 S c i r p u s sp. B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 EUPHORB IACEAE A c a l y p h a i n d i c a L. B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 + B r e y n i a d i s t i c h a F o r s t . B r e y n i a n i v o s a ( B u l l . ) small var. roseo-picta H o r t . Mamet i n 1 9 5 5 (MAU) B r e y n i a n i v o s a ( B u l l . ) Small var. roseo-picta H o r t . : see B r e y n i a d i s t i c h a F o r s t . + ~ u p h o r b i a h i r t a L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 Stoddart 7 2 4 5 (US) (N) , 7 2 8 9 (US) (S) E u p h o r b i a p e p l u s L. Mamet 1 9 7 8 , p. 1 0 5 (N, S) E u p h o r b i a prostrata A i t . Mamet i n 1 9 5 5 (MAU) (S) E u p h o r b i a s e r p e n s K u n t h E u p h o r b i a s e r p i l i f o l i a B o j e r Bojer 1835 ( a s E u p h o r b i a s e r p i l i f o l i a ) B a k e r 1877 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s E u p h o r b i a s e r p y l l i f o l i a ) E u p h o r b i a s e r p i l i f o l i a B o j e r : see E u p h o r b i a s e r p e n s K u n t h E u p h o r b i a s t o d d a r t i F o s b e r g W i e h e 1602 (MAU) ( S ) -- ( T h e r e c o r d s r e f e r r e d t o E u p h o r b i a s e r p e n s a b o v e may b e l o n g here) +Maniho t e s c u l e n t a C r a n t s Bojer 1835 ( a s J a n i p h a m a n i h o t ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s J a p n a p h a t m a n i h o t ) Mamet 1 9 7 8 , p. 107 ( a s M a n i h o t u t i l i s s i m a Pohl) S t o d d a r t , s i g h t ( N ) K i r g a n e l l i a e l e g a n s J u s s . e x S p r e n g . : s e e P h y l l a n t h u s c a s t i c u m W i l 1 e m . f . P h y l l a n t h u s c a s t i c u m W i l 1 e m . f . P h y l l a n t h u s e l e g a n s W a l l . C a t . ( n o m . i l l e g i t . ) . K i r g a n e l l i a e l e g a n s J u s s . e x S p r e n g . Bojer 1835 ( a s K i r g a n e l l i a e l e y a n s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s K i r g a n e l l i a e l e g a n s ) P h y l l a n t h u s m a d e r a s p a t e n s i s L. R e n v o i z e 1975 " B o u t o n " (G-DC). M u e l l . - A r g . 1 8 6 6 , i n DC. , P r o d r . 1 5 ( 2 ) : 3 6 3 . Dupont AG/Z ( M U ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( N ) Wiehe 1601 (MAU) (N: Port S t J a m e s ) -- P h y l l a n t h u s s t i p u l a t a Bojer ( p r o b a b l y P h y l l a n t h u s s t i p u l a c e u m B o j e r i n t e n d e d ) B o j e r 1835 ( a s P h y l l a n t h u s s t i p u l a t a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s P h y l l a n t h u s s t i p u l a t u s ) P h y l l a n t h u s s p . Mamet 1 9 7 8 , p . 105 Mamet i n 1955 ( M A U ) P r o c t o r 4188 (MAHE) ( N ) + R i c i n u s communis L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 Mamet 1 9 7 8 , p . 105 S t o d d a r t 7282 ( U S ) ( S ) - FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE) Acac ia f a r n e s i a n a ( L . ) W i l l d . A c a c i a i n d i c a Desv . B o j e r 1835 ( a s A c a c i a i n d i c a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Acac ia i n d i c a ) A c a c i a i n d i c a Desv. : s e e A c a c i a f a r n e s i a n a ( L . ) W i l l d . A f z e l i a bi juga ( C o l e b . ) Gray : see I n t s i a bi juga ( ~ o l e b . ) 0. K i t z e . + A l b i z i a lebbeck ( L . ) B e n t h . B o j e r 1835 ( a s A c a c i a lebeck) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s A c a c i a lebeck) Mamet 1978, p . 105 ( a s A l b i z z i a lebbeck) + A r a c h i s hypogaea L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 C a e s a l p i n i a bonduc ( L . ) Roxb . S t o d d a r t 7261 ( U S ) ( S ) +Ca j a n u s c a j a n ( L . ) Huth. Ca j a n u s i n d i c u s Spreng . B o j e r 1835 ( a s C a j a n u s i n d i c u s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Ca j a n u s i n d i c u s ) +Cass ia o c c i d e n t a l i s L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C a s s i a a c c i d e n t a l i s ) +Clitoris t e r n a t e a L . B o j e r 1835 Lionne t 1924 + ~ e l o n i x r e g i a ( B o jer) Raf . Mamet 1978, p. 102 C h e k e , s i g h t ( S : S t e R i t a ) P a t e 1 1974, pho tograph ( S ) +Desmanthus v i r g a t u s W i l l d . Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) (S) D i o c l e a j a c q u i n i a n a MJ. D o 1 ichos r u b e r Jacq . B o j e r 1835 ( a s Dolichos r u b e r ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Dolichos r u b e r ) Dolichos c a p e n s i s L . : s e e V i y n a c a p e n s i s ( L . ) Walp . + D o l i c h o s l a b l a b L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 ( a s D o l i c h o s l a b l a s ) D o l i c h o s r u b e r Jacq.: see D i o c l e a j a c q u i n i a n a DC. + E r y t h r i n a v a r i e g a t a var. o r i e n t a l i s ( L . ) Merr. E r y t h r i n a c o r a l l o d e n d r o n B o j e r n o n L . E r y t h r i n a i n d i c a L . Bo jer 1 8 3 5 ( a s E r y t h r i n a c o r a l l . o d e n d r o n ) M a m e t 1 9 7 8 , p. 1 0 6 (as E r y t h r i n a i n d i c a ) S t o d d a r t 7 2 6 6 (US) ( S ) E r y t h r i n a c o r a l l o d e n d r o n L. : see E r y t h r i n a v a r i e g a t a var. o r i e n t a l i s ( L . ) Merr. I n t s i a b i j u g a ( C o l e b . ) 0 . K t z e . T a m a r i n d u s i n t s i a S p r e n g . I n t s i a m a d a q a s c a r i e n s i s B1. A f z e l i a bi juga ( C o l e b . ) G r a y B o j e r 1 8 3 5 ( a s I n t s i a m a d a g a s c a r i e n s i s ) B o j e r 1 8 3 5 (as T a m a r i n d u s i n d i c u s ) L e d u c 1 8 4 4 B a k e r 1 8 7 7 (as A f z e l i a b i j u g a ) L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 (as T a m a r i n d u s i n t s i a ) P r o c t e r 4 1 9 5 (MAHE) (N) I n t s i a m a d a g a s c a r i e n s i s DC. : see I n t s i a bi juga ( C o l e b . ) 0 . K t z e . + L e n s c u l i n a r i s M e d i c . L e n s e s c u l e n t a Moench Ervum l e n s L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 (as Ervum lens) L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 (as ErVum lens) L e u c a e n a l e u c o c e p h a l a (Lam. ) De W i t . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 ( a s A c a c i a l e u c o c e p h a l a ) L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 ( a s A c a c i a l e u c o c e p h a l a ) S t o d d a r t 7 2 5 0 (US) (N) - . +Phase01 u s v u l g a r i s L . B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 + P i s u m s a t i v u m L. B o j e r 1 8 3 5 L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 +Tamar indus i n d i c a L. Bo jer 1 8 3 5 ( a s T a m a r i n d u s i n d i c u s ) L i o n n e t 1 9 2 4 (as T a m a r i n d u s i n d i c u s ) M a m e t 1 9 7 8 , p. 1 0 7 (as T a m a r i n d u s i n d i c u s ) T a m a r i n d u s i n t s i a S p r e n g . : s e e I n t s i a bi juga (Coleb. ) 0. K t z e . V i g n a c a p e n s i s ( L . ) W a l p . Dolichos c a p e n s i s L . Bojer 1835 ( a s Dolichos c a p e n s i s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Dolichos c a p e n s i s ) GOODENIACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a V a h l S c a e v o l a t a c c a d a ( G a e r t n . ) Roxb . S c a e v o l a koeni g i i V a h l S c a e v o l a f r u t e s c e n s a u c t . p l u s n o n M i l l . H i l s e n b e r g 1823 Werner 1824 Bojer 1835 ( a s S c o e v o l a k o e n i g i i ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s S c e v o l a k o e n i g i i Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( N , S ) ( a s S c a e v o l a f r u t e s c e n s ) Mamet 1978, p . 105 ( a s S c a e v o l a f r u t e s c e n s ) Cheke, s i g h t ( N , S ) S t o d d a r t 7239 ( U S ) ( N ) , 7280 ( U S ) ( S ) HERNANDIACEAE H e r n a n d i a s o n o r a L . H e r n a n d i a o v i g e r a s e n s u a u c t . non L . Rozemont 1809 ( a s B o i s b l a n c ) Werner 1824 Bojer 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 Cheke , s i g h t ( N ) Mamet 1978, p . 106 Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S , N) ( a s H e r n a n d i a o v i g e r a L . ) S t o d d a r t 7230 ( U S ) ( N ) , 7234 ( U S ) ( N ) , 7278 ( U S ) ( S ) LAMIACEAE (LAB IATAE ) + ~ e o n o t i s n e p e t a e f o l i a R. B r . Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S : Le J a r d i n ) L e u c a s s p . Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) +Thymus hortensis B o j e r (no t v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d name; p o s s i b l y Thymus v u l g a r i s L . was i n t e n d e d ) Bojer 1835 LAURACEAE C a s s y t h a f i l i f o r m i s L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 Cheke, s i g h t (N) Dupont A~/15 (MAU) M a m e t i n 1955 (MAU) w i t h Achyran thes a s p e r a S t o d d a r t 7244 ( U S ) ( S ) +Persea americana M i l l . Marnet 1978, p. 105 LECY TH IDACEAE B a r r i n g t o n i a a s i a t i c a (L. ) Kurz B a r r i n g t o n i a s p e c i o s a F o r s t . B o j e r 1835 (as B a r r i n g t o n i a s p e c i o s a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s B a r r i n g t o n i a s p e c i o s a ) LILIACEAE ( s e n s u l a t o ] +Agave americana L. L i o n n e t 1924, p. 76 + A l l i u m a s c a l o n i c u m L. h u t s e n s u a u c t . u s u a l l y A l l i + A l l i u m cepa L. A l l i u m a s c a l o n i c u m s e n s u a u c t . non L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s A l l i u m a s c o l o n i c u m and as A l l i u m c e p a ) + A l l i u m porrum L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 + A l l i u m s a t i v u m L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 +Asparagus of f i c i n a l i s L. L i o n n e t 1924, p . 76 Crinum c f . augus tum Roxb. S t o d d a r t 7259 ( U S ) ( S ) Furcraea f o e t i d a (L . ) H a w . L i o n n e t 1924, p. 76 (as Agave f o e t i d a ) which s e e Zephyran thes sp. M a m e t 1978, p . 102 MALVACEAE A b u t i l o n c f . i n d i c u m ( L . ) S w e e t S i d a m a u r i t i a n a Bojer Bojer 1835 ( a s S i d a m a u r i t i a n a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s S i d a m a u r i t i a n a ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) ( p r o b a b l y ) +Gossyp ium h i r s u t u m L . G o s s y p i u m b a r b a d e n s e L . Moresby 1822 ( a s C o t t o n ) Bojer 1835 ( a s G o s s y p i u m b a r b a d e n s e ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s G o s s y p i u m b a r b a d e n s e ) Mamet 1978, p . 102 ( a s G o s s y p i u m b a r b a d e n s e ) S t o d d a r t 7251 ( U S ) ( N ) + H i b i s c u s e s c u l e n t u s L . Bojer 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s H i b i s c u s e s c u l e n t u m ) Mamet 1978, p . 106 H i b i s c u s t i l i a c e u s L . Mamet 1978, p . 104, 105 Malva b o r b o n i c a W i l l d . : s e e M a l v a s t r u m c o r o m a n d e l i a n u m ( L . ) G a r c k e Malva comrnunis B o j e r ( t h i s name h a s n o t b e e n v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d ) B o j e r 1835 +Malvas t rum c o r o m a n d e l i a n u m ( L . ) G a r c k e Malva b o r b o n i c a W i l l d . Bojer 1835 ( a s Malva b o r b o n i c a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Malva b o r b o n i c a ) Leduc i n 1839 ( G ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S : Le J a r d i n ) P r o c t e r 4178 ( M A H E ) ( S ) P a v o n i a u r e n s C a v . L i o n n e t 1924 + S i d a a c u t a Burm. f . S t o d d a r t 7273b (US) ( S ) S i d a m a u r i t i a n a Bojer: s e e A b u t i l o n c f . i n d i c u m ( L . ) S w e e t S i d a p a r v i f o l i a D C . S i d a v e s c o a n a D C . R e n v o i z e 1975 Dupont A G / ~ (MAU) Mamet i n 1955 (mu) ( S ) Wiehe 1604 ( M A U ) ( N : P o r t S t J a m e s ) -- P r o c t e r 4194 ( M A H E ) ( N ) , 4184 ( M A H E ) ( S ) S i d a p u s i l l a Cav. (This i s S i d a s p i n o s a L. according t o I n d e x K e w e n s i s , but we do not know what p l a n t Bojer had. Possibly should include S i d a p a r v i f o l i a DC. ) Bojer 1835 Bojer 1837 Lionnet 1924 +Sida r h o m b i f o l i a L. Stoddart 7273b (US) (S) S i d a sp.. Wiehe i n 1961 (MAU) ( N ) Mamet 1978, p. 105 Procter 4207 (MAHE) (S) MARANTACEAE +Maranta arund inacea L. Bojer 1835 Lionnet 1924 ( a s Maranta a c o u d i n a c e s ) MEL IACEAE +Mel ia a z e d a r a c h L. Stoddart 7279 (US) (S) MORACEAE +Ar tocarpus a l t i l i s (Park.) Fosb. Lionnet 1922, p. 54 ( a s Breadf ru i t ) Cheke, s i g h t ( N : Port S t James; S: S te R i t a ) F i c u s t e r e b r a t a Bojer ( t h i s name is regarded a s a synonym of two Brazi l ian spec ies , b u t we have no c lue t o what species Bojer may have appl ied it) Bojer 1835 Lionnet 1924 MORINGACEAE +iYoringa o l e i f e r a Lam. Hyperanthera morinqa Vahl Bojer 1835 ( a s Hyperanthera m o r i n y a ) Lionnet 1924 ( a s Hyperanthera m o r i n y a ) MUSACEAE +Musa parad i s iaca L. Boje r 1835 Lionne t 1924 S t o d d a r t , s i g h t ( N ) +Musa pumila Bojer (we can f i n d no r eco rd of p u b l i c a t i o n of t h i s name. Perhaps Musa nana Lam. was in tended) Boje r 1835 Lionne t 1924 +Musa sapientum L. Mamet 1978, p. 105 Cheke, s i g h t MYRTACEAE C a l y p t r a n t h e s jambolana Wil ld . : s e e Eugenia c u m i n i i L. +Eugenia aquea Burm.f. Mamet 1978, p . 105 +Eugenia c u m i n i i L. C a l y p t r a n t h e s janlbolana Willd . Bojer 1835 ( a s C a l y p t r a n t h e s jambolana) Lionne t 1924 ( a s C a l y p t r a n t h e s jambolana) Mamet 1978, p . 105 ( a s Eugenia jambolana Lam.) +Psidium guajava L. Psidium pommiferum L . Bojer 1835 ( a s ~ s i d i u m pommiferum) Lionne t 1924 ( a s ps id ium pommiferum) Psidium pommiferum L . : s e e Psidium guajava L. NYCTAG INACEAE Boerhavia bu lbosa Bojer (we have n o t found t h a t t h i s name ha s been v a l i d l y pub l i shed ) Boje r 1835 Lionne t 1924 Boerhavia d i f f u s a L . : s e e Boerhavia r e p e n s L. Boerhavia repens L. Boerhavia d i f f u s a s ensu a u c t . non L . Dupont i n J u l y 1934 ( M A U ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) -~ ~ ~ . Wiehe i n September 1961 (MAU) (N: P o r t S t James) + B o u g a i n v i l l e a s p . Cheke, s i g h t ( S ) C a l p i d i a m a c r o p h y l l a B o j e r : s e e P i s o n i a q r a n d i s R . B r . + M i r a b i l i s j a l a p a L. B o j e r 1835 ~ i s o n i a g r a n d i s R . Br . C a l p i d i a r n a c r o p h y l l a B o j e r P i s o n i a m a c r o p h y l l a (Boj e r ) Choisy Rozemont 1809 ( a s Mapoux) Bo je r 1835 (as C a l p i d i a r n a c r o p h y l l a ) Choisy 1849 ( a s C a l p i d i a m a c r o p h y l l a ) Baker 1877 (as P i s o n i a r n a c r o p h y l l a ) L i o n n e t 1922, p . 37 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C a l p i d i a m a c r o p h y l l a ) Renvoize 1975 Cheke, s i g h t ( N ) Mamet 1978, p . 106 Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7242 ( U S ) ( N ) OLEACEAE +Noronhid e m a r g i n a t a Thou. L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s N o r t r o n i a c h a r t a c a ) Dupont A G / I ~ (MU) ORCHIDACEAE isp per is t r i p e t a l o i d e s (Thou. ) L i n d l . D r y o p e i a t r i p e t a l o i d e s Thou. B o j e r 1835 ( a s D r y o p e i a t r i p e t a l o i d e s ) Baker 1877 ( a s D i s p e r i s t r i p e t a l o i d e s ) Lionne t 1924 ( a s Dryopea t r i p e t a l o i d e s ) PANDANACEAE +Pandanus u t i l i s Bory? Bo je r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 PAPAVERACEAE +Argemone m e x i cana L . Boje r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 PASSIFLORACEAE + P a s s i f 1 o r a s u b e r o s a L . S t o d d a r t 7231 (US) ( N ) , 7263 (US) ( S ) PHYTOLACCACEAE +Riv ina h u m i l i s L . R i v i n a l a e v i s L. Dupont AG/12 (MAU) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( N ) . . . S t o d d a r t 7238b (US) (N) PITTOSPORACEAE P i t t o sporum f l o r i b u n d u m W. & A . C e l a s t r u s n e p a l e n s i s S t e u d . B o j e r 1535 ( a s C e l e s t r u s n e p a l e n s i s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C e l e s t r u s n e p a l e n s i s ) PLANTAG INACEAE + P l a n t a g o ma jo r L. Dupont A G / ~ (MAU) +Cenchrus e c h i n a t u s L. Dupont i n 1943 (MAU) +Cenchrus m i t i s Ander s s . p r o c t e r 4196 (MAHE) ( N ) +Coix l ach ryma- job i L. B o j e r 1835 ( a s Co ix l a c h r i m a j o b i s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Co ix l a c h r i m a ) Cynodon a r i s t a t u m B o j e r (we have found no v a l i d p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s name a n d do n o t know what B o j e r had i n mind, p o s s i b l y a v a r i e n t o f t h e f c l l o w i n g s p e c i e s ) B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 +Cynodon d a c t y l o n P e r s . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 Mamet 1978, 107 D a c t y l o c t e n i u m a e g y p t i u m ( L . ) Beauv. (more l i k e l y ~ a c t y l o c t e n i u m c t e n o i d e s ( S t e u d . ) B o s s e r ) B o j e r 1835 ( a s D a c t y l o c t e n i u m a e q y p t i a c u m ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s D a c t y l o c t e n i u m a e g y p t i a c u m ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) (S ) D a c t y l o c t e n i u m d i s t a c h y u m Bojer ( T h i s name d o e s n o t seem t o b e v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d : s e e D a c t y l o c t e n i u m p i l o s u m S t a p f ) Dacty loc teniurn p i l o s u m S t a p f B o j e r 1835 ( a s ~ a c t y l o c t e n i u m d i s t a c h y u m ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s ~ a c t y l o c t e n i u m d i s t a c h y i u m ) R e n v o i z e 1975 Dacty loc teniurn s p . S t o d d a r t 7297 ( U S ) ( N ) D i q i t a r i a b i f o r m i s Willd.: s e e D i q i t a r i a b i c o r n i s (Lam.) R . & S . D i q i t a r i a b i c o r n i s (Lam. ) R. & S . Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) D i q i t a r i a d i d a c t y l a Willd. Mamet 1978, p. 105 D i g i t a r i a s p . P r o c t e r 4192 (MAU) ( N ) + E l e u s i n e i n d i c a (L. ) G a e r t n . B o j e r 1835 ( a s E u l e s i n e i n d i c a ) L i o n n e t 1924 DUpOnt i n 1934 (MAU) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) E r a g r o s t i s b r i z o i d e s (L. f . ) S c h u l t . B o j e r 1835 ( a s Meqastachia b r i z o i d e s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Meqastachya b r i z o i d e s ) + E r a g r o s t i s c i l i a r i s ( L . ) R . B r . B o j e r 1835 ( a s Meqastachia c i l i a r i s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s ~ e q a s t a c h y i a c i l i a r i s ) DUpOnt i n 1934 (MAU) -- S t o d d a r t 7232 (US) ( N ) + E r a g r o s t i s t e n e l l a ( L . ) Beauv. Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) (S ) E r a q r o s t i s s p . P r o c t e r 4191 (MAHE) (N) L e p t u r u s r e p e n s (Forst .) R . B r . B o j e r 1835 ( a s R o t t b e l l i a r e p e n s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s R o t t b e l l i a r e p e n s ) Megastachia B o j e r ( I n v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d g e n e r i c name: s e e E r a g r o s t i s Hor t . Panicum maximum Jacq . Mamet 1978, p . 106 Paspal um d i s t i c h u m L . P r o c t e r 4203 (MAHE) ( S ) (Name s u p p l i e d b y Mrs A. R o b e r t s o n ) S t eno taphrum d i m i d i a t u m Brongn. Mamet 1978, p. 106 S t eno taphrum micranthum ( D e s v . ) C . E . Hubb S t eno taphrum subu l a t um T r i m . Hemsley ( 1 9 1 9 ) c i t i n g Baker ( 1 8 7 7 ) ( a s S t eno taphrum s u b u l a t u m ) P r o c t e r 4186 (MAHE) ( S ) (Name s u p p l i e d b y Mrs A. R o b e r t s o n ) -- - +Zed mays L . Werner 1824 Moresby 1822 i n Horsburgh 1852 , p . 171 B o j e r 1835 ( a s Zea m a i s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Zea m a i s ) Mamet, 1978 ( S t S ) Cheke , s i g h t ( S ) POLYPODIACEAE (FILICES) ( s e n s u l a t o ) Acros t i chum aureum L . Dupont ~ G / 2 4 (MAU) C h e k e , s i g h t ( S ) Asp len ium n i d u s L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 Cheke , s i g h t ( S ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7235 ( U S ) (N) Lomaria g r a n d i s Bo j e r : s e e S t e n o c h l a e n a t e n u i f o l i a (Desv . ) Moore Nephrodium s p l e n d e n s Desv.: s ee N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a ( S w . ) S c h o t t N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a (Sw. S c h o t t Nephrodium s p l e n d e n s ( D e s v . ) Bo je r 1835 ( a s Nephrodium s p l e n d e n s ) Lionne t 1924 ( a s Nephrodium s p l e n d e n s ) Renvo i ze 1975 C h e k e , s i g h t ( S ) Dupont ~ ~ / 2 1 (MAU) N e p h r o l e p i s h i r s u t u l a ( F 0 r s t . f . ) P r e s l S t o d d a r t 7236 (US) (N) P t e r i s t r i p a r t i t a Sw. B o j e r (K) S t e n o c h l a e n a t e n u i f o l i a ( ~ e s v . ) Moore B o j e r 1835 ( a s Lomaria g r a n d i s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Lomaria g r a n d i s ) Cheke, s i g h t (S) Dupont AG/25 ( M A U ) T h e l y p t e r i s ( C y c l o s o r u s ) s p . , p r o b a b l y T h e l y p t e r i s i n t e r r u p t a ( W i l l d . ) I w a t s u k i Cheke, s i g h t , 1974 ( S ) Po lypod iaceae i n d e t . Gupont i n 1934 ( M A U ) PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a h i s p i d a Bo jer ( T h i s name d o e s n o t seem t o be v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d ; p e r h a p s P o r t u l a c a m a u r i t i e n s i s was t h e p l a n t i n hand) Bo je r 1835 Lionne t 1924 P o r t u l a c a m a u r i t i e n s i s v . P o e l l n . P o r t u l a c a p i l o s a s e n s u a u c t . non ( L . ) DC. B o j e r 1837 (as P o r t u l a c a p i l o s a ) + P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L. v a r . o l e r a c e a B o j e r 1835 Lionne t 1924 Dupont ~ ~ / 1 2 (MAU) (S ) S t o d d a r t 7293 (US) ( S ) , 7294 (US) ( S ) P o r t u l a c a p i l o s a ( L . ) DC. : P o r t u l a c a maur i t i e n s i s v . P o e l l n . P o r t u l a c a s p . H i l s e n b e r g 1823 M a m e t i n 1955 (MAU) (S) PSILOTACEAE P s i l o t u m nudum (L.) Beauv. P s i l o t u m t r i q u e t r u m Sw. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 (as Ph i lo tum t r i q u e t r u m ) Cheke, s i g h t r e c o r d , 1974 (S) Dupont ~ ~ / 2 2 (MAU) M a m e t i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) RHAMNACEAE + Z i z i p h u s maur i t i a n a Lam. Zizyphus v u l g a r i s Bo j e r Z izyphus j u j u b a s e n s u a u c t . non Lam. B o j e r 1835 (as Zizyphus v u l g a r i s ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Zizyphus v u l g a r i s ) P r o c t e r 4206 (MAHE) (S) M a m e t 1978, p . 106 Z izyphus v u l g a r i s Bo jer : see Z i z i p h u s maur i t i a n a Lam. RHIZOPHORACEAE Rhizophora mucrona ta Lam. Wiehe i n 1961, n o t c o l l e c t e d , p h o t o g r a p h o n l y (MAU) ( N ) P a t e 1 i n 1974, n o t c o l l e c t e d , p h o t o g r a p h o n l y (MAU) ( N : B a s s i n Capuc i n ) ROSACEAE +Rosa i n d i c a L. L i o n n e t 1924, p . 76 RUBIACEAE G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L. G u e t t a r d a i n d i c a B o j e r . T h i s name w a s a p p a r e n t l y n e v e r v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d . B o j e r 1835 (as G u e t t a r d a i n d i c a ) B o j e r 1837 L i o n n e t 1924 (as G u e t t a r d a i n d i c a ) Renvoize 1975 Cheke , s i g h t ( N ) Bojer (K) M a m e t i n 1955 (MAU) S t o d d a r t 7257 (US) (S ) Morinda ci t r i f o l i a L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 M a m e t 1936 Mamet 1978, p . 105 Cheke , s i g h t ( S ) M a m e t i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7233 (US) (N), 7265 (US) ( S ) --- RUTACEAE + C i t r u s a u r a n t i i f o l i a ( C h r i s t m . ) Swing le Mamet 1978, p. 105 S t o d d a r t 7275 ( U S ) (2.1 - + C i t r u s a u r a n t i u m L . Bo jer 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C i t r e u m a u r a n t i u m ) Mamet 1978, p. 105 ( a s C i t r u s a u r a n t i u m v a r . b i g a r a d i a L o i s e l ) C i t r u s decumana L.: see C i t r u s g r a n d i s ( L . ) Osbeck C i t r u s f u s c a Lour . : see C i t r u s s i n e n s i s ( L . ) Osbeck + C i t r u s g r a n d i s ( L . ) Osbeck C i t r u s decumana L . B o j e r 1835 ! as C i t r u s decumana) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C i t r i u m decumanum) + C i t r u s l i m n ( L . ) Burm f. C i t r u s l imon ium R i s s o L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C i t r e u m l imon ium) + C i t r u s medica L. Mamet 1978, p. 106 + C i t r u s r e t i c u l a t a B lanco C i t r u s n o b i l i s s ensu a u c t . non Lour . L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C i t r e u m n o h i l e ) + C i t r u s s i n e n s i s (L.) Osbeck C i t r u s f u s c a Lour B o j e r 1835 ( a s C i t r u s f u s c a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s C i t r e u m fuscum) Evodia s p . DUpOnt A G / ~ (MAU) SANTALACEAE +Santalum s p . P r o c t e r 4179 (MAHE) ( S ) , 4180 (MAHE) (S) SAPINDACEAE Dodonaea v i s c o s a L . v a r . Dodonaea t r i q u e t r a Wendl . Dupont A G / ~ O (MAU) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s godonaea t r i q u e t r u m ) + L i t c h i c h i n e n s i s Sonner . L i o n n e t 1922, p . 54 ( a s L i t c h i s i n e n s i s ) C o o k i l l a p u n c t a t a L i o n n e t L i o n n e t 1924 (we a r e u n a b l e t o f i n d t h a t t h i s genus and s p e c i e s have e v e r b e e n v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d , or t o g u e s s what p l a n t L i o n n e t may have had i n m i n d ) SCROPHULARIACEAE Campule ia c o c c i n e a Hook. : s e e S t r i g a a s i a t i c a ( L ) 0 . K t z e . S t r i g a a s i a t i c a ( L . ) 0 . K t z e . Campule ia c o c c i n e a Hook. B o j e r 183 5 ( a s Campul e i a c o c c i n e a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Campule ia c o c c i n e a ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( N ) ( v a r . h i r s u t a B e n t h . ) P r o c t e r 4183 ( M A H E ) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7229 ( U S ) ( N ) , 7284 ( U S ) ( s ) SOLANACEAE +Capsicum annuum L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Caps i cum mammum) Mamet 1978, p . 106 +Capsicum f r u t e s c e n s L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1324 ( a s Caps icum f r u t i s c e n s ) +Datura m e t e l L . S t o d d a r t 7260 ( U S ) ( S ) +Datura s t ramonium L . ( P o s s i b l y r e a l l y Datura m e t a l but n o spec imen a v a i l a b l e ) B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 L y c o p e r s i c o n e s c u l e n t u m M i l l . : s e e Solanum l y c o p e r s i c u m L . + N i c o t i a n a tabacum L . B o j e r 1835 +Solanurn l y c o p e r s i c u m L . L y c o p e r s i c o n e s c u l e n t u m M i l l . B o j e r 1835 ( a s Lycopers i cum e s c u l e n t u m ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Lycopers i cum e s c u l e n t u m ) +Solanurn m e l o n g e n a L. Boje r 1835 Mamet 1978, p . 107 +Solanurn n i g r u m L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 S t o d d a r t 7238a (US) ( N ) ( v a r . a m e r i c a n u m Shulz ) +Solanurn t u b e r o s u m L . B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 STERCULIACEAE H e r i t i e r a l i t t o r a l i s A i t . M a m e t i n 1955 (MAU) (S: Le J a r d i n ) + M e l o c h i d c o r c h o r i f o l i a L. L i o n n e t 1924 +Theobroma c a c a o L. Dupon t 188 3 Cheke, s i g h t (S: S t e R i t a ) +Wal t h e r i a i n d i c a L . Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) (S: Le J a r d i n ) SURIANACEAE S u r i a n a m a r i t i m a L. H i l s e n g e r 1823 B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1922, p . 37; 1924 Cheke, s i g h t ( N , S ) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU ( N , S) S t o d d a r t 7254 (US) (N) TILIACEAE + C o r c h o r u s a e s t u a n s L. C o r c h o r u s n e a r a c u t a n g u l u s Mamet i n 1955 (MAu) (S: Le J a r d i n ) T r i u m f e t t a p r o c u m b e n s F o r s t - f . Bo je r 1835, 1837 L i o n n e t 1924 Renvoize 197 5 B o j e r (CGE) S t o d d a r t 7253 (US) ( N ) T r i umfe t t a s p . Dupont i n 1934 (MAU) Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) TURNERACEAE URTICACEAE P i p t u r u s a r g e n t e u s ( F o r s t . f. ) U r t i c a a l b a s e n s u a u c t . non B1. Baker 1877 B o j e r 1835 ( a s U r t i c a a l b a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s U r t i c a a l b a ) Le Duc, B o u t o n , S k o t t s b e r g 1932 R e n v o i z e 1975 Dupont i n 1934 (MAU) ( a s P i p t u r u s s p Mamet i n 1955 ( M A U ) ( S ) S t o d d a r t 7252 ( U S ) ( N ) U r t i c a a l b a s e n s u a u c t . non Nl . : s e e P i p t u r u s a r g e n t e u s ( F o r s t . ? . ) Wedd . U r t i c a c e a e ? i n d e t . Mamet i n 1955 (MAU) ( S ) VERB ENAC EAE +Lantana camara v a r . a c u l e a t a ( L . ) Mold. Mamet 1978, p. 106 ( a s Lantana s p . ) S t o d d a r t 7277 ( U S ) ( S ) + L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) R i c h . ? Zapania s t o l o n i f e r a B o j e r ( a p p a r e n t l y n o t v a l i d l y p u b l i s h e d ) B o j e r 1835 ( a s Zapania s t o l o n i f e r a ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Zanapia s t o l o n i f e r a ) Zapania s t o l o n i f e r a B o j e r : s e e L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) R i c h . V ITIDACEAE + V i t i s v i n i f e r a L. B o j e r 1835 L i o n n e t 1924 ZINGIBERACEAE + Z i n q i b e r o f f i c i n a l e Roscoe B o j e r 1835 ( a s Zinziber o f f i c i n a l e ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Z i n z i b e r o f f i c i a l e ) + Z i n q i b e r z e r u m b e t (L . ) Roscoe B o j e r 1835 ( a s Z i n z i b e r z e r u m b e t ) L i o n n e t 1924 ( a s Z i n z i b e r z e r u m b e t ) R e f e r e n c e s Anon. 1828 I l e G a l e g a . N o u v . A n n . V o y . ( 2 ) 8 , 88-92. B a k e r , J . G. 1877 . F l o r a o f M a u r i t i u s a n d the S e y c h e l l e s . London: L. Reeve . 557 pp. B a k e r , J . G. 1883 . C o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e f l o r a o f Madagasca r . J . L i n n . S o c . L o n d . 2 0 , 87-304. B o j e r , W . 1837 . H o r t u s m a u r i t i a n u s : 6 n u m g r a t i o n d e s p l a n t e s e x o t i q u e s e t i n d i g & e s q u i croissent 2 l ' f l e M a u r i c e , d 6 p o s & e s d r a p r s s l a m g t h o d e n a t u r e l l e . P o r t L o u i s : Mamarot. 456 p p . B o j e r , W. 1841 . [ P l a n t e s n o u v e l l e s d e Madagasca r e t d e s Comores] . A n n . R e p . R . S o c . S c i . A r t s M a u r i t i u s , 1 1 , 37-48. B o j e r , W. 1842 . D e s c r i p t i o n s d e s d i v e r s e s p l a n t e s n o u v e l l e s d e Madagasca r , d e s I les Comores e t d e ll!i'le M a u r i c e . A n n . S c i . n a t . B o t . ( 2 ) 1 8 , 184-192. Bou ton , L. 1871 . L e t t e r t o J u d g e B l a c k b u r n f rom W . B o j e r o n t h e i s l a n d o f A g a l e g a , i n c l u d i n g a l i s t o f p l a n t s . T r a n s . R . S o c . A r t s Sci. M a u r i t i u s , n . s . 5 , 132-140. Cheke , A . S . a n d Lawley , J. C. T h i s i s s u e . B i o l o g i c a l h i s t o r y o f A g a l e g a , w i t h s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e t o b i r d s a n d o t h e r l a n d v e r t e b r a t e s . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 273. C h o i s y , J. D. 1849 . N y c t a g i n a c e a e . I n P . d e C a n d o l l e : P r o d r o m u s s y s t e m a t u s n a t u r a l i s reqni veqetabilis, 1 3 ( 2 ) , 425-458. C l a r k e , C. B. 1883 . C y p e r u s , L i n n . [ I n J . G . B a k e r : C o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e f lord o f Madagasca r - P a r t 111. I n c o m p l e t a e , Monocoty ledon a n d F i l i c e s . 1 J. L i n n . S o c . L o n d . B o t . 20, 279-296. F r o b e r v i l l e , E. d e . 1848 . R o d r i g u e z , G a l e g a , L e s S e c h e l l e s , L e s A l m i r a n t e s , e t c . I n M . A . P . d l A v e z a c , e d . : I l e s d e 1 ' A f r i q u e , 3me p a r t i e , I les A f r i c a i n e s d e l a Mer d e s I n d e s ( P a r i s : F i r m i n D i d o t ~ r s r e s ) , 11, 6 5 - 1 1 4 . H e m s l e y , W . B . 1913. On t h e g e n e r a Radamaea, B e n t h a m , and N e s o g e n e s , A . d e C a n d o l l e . J . L i n n . S o c ( B o t . ) , 4 1 , 31 1-316. H e m s l e y , W . B . and o t h e r s . 1 9 1 9 . F l o r a o f A l d a b r a : w i t h n o t e s o n the f l o r a o f the n e i g h b o u r i n g i s l a n d s . Kew B u l l . 1 9 1 9 , 108-153 . H i l s e n b e r g , C . T . 1823 . [ J o u r n a l o r u n f i n i s h e d l e t t e r a p p a r e n t l y w r i t t e n d u r i n g v o y a g e f r o m M a u r i t i u s t o the S e y c h e l l e s v i a A g a l e g a and C o e t i v y . ] M a n u s c r i p t , a r c h i v e s o f the R o y a l S o c i e t y o f A r t s and S c i e n c e , ~ 6 d u i t , M a u r i t i u s ( c i t e d b y Cheke and L a w l e y , o p . c i t . ) . H o r s b u r g h , J . 1 8 5 2 . T h e I n d i a D i r e c t o r y , or , D i r e c t i o n s f o r S a i l i n g t o and f r o m the E a s t I n d i e s , C h i n a , A u s t r a l i a , and the i n t e r j a c e n t p o r t s o f A f r i c a and S o u t h A m e r i c a : o r i g i n a l l y c o m p i l e d f r o m j o u r n a l s o f the H o n o u r a b l e Company ' s S h i p s , and f r o m o b s e r v a t i o n s and r e m a r k s , r e s u l t i n g f r o m the e x p e r i e n c e o f t w e n t y - o n e y e a r s i n the n a v i g a t i o n o f those s e a s . London: W . H . A l l e n , 6 t h e d i t i o n , 2 v o l s . , 6 5 0 , 890 p p . L a p l a c e , C . P. T . 1842. Campagne d e c i r c u m n a v i g a t i o n d e l a ~ r 6 g a t e l ' ~ r t 6 m i s e p e n d a n t l e s a n n 6 e s 1 8 3 7 , 1 8 3 8 , 1 8 3 9 e t 1 8 4 0 . P a r i s : B e r t r a n d , 6 v o l s . ( 1 8 4 1 - 1 8 5 4 ) [ A g a l e g a : V o l . 2 ( 1 8 4 2 ) , 112-1291 . L e d u c , A . 1 8 4 8 . H i s t s i r e d f A u g u s t e Leduc d a n s l l f l e d e ~ a l g ~ a m i s e e n o r d r e par S a i n t - E l m e L e d u c . M a n u s c r i p t , M a u r i t i u s A r c h i v e s ( X 8 . 1 ) , 416 p p . [ C i t e d b y C h e k e and L a w l e y , o p . c i t . ] . L i o n n e t , J . G. 1922. ~ ~ a l g ~ a o u ~ a l g g a d a n s l e s t r a i t g s d e g 6 0 g r a p h i e . La ~ g o g r a p h i e , 3 8 , 31-57. L i o n n e t , J . G . 1 9 2 4 . ~ ' f l e d l A g a l e g a : n o t e s e t s o u v e n i r s . P a r i s : C h a l l a m e l . 8 2 pp . Mamet, J . R. 1 9 3 6 . N o t e s u r l e s c o c h e n i l l e s d e l l I l e d 9 A g e l e g a . R e v . a q r i c . ~ a u r i c e , 8 8 , 152-153. Mamet, J . R. 1978 . C o n t r i b u t i o n 2 l a c o n n a i s s a n c e d e l a f a u n e e n t o m o l o g i q u e d ' ~ ~ a l 6 g a ( 0 c 6 a n i n d i e n ) . B u l l . S o c . e n t o m . F r a n c e , 8 3 , 9 7 - 1 0 7 . M a r a i s , W. 1 9 8 1 . Two new g a m o p e t a l o u s f a m i l i e s , C y c l o c h e i l a c e a e and N e s o g e n a c e a e , f o r e x t r a - A u s t r a l i a n D i c r a s t y l i d a c e a e . Kew B u l l . 3 5 , 797-812 . M o n t a g n e , J . F . C . 1841 . S e c o n d e c e n t u r i e d e p l a n t e s c e l l u l a i r e s e x o t i q u e s n o u v e l l e s , ~ 6 c a d e X ( 1 ) . Ann. sci . n a t . ( 2 , B o t . ) , 1 6 , 266- 2 8 2 . Montagne, J. F. C. 1844-1846. Cryptogames c e l l u l a i r e s : a l g u e s , l i c h e n s , hgpa t iques e t mousses. V o y a g e a u t o u r d u Monde e x 6 c u t 6 p e n d a n t l e s a n n 6 e s 1 8 3 6 e t 1837 s u r l a corvette La Bonite, B o t a n i q u e , 3, 1-163, 205-314. Montagne, J. F. C . 1856. S y l l o g e generum s p e c i e r u m q u e c r y p t o g a m e r u m . P a r i s , x x i v , 498 pp. Moresby, F. 1822. Memoir on t h e i s l e s i n t h e Ind ian Ocean. Manuscr ipt , I n d i a O f f i c e , London, Records Department, MS 51, 70 pp. P a t e l , S. 1974. Reportage photographique: ~ g a l g ~ a s o r t i d e s a lggende. L' ~ x p r e s s ( ~ a u r i t i u s ) , 23 J u l y 1974, 2. P r i o r , J. 1820. V o y a g e i n the I n d i a n S e a s , i n the N i s u s f r i g a t e , t o the C a p e o f Good Hope , Isles o f B o u r b o n , P ~ a n c e , a n d S e y c h e l l e s ; t o Madras; and the Is1 es o f J a v a , S t P a u l , and Amsterdam. D u r i n g the y e a r s 1 8 1 0 a n d 1 8 1 1 . London: R . P h i l l i p . i v , 114 pp. Renvoize, S. A . 1975. A f l o r i s t i c a n a l y s i s of t h e western Ind ian Ocean c o r a l i s l a n d s . Kew B u l l . 30, 133-152. Rozemont, C . 1809. Rapport f a i t a u Gouvernement p a r M. C a i l l o u Rozemont s u r son a r r i v g e e t son s g j o u r 2 ~ ~ a l g ~ a . Manuscr ipt , M a u r i t i u s Arch ives ( L H 4 7 ) , 5 pp. [ C i t e d by Cheke and Lawley, op. c i t . ] . S k o t t s b e r g , C. 1932. Remarks on P i p t u r u s a r g e n t e u s and P . i n c a n u s o f Weddell. A c t a Hort. Gotob. 7 , 43-63. d ' u n i e n v i l l e , M . C. A. M. 1838. S t a t i s t i q u e d e l t I l e M a u r i c e e t ses ~ 6 p e n d a n c e s , s u i v i e d ' u n e Notice h i s t o r i q u e s u r cette colonie e t d un E s s a i s u r 1 I le d e Madagascar . P a r i s : Gustave Barba. 3 v o l s . , 387, 333 and 340 pp. Werner, -. 1824. M r . Werner ' s r e p o r t on t h e dependencies of M a u r i t i u s . Manuscr ipt , M a u r i t i u s Arch ives (LH 48 and TB 1 / 3 ) [ C i t e d by Cheke and Lawley, op. c i t . ] . 6 . LIST OF PLANTS COLLECTED ON COETIVY ISLAND, SEYCHELLES by S. A. Robertson and F. R . Fosberg I n t r o d u c t i o n A v i s i t was made by Robertson t o Coetivy I s l a n d from 27 February t o 3 March 1980. During t h a t t ime a s m a n y p a r t s o f t h e i s l a n d a s p o s s i b l e were v i s i t e d and a p l a n t c o l l e c t i o n was made. 99 s p e c i e s were c o l l e c t e d and ano the r 2 2 no t ed , i nc lud ing c r o p s b u t n o t obvious garden ornamentals . Two s e t s were made, one of which i s i nco rpo ra t ed i n t h e Herbarium of t h e Min i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Mahe, Seyche l l e s , and t h e o t h e r lodged w i th t h e Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. The f i r s t au tho r i s indeb ted t o t h e D i r e c t o r , Royal Botanic Gardens, and h i s s t a f f , i n p a r t i c u l a r M r S. Renvoize, f o r v e r i f y i n g t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s . Inc luded i n t h e l i s t a r e t hose s p e c i e s no ted a s o c c u r r i n g on Coet ivy by Renvoize (1975 ) ; t h e s e a r e i n d i c a t e d by t h e a b b r e v i a t i o n R . Most of them d e r i v e from t h e c o l l e c t i o n s made by Gwynne and Wood (1969 ) . Fosberg h a s been r e s p o n s i b l e f o r checking t h e nomenclature used , which conforms t o t h a t i n o t h e r s of t h i s s e r i e s of p a p e r s . Where t h e s e names d i f f e r from those used by Robertson ( i n p r e s s ) , t h e l a t t e r a r e given a s synonyms. Fami l i e s i n t h e l i s t a r e a r ranged a l p h a b e t i c a l l y . Coet ivy (F igu re 7 ) i s a l a r g e sand cay of about 900 ha, 9 .8 km long and 1 .6 km wide a t i t s wides t p o i n t , a l i g n e d approximately nor th - e a s t / sou thwes t . The f r i n g i n g r e e f i s narrow and t h e main p a s s and s e t t l e m e n t a r e s l i g h t l y sou th of t h e mid p o i n t of t h e west c o a s t . Coet ivy is about 250 km sou th-sou th-eas t of Mahe and was named a f t e r t h e Cheva l i e r de Coe t ivy , who s i g h t e d it on 3 J u l y 1771. I t i s run a s a coconut p l a n t a t i o n . The i s l a n d i s hedged wi th t h e u sua l beach-c res t t h i c k e t of S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a . Thi s v a r i e s i n width around t h e i s l a n d and is g r e a t e s t on t h e e a s t e r n c o a s t . The no r the rn and e a s t e r n p a x t s of t h e i s l a n d have t h e b e s t s o i l s and a r e covered w i th t a l l dense o l d coconut palms w i t h a l u s h undergrowth o f N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a , P i p t u r u s a r g e n t e u s and germina t ing A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n No. 273: 143-156, 1983. Figure 7. Coetivy coconuts . The southern and western a r e a s have very poor s o i l , a lmost pure sand, with s tun t ed coconuts intermixed with S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a and t h e ground s p a r s e l y covered wi th F i m b r i s t y l i s cymosa and E r a g r o s t i s s u b a e q u i g l u m i s tussocks . There were no p l a n t e d coconuts south of t h e a i r s t r i p , and t h i s a r e a is t h i c k l y covered wi th S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a and C o r d i a s u b c o r d a t a matted wi th C a s s y t h a f i l i f o r m i s and C a n a v a l i a c a t h a r t i c a . There a r e s e v e r a l l a r g e dunes, up t o 10 metres h igh , s c a t t e r e d over t h e i s l a n d , and some fresh-water marshes, t he l a r g e s t being behind t h e s e t t l e m e n t and reputed i n i s l a n d l o r e t o be bottom- l e s s . P l a n t a t i o n s of e x o t i c t r e e s p e c i e s such a s Tabebu ia h e t e r o p h y l l a , Ne i sosperma o p p o s i t i f o l i a and Adenan thera pavon ia have been e s t a b l i s h e d i n v a r i o u s p a r t s of t h e i s l a n d and have se l f - seeded succes s fu l ly . C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a is , however, t h e most common t r e e a f t e r Cocos n u c i f e r a . Of i n t e r e s t were t h e small herd of f e r a l donkeys which graze t h e open a r e a s , t h e f r i g a t e b i r d roos t i ng colony i n t a l l o l d coconut palms j u s t sou th of La But te ( t h e l a r g e c e n t r a l dune ) , and the r e l a t i v e s c a r c i t y of l and b i r d s . Only Barred Ground Doves, p a r t r i d g e s , e g r e t s and migrant European R o l l e r s were seen. There were no sk inks b u t an abundance of grasshoppers , b u t t e r f l i e s and day-f lying moths. The f i r s t au tho r would l i k e t o thank t h e Government of Seyche l les f o r permission t o v i s i t and c o l l e c t on t h e i s l a n d , and the i s l a n d s t a f f f o r t h e i r h o s p i t a l i t y . L i s t of ~ l a n t s ACANTHACEAE A s y s t a s i a g e n e t i c a (L. 1 T. Anders. ? Robertson 3155, on imported p i l e of r e d s o i l a t s e t t l emen t AGAVACEAE Agave s i s a l a n a Per r ine Robertson, s i g h t Furcraea f o e t i d a (L . ) Haw. Robertson, s i g h t AMARANTHACEAE A l t e r n a n t h e r a sessi l is R . B r . Robertson 3095, marsh behind s e t t l e m e n t ; R --- Amaranthus d u b i u s Mart. ex T h e l l . Rober tson 3096, s e t t l e m e n t A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L. R; n o t seen by Robertson ANNONACEAE Annona squamosa L. Rober tson, s i g h t APOCYNACEAE C a t h a r a n t h u s r o s e u s ( L . ) G . Don Robertson 3091, s e t t l e m e n t Nei sosperma o p p o s i t i f o l i a (Lam.) Fosb. & Sachet O c h r o s i a o p p o s i t i f o l i a (Lam. ) K . Schum. Rober tson 3136, La Mare Gran Coco ARACEAE A l o c a s i a m a c r o r h i z a ( L . ) G . Don Rober tson, s i g h t C o l o c a s i a e s c u l e n t a (L. ) Sch0t.t Rober tson, s i g h t ARECACEAE (PALMAE) Cocos n u c i f e r a L. Rober t son , s i g h t ; over whole i s l a n d ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE ) T r i d a x procumbens L. Rober tson 3074, s o u t h of a i r s t r i p ; R V e r n o n i a c i n e r e a Less . Rober tson 3092, s e t t l e m e n t ; R B IGNONIACEAE T a b e b u i a h e t e r o p h y l l a B r i t t . Tabebu ia p a l l i d a ( L i n d l . ) Miers Rober tson 3153, c e n t r a l a rea , Chemin B a r w i l l s BORAG INACEAE Cordia subcordata Lam. R o b e r t s o n 3 0 5 9 , s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p ~ournefortia argentea L . f . R o b e r t s o n 3 1 8 2 , e a s t e r n p a r t o n d u n e ; R CAMPANULACEAE Hippobroma 1 ongif 1 ora ( L . ) G . Don Isotoma longiflora P r e s l R o b e r t s o n 3 0 8 8 , s e t t l e m e n t ; R - CAPPARIDACEAE Cleome viscosa L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t , s e t t l e m e n t ; R CARICACEAE Carica papaya L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t CASUARINACEAE Casuarina equisetifolia L. R o b e r t s o n 3 0 8 0 , s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p ; R CLUSIACEAE (GUTTIFERAE) Cal ophyll um inophyll urn L . R o b e r t s o n 3 1 1 9 , p l a n t a t i o n i n n o t h e r n par t o f i s l a n d ; R COMBRETACEAE Terminalia catappa L. R o b e r t s o n 3 1 3 8 , C h e m i n L e P a r c ; R -- COMMELINACEAE Commelina benghalensis L. R o b e r t s o n 3 1 4 1 , s e t t l e m e n t - CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea macran tha Roem. & S c h u l t e s Robertson 3070, edge o f a i r s t r i p ; R CRASSULACEAE Kalanchoe p i n n a t a (Lam.) P e r s . B r y o p h y l l um p i n n a t u m (Lam. ) Oken Rober tson 3082, between a i r s t r i p and s e t t l e m e n t ; R CUCURBITACEAE Momordica c h a r a n t i a L. Rober tson, s i g h t T r i c h o s a n t h e s c u c u m e r i n a L. Rober tson, s i g h t CY PERACEAE C y p e r u s a r o m a t i c u s ( R i d l . ) M a t t f . & Kuk. K y l l i n g a po l y p h y l l a Willd . ex Kunth Rober tson 3100, beh ind s e t t l e m e n t C y p e r u s b r e v i f o l i u s ( R o t t b . Hassk. K y l l i n g a c o l o r a t a (L. ) Druce Rober tson 3106, marsh beh ind s e t t l e m e n t C y p e r u s c a r t i l a g i n e u s ( K . Schum.) M a t t f . & Kuk. K y l l i n g a c a r t i l a g i n e a K . Schum. R C y p e r u s c r i s t a t u s (Kunth . ) M a t t f . & Kuk. K y l l i n g a a l b a Nees Robertson 3099, beh ind s e t t l e m e n t C y p e r u s d u b i u s R o t t b . W a r i s c u s d u b i u s ( R o t t b . ) F i s c h . Rober tson 3079, n o r t h end o f a i r s t r i p C y p e r u s e r e c t u s (Schumacher) M a t t f . & Kuk. K y l l i n g a e r e c t a Schumacher R C y p e r u s k y l l i n g i a Endl. K y l l i n g a n e m o r a l i s ( F o r s t . ) Dandy e x Hutch. Rober tson 3107, ga rden i n s e t t l e m e n t C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L. M a r i s c u s l i g u l a r i s (L. ) Urb. Robertson 3055, s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p C y ~ e r u s m a c u l a t u s Boeck. Hobercson 3d86, beh ind s e t t l e m e n t Cyperus polystachyos R o t t b . Pycreus polystachyos ( R o t t b . ) P. Beauv. ~ o b e r t s o n 310 1 , marsh b e h i n d s e t t l e m e n t ; R Cyperus rotundus L. R o b e r t s o n 3 104, s e t t l e m e n t Fimbristylis complanata ( R e t z . ) Link Rober t son 3105, marsh b e h i n d s e t t l e m e n t Fimbristylis cymosa R. B r . R o b e r t s o n 3063, o v e r whole i s l a n d ; R (as F. dichotoma) DIOSCOREACEAE Dioscorea alata L. Rober t son 3151, n o r t h e r n area EUPHORBIACEAE Acal ypha indica L. R o b e r t s o n 3146, s e t t l e m e n t Euphorbia hirta L. Rober t son 3084, s e t t l e m e n t Euphorbia prostrata A i t . ? Rober t son 3147, s e t t l e m e n t Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L. ) P o i t . Robe r t son 3118, s e t t l e m e n t Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. R o b e r t s o n 3083, be tween a i r s t r i p a n d s e t t l e m e n t Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L. R o b e r t s o n 3087, s e t t l e m e n t ; R Abrus precatorius L. Rober t son 3157, i n i m p o r t e d heap o f r e d s o i l a t s e t t l e m e n t Adenan thera ~avonina L . R o b e r t s o n 3123, i n o l d f r u i t g a r d e n i n n o r t h e r n area - Caesalpinia bonduc (L. ) Roxb . Rober t son 3133, n e a r o l d house a t Paya , e a s t c o a s t Canaval i a c a t h a r t i c a Thouars Robertson 3060, s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p C a s s i a o c c i d e n t a l i s L . Robertson 3144, s e t t l e m e n t ~ e l o n i x r e g i a (Bo j . ) Raf . Robertson -- 3126, i n o l d f r u i t g a r d e n , n o r t h e r n p a r t Desmanthus v i r g a t u s iL . ) Willd . Robertson 3127, i n o l d f r u i t ga rden , n o r t h e r n p a r t Desmodium t r i f l o r u m DC. Rober tson 3156, on imported heap o f r e d s o i l a t s e t t l e m e n t Leucaena l e u c o c e p h a l a (Lam. ) de W i t Robertson 3132, n e a r o l d house a t Paya, e a s t c o a s t Mimosa pud ica L . Robertson 3158, on imported heap o f r e d s o i l a t s e t t l e m e n t P i t h e c e l l o b i u m u n g u i s - c a t i Benth . Robertson 3143, s e t t l e m e n t Tamarindus i n d i c a L . Robertson 3150, i n o l d f r u i t ga rden , n o r t h e r n p a r t -- V i g n a u n g u i c u l a t a (L) Walp. Rober tson, s i g h t GOODENIACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a Vahl Robertson 3069, beach c r e s t t h i c k e t ; R ( a s S . t a c c a d a ) H ERNAND IACEAE Hernandia sonora L . Hernandia n y m p h a e i f o l i a ( P r e s l ) K u b i t z k i Robertson 3057, s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p ; R ( a s H . p e l t a t a ) L e o n o t i s n e p e t a e f o l i a (L . ) R . Br . Robertson 31 30, s e t t l e m e n t Ocimum b a s i l i c u m L. Rober tson, s i g h t L AURACEAE C a s s y t h a f i l i f o r m i s L. Robertson 3064, s o u t h of a i r s t r i p ; R LECYTH IDACEAE B a r r i n q t o n i a a s i a t i c a (L. ) Kurz Rober tson 3 103, s e t t l e m e n t ; R -.- - LILIACEAE (sensu l a t o ) Crinurn macowanii Baker Robertson 3131, s e t t l e m e n t Yucca s p . Rober tson, s i g h t ; ornamental MALVACEAE G o s s y p i urn h i r s u t urn L . Robertson 3117, s e t t l e m e n t Malvastrurn coromandel ianum (L. ) Garcke Robertson 3125, n o r t h e r n l u s h p a r t n e a r p a t h S i d a p u s i l l a Cav. Robertson 3077, s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p ; R ( a s S . p a r v i f o l i a S i d a s t i p u l a t a Cav. Robertson 31 59, s e t t l e m e n t MORACEAE A r t o c a r p u s a l t i l i s ( P a r k . ) Fosb. Rober tson, s i g h t F i c u s b e n q h a l e n s i s L. Rober tson 3120, n o r t h e r n p a r t n e a r o l d f r u i t garden MORINGACEAE Morinqa 01 e i f e r a Lam. Rober tson, s i g h t MUSACEAE Musa spp. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t NYCTAG INACEAE B o e r h a v i a r e p e n s L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 6 1 , s o u t h of a i r s t r i p M i r a b i l i s j a l a p a L . R o b e r t s o n 3 1 2 9 , s e t t l e m e n t ORCHIDACEAE V a n i l l a m e x i c a n a M i l l e r R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t OXALIDACEAE A v e r r h o a b i l i m b i L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t PANDANACEAE Pandanus u t i l i s B o r y R o b e r t s o n 3 1 0 8 , b e h i n d s e t t l e m e n t PAPAVERACEAE Arqemone m e x i c a n a L . R o b e r t s o n 3 1 4 0 , s e t t l e m e n t PASSIFLORACEAE P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L . R o b e r t s o n 3090, b e h i n d s e t t l e m e n t ; R POACEAE (GRAMINEAE) C e n c h r u s e c h i n a t u s L . R o b e r t s o n , 3 1 2 8 , s e t t l e m e n t C y n o d o n d a c t y l o n ( L . ) P e r s . R o b e r t s o n 3089, s e t t l e m e n t D a c t y l o c t e n i u m c t e n o i d e s ( S t e u d . ) Bosser D a c t y l o c t e n i u m p i l o s u m S t a p f . Rober tson 3058, 3065, 3139, s o u t h e r n p a r t on p a t h s ; v e r y v a r i a b l e ; --- - D i g i t a r i a d i d a c t y l i a Wil ld . Robertson 3097, s e t t l e m e n t D i g i t a r i a s e t i g e r a Roth Rober tson 3066, s o u t h of a i r s t r i p E l e u s i n e i n d i c a (L . ) Gaertn . Robertson 3122, n o r t h e r n l u s h p a r t on p a t h E r a g r o s t i s c i l i a r i s (L. ) R . Br . Robertson 3071, s o u t h of a i r s t r i p E r a g r o s t i s s u b a e q u i q l umi s Renv. Robertson 3072, 3073, common a l l o v e r t h e i s l a n d on poor s o i l -- E r a q r o s t i s t e n e l l a ( L . ) P. Beauv. Robertson 3078, 3112, n o r t h e r n end of a i r s t r i p and i n n o r t h of -- i s l a n d ; R L e p t u r u s r e p e n s ( G . F o r s t . ) R . Br. Rober tson 3054, sand s p i t a t s o u t h end of i s l a n d ; R Panicum maximum J a c q . Rober tson, s i g h t , s e t t l e m e n t garden Panicum subquadr iparum T r i n . B r a c h i a r i a subquadr ipara ( T r i n . ) Hitchc . Robertson 3154, La Mare Gran Coco S t e n o t a p h r u m d i m i d i a t u m (L. ) Brongn. Robertson 3085, beh ind s e t t l e m e n t ; R S t e n o t a p h r u m micran thum (Desf . ) Hubb. Robertson 3134, La Mare Gran Coco POLYPODIACEAE (sensu l a t o ) A c r o s t i c h u m aureum L. Rober tson 3110, marsh beh ind s e t t l e m e n t ; R A s p l e n i u m n i d u s L . Robertson 3115, n o r t h e r n a r e a ; R N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a (Swar tz ) S c h o t t Rober tson 3109, beh ind s e t t l e m e n t ; R Polypod ium s c o l o p e n d r i a Burm.f. Rober tson 3102, beh ind s e t t l e m e n t ; R P t e r i s t r i p a r t i t a Sw. Rober tson 3135, La Mare Gran Coco; R PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L. Rober tson 3137, e a s t c o a s t n o r t h o f Paya; R POTAMOGETONACEAE H a l o d u l e u n i n e r v i s ( F o r s s k . ) Aschers . R ; n o t seen by Rober tson PSILOTACEAE P s i l o t u m nudum (L . ) Beauv. Robertson 3094, beh ind s e t t l e m e n t ; R RUB IACEAE G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L . Rober tson 3113, n o r t h p a r t o f i s l a n d Morinda c i t r i f o l i a L. Rober tson 3098, between a i r s t r i p and s e t t l e m e n t ; R RUTACEAE C i t r u s a u r a n t i i f o l i a (Chr is tm. ) Swingle Rober t son , s i g h t SAPINDACEAE Dodonaea v i s c o s a J a c q . Rober tson 3116, wes t s i d e o f i s l a n d n o r t h o f s e t t l e m e n t , n e a r o l d house SCROPHULARIACEAE S t r i g a a s i a t i c a (L. ) Kuntze Rober t son 3062, s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p ; R SOLANACEAE Datura m e t e l L. Rober t son 3142, s e t t l e m e n t P h y s a l i s micran tha Link Rober t son 3145, s e t t l e m e n t Solanum melongena L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t So l an urn n i grum L . Rober t son 3093, s e t t l e m e n t STERCULIACEAE H e r i t i e r a l i t t o r a l i s Dryand. Rober t son 3149, marsh b e h i n d s e t t l e m e n t SURIANACEAE Sur iana mari t ima L. Rober t son 3067, s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p ; R TILIACEAE T r i u m f e t t a procumbens F o r s s k . Rober t son 3056, beach c r e s t a t s o u t h e n d o f i s l a n d ; R TURNERACEAE Turnera u l m i f o l i a L. Rober t son 3068, s o u t h o f a i r s t r i p ; R URTIC ACEAE P i l e a m i c r o p h y l l a (L.) Liebm. Robertson 3121, n o r t h p a r t near o l d f r u i t garden P i p t u r u s a r g e n t e u s (Forssk . ) Wedd. Robertson 3114, n o r t h p a r t of i s l a n d ; R VERBENACEAE Lantana camara L . Robertson 3124, no r th p a r t nea r o l d f r u i t garden L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a (L. ) Rich. Robertson 3075, sou th of a i r s t r i p ; R - S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s (L.) Vahl Robertson 3081, between a i r s t r i p and se t t l emen t ; R S t a c h y t a r p h e t a u r t i c a e f o l i a Sims Robertson 3111, s e t t l emen t References Gwynne, M. D. and Wood, D. 1969. P l a n t s c o l l e c t e d on i s l a n d s i n t h e western Indian Ocean dur ing a c r u i s e of t h e M.F.R.V. "Manihine", Sept.-Oct. 1967. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 134, 1-15. Renvoize, S. A. 1975. A f l o r i s t i c a n a l y s i s of t he western Indian Ocean c o r a l i s l a n d s . Kew B u l l . 30, 133-152. Robertson, S. A. I n p r e s s . T h e f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s o f S e y c h e l l e s : a n a n n o t a t e d check l i s t , i n c l u d i n g Gymnosperms, w i t h l i ne d r a w i n g s . S t Louis: Missouri Botan ica l Garden. 7 . LIST OF PLANTS COLLECTED ON PLATTE ISLAND, SEYCHELLES by S. A. Robertson and F. R . Fosberg I n t r o d u c t i o n On 26 February 1980 a v i s i t was made t o P l a t t e I s l a n d , S e y c h e l l e s , by t h e f i r s t a u t h o r , and d u r i n g t h e t h r e e h o u r s s p e n t t h e r e a s many p l a n t s p e c i e s were c o l l e c t e d a s p o s s i b l e . No c r o p p l a n t s o r obv ious garden o rnamenta l s were t aken . Two s e t s o f p l a n t s were c o l l e c t e d , one of which i s i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e Herbarium, M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Mahe, S e y c h e l l e s , and t h e o t h e r lodged wi th t h e Herbarium, Royal Botan ic Gardens , Kew, England. The f i r s t a u t h o r is i n d e b t e d t o t h e D i r e c t o r , Royal Botan ic Gardens, and h i s s t a f f , i n p a r t i c u l a r M r S. Renvoize, f o r v e r i f y i n g t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s . F a m i l i e s i n t h e fo l lowing l i s t have been a r r a n g e d a l p h a b e t i c a l l y . The names used have been checked by Fosberg and conform t o t h e usage of o t h e r s i n t h i s s e r i e s o f p a p e r s . There t h e names adop ted h e r e d i f f e r from t h o s e used by Robertson ( i n p r e s s ) , t h e l a t t e r a r e g i v e n a s synonyms. P l a t t e ( F i g u r e 8 ) i s a s m a l l sand c a y , a p t l y named, a b o u t 125 km s o u t h o f Mahe, surrounded by an e x t e n s i v e f r i n g i n g r e e f . I t i s a b o u t 65 ha i n e x t e n t and is run a s a coconut p l a n t a t i o n . There is a s m a l l s e t t l e m e n t on t h e west c o a s t w i t h t h e manager ' s house and a few g u e s t c o t t a g e s t o t h e nor thwes t . There i s a s e r v i c e a b l e g r a s s a i r s t r i p a l i g n e d s o u t h e a s t / n o r t h w e s t and approx imate ly 900 m long . The v e g e t a t i o n p a t t e r n i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f o t h e r sand c a y s i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s , w i t h beach c r e s t c o l o n i s e r s Ipomoea pes -caprae and S p o r o b o l u s v i r q i n i c u s backed by a t h i c k e t of S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a and G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a which e x t e n d s s l i g h t l y i n t o t h e coconut p l a n t a t i o n . A mix ture o f h e r b s and s m a l l s h r u b s forms an undergrowth of v a r y i n g d e n s i t y benea th t h e palms. The l i s t o f p l a n t s i s c e r t a i n l y incomplete b u t t h e r e a r e some s u r p r i s i n g gaps i n i t , n o t a b l y S t e n o t a p h r u m d i m i d i a t u m , Morinda c i t r i f o l i a , A s y s t a s i a q a n q e t i c a and T r i u m f e t t a procumbens , a l l o f which a r e f o u n d i n t h e Arnirantes t o t h e west and on A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n No. 273: 157-164, 1983. Coet ivy t o t h e sou th . A s f a r a s we a r e aware t h i s i s t h e f i r s t p l a n t c o l l e c t i o n made from t h i s i s l a n d . The f i r s t a u t h o r would l i k e t o thank M r G . Savy f o r pe rmiss ion t o v i s i t P l a t t e and c o l l e c t p l a n t s t h e r e , and t h e Government o f S e y c h e l l e s f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n r e a c h i n g t h e i s l a n d . L i s t o f p l a n t s AMARANTHACEAE A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L. Robertson 3021 Amaranthus d u b i u s Mart. e x T h e l l . Robertson 3012 --- APOCYNACEAE Ca t h a r a n t h u s r o s e u s (L. ) G . Don Robertson 3010 ARECACEAE (PALMAE ) Cocos n u c i f e r a L . Robertson, s i g h t BORAGINACEAE C o r d i a s u b c o r d a t a Lam. Robertson 3050 T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a L . f . Robertson 3032 CARYOPHYLLACEAE Drymaria c o r d a t a (L. ) Roem. and S c h u l t e s Robertson 2998 CASUARINACEAE C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a L. Rober tson 3007 COMPOSITAE V e r n o n i a c i n e r e a L e s s . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 5 CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea macrantha Roem. & S c h u l t e s R o b e r t s o n 3036 Ipomoea pes -caprae ( L . ) R. B r . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 9 CRASSULACEAE Kalanchoe p i n n a t a ( L a m . ) P e r s . Bryophy l lum p inna tum ( L a m . ) O k e n R o b e r t s o n 3038 CYPERACEAE Cyperus d u b i u s R o t t . Mar i scus d u b i u s ( R o t t b . ) F i s c h . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 7 C y p e r u s k y l l i n g i a E n d l . K y l l i n g i a n e m o r a l i s ( F o r s t . ) D a n d y ex H u t c h . R o b e r t s o n 2 9 9 9 Cyperus l i g u l a r i s L . M a r i s c u s 1 i g u l a r . i ~ ( L . ) U r b . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 1 F i m b r i s t y l i s cymosa R. B r . R o b e r t s o n 3019 -- EUPHORBIACEAE Acalypha i n d i c a L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 4 --- - Eurphorb ia h i r t a L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 8 Euphorbia p r o s t r a t a A i t . ? R o b e r t s o n 3011 P e d i l a n t h u s t i t h y m a l o i d e s ( L . ) P o i t . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 1 P h y l l a n t h u s amarus Schum. & Thonn. Robertson 3060 -- P h y l l a n t h u s maderas .pa tens i s L. Robertson 3026 FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE) C a s s i a o c c i d e n t a l i s L . Robertson 3008 Leucaena l e u c o c e p h a l a (Lam.) de Wit Robertson 3005 GOODENIACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a Vahl Robertson 3053 Hernandia sonora L. Hernandia n y m p h a e i f o l i a (Presl) Kubitzki Robertson 3034 LAURACEAE C a s s y t h a f i l i f o r m i s L. Robertson 3006 LILIACEAE (sensu lato) Haemanthus mu1 t i f l o r u s Martyn ssp. m u l t i f l o r u s Scadoxus mu1 t i f l o r u s (Martyn) Raf. Robertson 3053 MALVACEAE H i b i s c u s t i l i a c e u s L. Robertson 3003 S i d a a c u t a Burm.f. Robertson 3009 - S i d a p u s i l l a Cav. Robertson 30 17 - S i d a s t i p u l a t a C a v . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 1 4 --- NYCTAGINACEAE B o e r h a v i a r e p e n s L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 3 5 PASSIFLORACEAE P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L. R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 2 POACEAE (GRAMINEAE) Cynodon d a c t y l o n ( L . ) P e r s . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 0 2 D a c t y l o c t e n i u m c t e n o i d e s ( S t e u d . ) B o s s e r R o b e r t s o n 3 0 3 7 -- D i g i t a r i a s e t i g e r a R o t n . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 1 3 E l e u s i n e i n d i c a (L . ) G a e r t n . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 1 6 E r a g r o s t i s s u b a e q u i q l u m i s R e n v . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 18 L e p t u r u s r e p e n s (G. F o r s t . ) R. B r . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 5 S p o r o b o l u s v i r g i n i c u s (L . ) K u n t h R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 8 S t e n o t a p h r u m micranthurn ( D e s f . ) C. E . Hubb. R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 7 POLYPODIACEAE ( s e n s u l a t o ) N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a ( S w a r t z ) S c h o t t R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 3 -- P o l ypod i urn s c o l o p e n d r i a (Burm. f . ) C o p e l . Microsori urn s c o l o p e n d r i a (Burm. f . ) C o p e l . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 2 PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a 01 e r a c e a L . R o b e r t s o n 3033 PSILOTACEAE P s i l o t u r n nudum ( L . ) B e a u v . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 0 C o l u b r i n a a s i a t i c a L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 0 4 RUBIACEAE G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 3 9 - SCROPHULARIACEAE S t r i q a a s i a t i c a ( L . ) K u n t z e R o b e r t s o n 3031 SOLANACEAE Datura m e t e l L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 3 Solanum n i q r u m L . R o b e r t s o n 30 15 SURIANACEAE S u r i a n a m a r i t i m a L . R o b e r t s o n 3030 TURNERACEAE T u r n e r a u l m i f o l i a L . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 6 - URTICACEAE L a p o r t e a a e s t u a n s ( L . ) C h e w R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 0 P i p t u r u s a r g e n t e u s ( F o r s t . 1 W e d d . R o b e r t s o n 3 0 2 4 VERBENACEAE L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) R i c h . R o b e r t s o n 3001 S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s ( L . ) V a h l R o b e r t s o n 3 0 4 9 R e f e r e n c e R o b e r t s o n , S . A . I n press. T h e f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s o f S e y c h e l l e s : a n a n n o t a t e d c h e c k l i s t , i n c l u d i n g Gymnosperms , w i t h l i n e d r a w i n g s . S t L o u i s : M i s s o u r i B o t a n i c a l G a r d e n . 8 . LIST OF PLANTS OF POIVRE ISLAND, AKIFANTES by S. A . Robertson and F. R . Fosberg In t roduct ion A v i s i t was made t o Poivre by the f i r s t au thor on the 26 and 27 October 1976, and dur ing these two days a s many p a r t s of the two i s l a n d s (Figure 9') were v i s i t e d a s poss ib l e and a p l a n t c o l l e c t i o n made. 58 specimens were c o l l e c t e d and another 26 noted, inc luding crop p l a n t s and some garden ornamentals. Two s e t s were made, one of which was incorpora ted in t he Herbarium of t he Ministry of Agr i cu l tu re , Mahe, Seychel les , and t h e o the r lodged wi th t h e Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K. The f i r s t au thor i s indebted t o t he Di rec to r , Royal Botanic Gardens, and h i s s t a f f , i n p a r t i c u l a r M r S. Renvoize, f o r ve r i fy ing the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s . Noted i n t he l i s t a r e those spec i e s given a s occurr ing on Poivre by P iggo t t (1969). Poivre, named a f t e r t he famous P i e r r e Poivre, i s p a r t of t h e Amirantes, 240 krn from Mahe, and c o n s i s t s of two i s l a n d s , Poivre i t s e l f (110 ha) and South I s l a n d o r I l e du Sud (135 ha) , with an e n c i r c l i n g r ee f formation. P iggo t t (1969) g ives a good account of t h e i s l a n d s a s he found them on 26-30 October 1960, with comments on the morphology, s o i l s , ecology and a g r i c u l t u r e . Sixteen y e a r s l a t e r t h e i s l a n d s were much a s he descr ibed them, with t h e important d i f f e r e n c e t h a t , t h e ownership having changed, t he a g r i c u l t u r e had been g r e a t l y improved, with r ep l an t ing of coconuts , use of f e r t i l i s e r s , more c rops being grown, and c a t t l e and p i g s kept . There had a l s o been some involvement with tou r i s m . The f i r s t au thor would l i k e t o thank t h e owners of Poivre , and the managers,-Mr F. Huala and M r A . Bonnelame, f o r t h e i r g r e a t a s s i s t a n c e and h o s p i t a l i t y dur ing t h e v i s i t . In t he fol lowing l i s t f a m i l i e s a r e arranged a l p h a b e t i c a l l y . The names used have been checked by Fosberg and conform t o the usage of o t h e r papers i n t h i s s e r i e s of papers . Where the names adopted here A t o l l Research Bu l l e t i n No. 273: 165-176, 1983. Figure , ,' Boat Channel &&TTLEMENT PTE BALEINE ,' Low t ~ d e Footpath d i f f e r from t h o s e used by Robertson ( i n p r e s s ) , t h e l a t t e r a r e g iven a s synonyms. L i s t o f p l a n t s AGAVACEAE Furcreae f o e t i d a (L.) H a w Rober tson, s i g h t AMARANTHACEAE Achyran thes a s p e r a L. Robertson 2344 Amaranthus d u b i u s T h e l l . Robertson 2363 ANACARDIACEAE Spond ias d u l c i s Parkinson Spond ias c y t h e r e a Sonn. Robertson, s i g h t ANNONACEAE Annona squamosa L. Rober tson, s i g h t APOCYNACEAE C a t h a r a n t h u s r o s e u s (L. ) G. Don Robertson 2335 Plumeria rubra L. Rober tson, s i g h t A l o c a s i a macrorrh i za (L . ) G. Don ? Robertson, s i g h t ARECACEAE ( PALMAE ) Cocos n u c i f e r a L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t BORAG INACEAE C o r d i a s u b c o r d a t a Lam. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t H e l i o t r o p i urn i n d i c u m L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 2 9 T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a L. f. P i g g o t t , s i g h t ; R o b e r t s o n 2 3 5 3 CAPPARIDACEAE Cleome gynandra L. R o b e r t s o n 2 3 6 4 CAR I C ACEAE C a r i c a papaya L . P i g g o t t , s i g h t ; R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t CASUARINACEAE C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a L. P i g g o t t , s i g h t ; R o b e r t s o n 2 3 8 4 --- CLUSIACEAE (GUTTIFERAE) C a l o p h y l l u m i n o p h y l l u m L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t COMBRETACEAE T e r m i n a l i a c a t a p p a L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t COMMELINACEAE Commel i n a 1 o n g i f o l i a Lam. R o b e r t s o n 2 3 6 5 COMPOSITAE B i d e n s p i l o s a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 8 9 - S y n e d r e l l a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) G a e r t n . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 3 8 T r i d a x procumbens L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 4 6 - V e r n o n i a c i n e r e a ( L . ) L e s s . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 4 - CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea p e s - c a p r a e ( L . ) R . B r . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 4 1 CRASSULACEAE Kal a n c h o e p i n n a t a ( L a m . ) P e r s . B r y o p h y l l um p inna . t~um ( P e r s . ) S . K u r z R o b e r t s o n 2 3 5 0 CUCURBITACEAE C u c u r b i t a m o s c h a t a ( D u c h . e x L a m . ) D u c h ex P o i r . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t Momordica c h a r a n t i a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 3 - CYPERACEAE C g p e r u s b r e v i f o l i u s ( R o t t b . ) H a s s k . K y l l i n g a c o l o r a t a ( L . ) D r u c e R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 2 C y p e r u s c r i s t a t u s ( K u n t h ) M a t t f . & ~ u k . K y l l i n g a a l b a N e e s R o b e r t s o n 2 3 4 9 C y p e r u s d u b i u s R o t t b . M a r i s c u s d u b i u s ( R o t t b . ) Fischer R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 0 C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L . M a r i s c u s l i g u l a r i s ( L . 1 U r b . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 4 0 F i m b r i s t y l i s cymosa R . B r . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 8 6 EUPHORBIACEAE Aca lypha i n d i c a L. R o b e r t s o n 2 3 8 0 Codiaeum v a r i e g a t u m ( L . ) B l u m e R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t Euphorb ia c y a t h o p h o r a M u r r . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 5 6 Euphorb ia h i r t a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 8 2 Euphorb ia p r o s t r a t a A i t . ? R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 6 Manihot e s c u l e n t a C r a n t z R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t P e d i l a n t h u s t i t h y m a l o i d e s ( L . ) P o i t . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t P h y l l a n t h u s amarus S c h u m . & T h o n n . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 4 5 P h y l l a n t h u s m a d e r a s p a t e n s i s L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 5 2 FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE) Adenan the ra pavon ina L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t A l b i z i a lebbeck ( L . ) B e n t h . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 5 C a n a v a l i a cathartics T h o u a r s ? R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t C a s s i a o c c i d e n t a l i s L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 6 6 Desmodium incanum DC. Desmodium canum ( J . F . G m e l . ) S c h i n z & T h e l l . R o b e r t s o n 2367 Leucaena l e u c o c e p h a l a (Lam.) de W i t R o b e r t s o n 2330 P i t h e c e l l o b i u m u n g u i s - c a t i ( L . ) B e n t h . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t GOODENIACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a V a h l P i g g o t t , s i g h t ; R o b e r t s o n 2334 H ERNAND IACEAE ~ e r n a n d i a sonora L. Hernandia n y m p h a e i f o l i a ( P r e s l . ) K u b i t s k i P i g g o t t , s i g h t ; R o b e r t s o n 2383 C a s s y t h a f i l i f o r m i s L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t LILIACEAE ( s e n s u la to) Z e p h y r a n t h e s r o s e a L i n d l . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t LYTHRACEAE Pemphis a c i d u l a F o r s t . P i g g o t t , s i g h t ; R o b e r t s o n 2385 MALVACEAE G o s s ypium h i r s u t u m L. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t S i d a a c u t a Burm. f. R o b e r t s o n 2 3 6 1 , 2362 -- S i d a p u s i l l a Cav. R o b e r t s o n 2354 MORACEAE A r t o c a r p u s a l t i l i s ( P a r k . ) Fosb. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t F i c u s b e n g h a l e n s i s L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t MORINGACEAE Moringa o l e i f e r a Lam. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t MUSACEAE Musa spp. R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t NYCTAGINACEAE B o u g a i n v i l l e a s p e c t a b i l i s W i l l d . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t PASSIFLORACEAE P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 8 1 - POACEAE (GRAMINEAE) Cenchrus e c h i n a t u s L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t Dac ty loc t en iurn c t e n o i d e s ( S t e u d . ) B o s s e r R o b e r t s o n 2 3 3 1 , 2 3 6 8 -- D i g i t a r i a h o r i z o n t a l i s W i l l d . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 1 - E l e u s i n e i n d i c a ( L . ) G a e r t n . R o b e r t s o n 2 3 3 2 , 2 3 6 0 -- E r a g r o s t i s s u b a e q u i g l u m i s R e n v o i z e R o b e r t s o n 2 3 7 9 - E r a g r o s t i s t e n e l l a (L. ) P . Beauv. Robertson 2347 - - L e p t u r u s r e p e n s (G. Forst.) R. Br. Robertson 2333 - Panicum maximum L. Robertson, sight S teno taphrum d i m i d i a t u m (L.) Brongn. Piggott, sight; Robertson 2377 - POLYPODIACEAE (sensu lato) A s p l e n i u m n i d u s L. Piggott, sight N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a ( Swartz Schott PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L. Robertson 2339 - PSILOTACEAE P s i l o t u m nudum (L. ) Beauv. Robertson 2342 - RHIZOPHORACEAE Rhi zophora mucrona t a Lam. Robertson - 2359 Piggott, sight RUBIACEAE Gue t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L . Robertson 2357 - Morinda c i tr i f o l i a L . Robertson 2387 - RUTACEAE C i t r u s spp. Robertson, sight SCROPHULARIACEAE S t r i g a a s i a t i c a (L. ) Kuntze Robertson 2348 Datura m e t e l L. Robertson 2336 SOLANACEAE SURIANACEAE S u r i a n a m a r i t i m a L. Robertson 2358 TILLIACEAE T r i u m f e t t a procumbens Forst-f. Robertson 2388 TURNERACEAE Turnera u l m i f o l i a L. Robertson 2355 URTICACEAE Lapor t ea a e s t u a n s (L.) Chew Robertson 2337 P i l e a m i c r o p h y l l a (L. ) Leibm. Robertson 2343 VERBENACEAE L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a (L. ) Rich. Robertson 2378 S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s (L . ) Vahl Robertson 2369 References P i g g o t t , C . J . 1969. A r e p o r t o n a v i s i t t o the O u t e r I s l a n d s o f S e y c h e l l e s b e t w e e n O c t o b e r and November 1 9 6 0 . Tolworth: D i r ec to ra t e of Overseas Surveys, Land Resources Div is ion , v i , 1 2 2 pp. Robertson, S. A . In p r e s s . T h e f l o w e r i n g p l a n t s o f S e y c h e l l e s : a n a n n o t a t e d check l i s t , i n c l u d i n g Gymnosperms , w i t h l i n e d r a w i n g s . S t Lous: Missouri Botan ica l Garden. 9 . LIST OF PLANTS COLLECTED ON ALPHONSE ISLAND, AI\lIMNTES by I . A . D. R o b e r t s o n , S. A . Rober t son and F. R . Fosbe rg I n t r o d u c t i o n On 28 May 1979 I a n Rober t son v i s i t e d Alphonse t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e c o c o n u t p e s t s i t u a t i o n , and d u r i n g t h i s v i s i t made a c o l l e c t i o n o f p l a n t s . These were g i v e n numbers i n Mrs Ann R o b e r t s o n ' s s e r i e s and have been d e p o s i t e d i n t h e Herbarium, M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Plahe, S e y c h e l l e s , o r i n t h e Herbarium, Royal Bo tan ic Gardens , K e w . The f i r s t a u t h o r would l i k e t o thank t h e owners o f Alphonse f o r p e r m i s s i o n t o c o l l e c t . Fosbe rg h a s been r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c h e c k i n g t h e nomenc la tu re u s e d , which conforms t o t h a t i n o t h e r s o f t h i s series o f p a p e r s . Where t h e names used d i f f e r f rom t h o s e g i v e n by Rober t son ( i n p r e s s ) , t h e l a t t e r a r e g i v e n as synonyms. M r s Rober t son t h a n k s t h e D i r e c t o r and s t a f f o f t h e Royal B o t a n i c Gardens , Kew,for a s s i s t a n c e w i t h t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s . Alphonse I s l a n d ( F i g u r e 10) i s a sand c a y on t h e n o r t h e a s t r i m of a n a t o l l i n t h e s o u t h e r n Amiran tes . I t h a s a n a r e a o f 172 h a . L i s t o f p l a n t s AGAVACEAE A g a v e s i s a l a n a ( P e r r . e x Engelmann) Drumm. and P r a i n Rober t son 2876 F u r c r a e a f o e t i d a (L. ) H a w . Rober t son 2842 - -- - - - - - - - - A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n No. 273 : 177-184 , 1 9 8 3 . L A G O O N SAND COCONUT REEF WOODLAND Figure 10. Alphonse AMARANTHACEAE A c h y r a n t h e s a s p e r a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 6 6 APOCYNACEAE C a t h a r a n t h u s r o s e u s ( L . ) G . Don R o b e r t s o n 2 8 2 9 Nei sosperma o p p o s i t i f o l i a (Lam. ) Fosb . & Sachet O c h r o s i a o p p o s i t i f o l i a ( L a m . ) S c h u m . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 4 0 ARACEAE A l o c a s i a m a c r o r r h i z a ( L . ) G . Don R o b e r t s o n 2 8 8 9 ARECACEAE (PALMAE) C o c u s n u c i f e r a L . R o b e r t s o n , s i g h t ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE) V e r n o n i a c i n e r e a ( L . ) L e s s . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 4 9 -- BORAGINACEAE C o r d i a s u b c o r d a t a Lam. R o b e r t s o n 2 8 5 7 T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a L . f . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 4 5 CARICACEAE C a r i c a papaya L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 2 4 CASUARINACEAE C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 4 8 CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea macrantha Roem. & S c h u l t e s R o b e r t s o n 2 8 2 3 Ipomoea pes-caprae ( L . ) R. B r . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 5 0 Ipomoea sp. R o b e r t s o n 2 8 2 5 CRASSULACEAE Kalanchoe p i n n a t a (Lam. ) P e r s . Bryophy l lum pinnatum ( P e r s . ) K u r z R o b e r t s o n 2 8 6 3 -- - CYPERACEAE C y p e r u s a r o m a t i c u s ( R i d l . ) Mattf. & ~ u k . K y l l i n g a p o l y p h y l l a W i l l d . e x K u n t h R o b e r t s o n 2890 C y p e r u s d u b i u s R o t t b . Mari scus d u b i u s ( R o t t b . ) F i s c h e r R o b e r t s o n 2 8 8 7 C y p e r u s k y l l i n g i a E n d l . K y l l i n g a monocephala R o t t b . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 8 6 C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L. Mari scus l i g u l a r i s ( L . ) U r b . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 7 8 C y p e r u s r o t u n d u s L. R o b e r t s o n 2 6 7 9 F i m b r i s t y l i s cymosa R. B r . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 8 1 EUPHORBIACEAE Acalypha i n d i c a L. R o b e r t s o n 2 8 5 3 Euphorbia h i r t a L . R o b e r t s o n 2826 ~ u p h o r b i a p r o s t r a t a A i t . ? R o b e r t s o n 2 8 6 2 P h y l l a n t h u s amarus Schum. & T h o n n . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 5 2 P h y l l a n t h u s m a d e r a s p a t e n s i s L. R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 7 R i c i n u s communis L. R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 5 FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE) Adenan thera pavonina L . R o b e r t s o n 2 6 4 1 C a s s i a o c c i d e n t a l i s L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 2 8 -- E r y t h r i n a v a r i e g a t a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 8 S e s b a n i a s e r i c e a ( W i l l d . ) L i n k R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 2 GOODENIACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a V a h l . S c a e v o l a t a c c a d a ( G a e r t n . ) R o x b . R o b e r t s o n 2877 HERNANDIACEAE Hernandia sonora L . Hernandia n y m p h a e i f o l i a ( P r e s l ) K u b i t z k i R o b e r t s o n 2 8 2 7 LAURACEAE C a s s y t h a f i l i f o r m i s L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 7 3 LECY THIDACEAE B a r r i n g t o n i a a s i a t i c a ( L . ) K u r z R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 4 MALVACEAE G o s s y p i u m h i r s u t u m L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 0 S i d a p u s i l l a C a v . ? R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 9 S i d a s t i p u l a t a C a v . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 4 4 MORACEAE F i c u s n a u t a r u m B a k . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 5 8 MORINGACEAE Moringa 01 e i f e r a L a m . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 8 8 NYCTAGINACEAE B o e r h a v i a r e p e n s L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 6 9 PASSIFLORACEAE P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 1 POACEAE (GRAMINEAE) D a c t y l o c t e n i u n l c t e n o i d e s ( S t e u d . ) B o s s e r R o b e r t s o n 2 8 4 3 , 2 8 4 7 -- E l e u s i n e i n d i c a ( L . ) G a e r t n . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 6 0 E r a g r o s t i s s u b a e q u i g l u m i s R e n v o i z e R o b e r t s o n 2 8 8 2 L e p t u r u s r e p e n s ( G . F o r s t . ) R. B r . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 7 2 Panicum s u b q u a d r i p a r u m T r i n . B r a c h i a r i a s u b q u a d r i p a r a ( T r i n . ) H i t c h c . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 8 5 S t e n o t a p h r u r n d i rn id ia turn (L.) Brongn. Robertson 2867 S t e n o t a p h r u r n rnicranthurn (Desv.) Hubb. Robertson 2871 POLYPODIACEAE (sensu lato) N e p h r o l e p i s b i s e r r a t a (Swartz) Schott Robertson 2868 P o l y p o d i urn s c o l o p e n d r i a (Burm . f . ) Copel. M i c r o s o r i u r n s c o l o p e n d r i a (Burm. f . ) Cope1 Robertson 2865 RUB IACEAE G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L. Robertson 2851 Morinda ci t r i f o l i a L . Robertson 2875 SCROPHULARIACEAE S t r i g a a s i a t i c a (L. ) Kuntze Robertson 2859 SURIANACEAE S u r i a n a rnarit irna L. Robertson 2846 TILIACEAE T r i u r n f e t t a p r o c u m b e n s Forst.?. Robertson 2864 T r i urnf e t t a r h o r n b o i d e s Jacq. Robertson 2833 TURNERACEAE T u r n e r a u l r n i f o l i a L. Robertson 28 54 URTICACEAE Laportea aestuans ( L . ) C h e w R o b e r t s o n 2 8 7 4 Pilea microphylla ( L . ) L e i b r n . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 6 1 Pipturus argenteus ( F o r s t . ) Wedd. R o b e r t s o n 2 8 3 6 VERBENACEAE Lippia nodiflora ( L . ) R i c h . R o b e r t s o n 2 8 7 0 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis ( L . ) V a h l R o b e r t s o n 2 8 5 6 Stachytarpheta urticaefolia S i m s R o b e r t s o n 2 8 5 5 R e f e r e n c e R o b e r t s o n , S . A. I n press. The flowering plants of Seychelles: an annotated check list, including Gymnosperms, with line drawings. S t L o u i s : M i s s o u r i B o t a n i c a l G a r d e n . 10. ECOLOGY OF MARIE-LOUISE, AMIRANTES ISLANDS by J. R . Wilson I n t r o d u c t i o n Marie-Louise ( 6 ? 1 1 ' S , 53'08'E) l i e s a t t h e s o u t h e r n end of t h e Amirantes 13 km from i t s n e a r e s t ne ighbour , Desnoeufs , and 280 km sou thwes t o f t h e g r a n i t i c S e y c h e l l e s . The i s l a n d i s r o u g l y o v a l ( F i g u r e 11) wi th a l o n g n o r t h - s o u t h a x i s , h a s a maximum e l e v a t i o n o f 9 m a l t h o u g h more g e n e r a l l y 5-6 m , and a n a r e a o f 52.6 ha . I t is permanent ly i n h a b i t e d w i t h a p o p u l a t i o n of c . 1 5 a g r i c u l t u r a l workers a n d f i she rmen based i n a s m a l l s e t t l e m e n t on t h e wes t c o a s t above t h e beach and o p p o s i t e t h e o n l y s a f e anchorage. Pe rhaps because o f i t s i s o l a t i o n and t h e d i f f i c u l t y o f l a n d i n g t h e g e n e r a l n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of Marie- Louse remains undesc r ibed and t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s p r e s e n t e d h e r e , made on 14-15 June 1979 and 10-11 J u l y 1980, a r e in tended t o f i l l t h i s gap. Geology and s o i l s The i s l a n d i s b e l i e v e d t o be a n u p l i f t e d cay w i t h c a l c a r e o u s s a n d s t o n e s , o v e r l y i n g and i n t e r b e d d e d w i t h g r a v e l s , d i p p i n g outwards from t h e c e n t r e (Baker 1963, P i g g o t t 1968, 1 9 6 9 ) . The r o c k i s l e s s w e l l developed i n t h e s o u t h which i s c o n s i d e r e d t o be o f more r e c e n t o r i g i n . Jemo s o i l s have formed, w i t h a l a y e r of guano above t h e s a n d s t o n e s which have become p h o s p h a t i s e d , b u t t h e u n c o n s o l i d a t e d m a t e r i a l h a s been s t r i p p e d away and t h e r o c k i s now exposed over c a 75% o f t h e i s l a n d s u r f a c e . Shioya s o i l s o c c u r around t h e i s l a n d p e r i - me te r . A b road beach i s p r e s e n t i n t h e nor th-west w h i l s t t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t o f t h e i s l a n d i s g e n e r a l l y bounded by low c l i f f s , g i v i n g way t o r u b b l y s torm beaches i n t h e e a s t and n o r t h . A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n No. 273: 185-202, 1983. I Beach rock Li t toral scrub [IIIID C O C O ~ U ~ wood land Herbaceous mat Figure 11. Marie-Louise Vegetat ion Five major vege t a t i on types can be d i s t i n g u i s h e d on t h e b a s i s of s u b j e c t i v e assessment of s t r u c t u r e and s p e c i e s con ten t . Coconut grove community Cocos n u c i f e r a has been p l an t ed over t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e i s l a n d i n t o p i t s dug through t h e underlying phosphat ic sandstone. S c a t t e r e d H e r n a n d i a s o n o r a t r e e s a r e common throughout t h e grove which forms a c lo sed canopy a t about 12 m. Morinda c i t r i f o l i a and C a r i c a papaya a r e gene ra l l y abundant i n t h e understory and R i c i n u s communis i s l o c a l l y common. There i s a dense and va r i ed ground f l o r a i n which T r i d a x p r o c u m b e n s , B o e r h a v i a s p . , S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s and P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a a r e widespread and conspicuous. Towards t h e a i r - s t r i p t r a c e i n t h e n o r t h and t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t i n t h e south t h e coconu.is a r e more s p a r s e and t h e canopy becomes more open with a g r e a t e r p ropor t ion of H e r n a n d i a , Morinda and o t h e r t r e e s . These c o n d i t i o n s favour R i c i n u s and G o s s y p i u m h i r s u t u m . Herb community of open a r e a s The a i r s t r i p t r a c e and an open a r ea t o t h e south of t he s e t t l emen t have been c l e a r e d and p a r t of t h e a i r s t r i p i s used seasona l ly f o r maize c u l t i v a t i o n . A dense herb l a y e r develops i n which T r i d a x and S t a c h y t a r p h e t a a r e dominant and G o s s y p i u m forms dense pa tches . West f a c i n s c o a s t a l hedse The west c o a s t i s f r i n g e d with t a l l S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a and T o u r n e f o r t i a a r q e n t e a with occas iona l C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a . L e p t u r u s r e p e n s and B o e r h a v i a sp . u n d e r l i e t h e hedge and, t o t h e no r th of s e t t l e m e n t , form a spa r se cover on t h e beach c r e s t . To t h e south of t h e beach, S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t wi th some T o u r n e f o r t i a reaches t he edge of t h e low c l i f f s , f ron t ed only by a narrow and d iscont inuous band of low he rbs inc luding F i m b r i s t y l i s c y m o s a , S i d a p a r v i f o l i a , P a s s i f l o r a , T r i d a x , B o e r h a v i a , E u p h o r b i a p r o s t r a t a and D a c t y l o c t e n i u m sp . Eas t f ac ing c o a s t a l hedye The c o a s t a l hedge on t h e e a s t c o a s t i s dominated by S c a e v o l a which ex tends back t o form a dense t h i c k e t ( s e e below). G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a i s common i n t h e n o r t h , wi th some T o u r n e f o r t i a . Ipomoea m a c r a n t h a , I . p e s - c a p r a e and L e p t u r u s a r e a l s o p r e s e n t . Fu r the r south t h e S c a e v o l a i s lower and i s mixed wi th occas iona l s t u n t e d T o u r n e f o r t i a and C a s u a r i n a A t h i n and d iscont inuous band of herbs i s found on t h e c l i f f edge, dominated by F i m b r i s t y l i s and C y p e r u s l i q u l a r i s w h i l s t S i d a and S t e n o t a p h r u m m i c r a n t h u m a r e a l s o p re sen t . E u p h o r b i a p r o s t r a t a grows on t h e uns t ab l e su r f ace of t h e c l i f f f a c e . S c a e v o l a th icket The S c a e v o l a of t h e beach hedge ex tends back t o form a dense t h i c k e t from t h e n o r t h e a s t , where it h a s been p a r t i a l l y c u t f o r t h e a i r s t r i p , t o t h e south where it extends r i g h t a c r o s s t o t h e w e s t c o a s t . The t h i c k e t reaches a he igh t of 4 m and t h e r e i s a s p a r s e unders torey g r a s s e s and herbs . L i s t of p l a n t s 65 s p e c i e s of. va scu l a r p l a n t s were noted, excluding those under c u l t i v a t i o n . The fo l lowing a r e a l l s i g h t r eco rds , a l though specimens were r e t a i n e d f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i n Mahe i f a p o s i t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n could n o t be made a t t h e t ime. The names used here have been checked by F. R. Fosberg, and conform t o those i n o t h e r s of t h i s s e r i e s of r e p o r t s . ACANTHACEAE Asystasia genetica (L . ) T Anders. (Probably A . rnultiflora Klotzsch o r A . bojeriana N e e s ) Pa t ch i ly d i s t r i b u t e d b u t dominant where p r e s e n t i n t h e coconut grove . AGAVACEAE Furcraea foetida (L . ) Haworth Pa tches , probably o r i g i n a l l y p l a n t e d b u t now abandoned, a r e found a t bo th ends of t h e a i r s t r i p t r a c e and behind the beach hedge t o t h e south of t h e s e t t l emen t . AMARANTHACEAE Achyranthes aspera L. Frequent i n t h e coconut grove and i n c l e a r e d a r e a s ; a l s o occu r r ing under t h e beach hedge of t h e northwest c o a s t . Arnaranthus dubius Mart. ex The l l . Common around t h e s e t t l emen t and i n t h e coconut grove. APOCYNACEAE Catharanthus roseus (L. G. Don Frequent i n t h e coconut grove and c l e a r e d a r e a s . Only t h e white- f lower ing v a r i e t y occurs . Neisosperrna opposi t i f o l i a (Lam. Fosb . & Sachet Frequent wi th in t he coconut grove and p r e s e n t i n t h e Scaevola t h i c k e t . ARACEAE A l o c a s i a m a c r o r r h i z a ( L . ) G . Don Occasional throughout t h e coconut grove. ARECACEAE (PALMAE) C o c c s n u c i f e r a L. The dominant s p e c i e s of t h e coconut grove. Sca t t e r ed palms a r e a l s o found within the S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t b u t a r e poor . ASCLEPIADACEAE T y l o p h o r a a s t h m a t i c a Wight & Arn. Recorded by P iggo t t (1969) a s t h e predominant s p e c i e s i n t h e coconut grove, bu t n o t recorded i n 1979 and 1980. ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE) B i d e n s p i l o s a L . Inf requent i n t he coconut grove. T r i d a x p r o c u m b e n s L . Widespread, be ing common i n t h e coconut grove and co-dominant with S t a c h y t a r p h e t a i n c l e a r e d a r e a s . I t a l s o occurs on t h e c l i f f edge of t he southwest c o a s t . BORAGINACEAE C o r d i a s u b c o r d a t a Lam. Presen t i n t he coconut grove where palms a r e t h i n l y d i s t r i b u t e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y ad j acen t t o t h e a i r s t r i p t r a c e . T o u r n e f o r t i a a r g e n t e a L . f . Common i n t h e c o a s t a l hedge on t h e nor thern p a r t of t h e i s l a n d , bu t l e s s f r equen t i n t he south . CAPPARIDACEAE C l e o m e g y n a n d r a L . Found only around t h e s e t t l emen t , on p a t h s and on heaps of guano brought from Desnoeuf s. CARICACEAE C a r i c a papaya L. Very common i n the coconut grove, forming an open understorey ca . 3 m t a l l under the palms. CASUARINACEAE C a s u a r i n a e q u i s e t i f o l i a L . T a l l t r e e s along the west c o a s t , and a small grove a t t he cemetery i n the no r th . Sca t t e r ed ind iv idua l s grow along the e a s t coas t and p a r t i c u l a r l y behind t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t on the edge of t he coconut grove. CLUSIACEAE (GUTTIFERAE) C a l o p h y l l u m i n o p h y l l u m L . A s i n g l e t r e e was loca t ed on t h e in land margin of t he S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t on the e a s t s i d e of the i s l a n d . COMMELINACEAE Commelina b e n g h a l e n s i s L. Present under t h e coconut grove bu t p a t c h i l y d i s t r i b u t e d . Ipomoea b a t a t a s (L. ) Lam. ? A s i n g l e p l a n t i n t h e coconut grove, scrambling over blocks of phosphat ic l imestone rubble . Ipomoea macrantha Roem. & Schul tes Present i n the beach hedge on t h e no r th c o a s t and i n margins of the coconut grove on the e a s t s i d e of t h e i s l a n d . Ipomoea pes - caprae ( L . ) R . B r . Present i n t he c l e a r e d a r e a s b u t most common on the seaward edge of t he c o a s t a l hedge on the no r th and e a s t . CRASSULACEAE Kalanchoe p i n n a t a (Lam.) Pers . Frequent b u t p a t c h i l y d i s t r i b u t e d wi th in the coconut grove. CUCURBITACEAE C u c u r b i t a m o s c h a t a (Duch. e x Lam. ) P o i r C u l t i v a t e d a round s e t t l e m e n t and o c c a s i o n a l i n t h e h e r b l a y e r of t h e coconu t g rove . CY PERACEAE C y p e r u s d u b i u s R o t t b . Common i n t h e coconu t g rove , p a r t i c u l a r l y a l o n g p a t h s . C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L. P r e s e n t a s s c a t t e r e d t u s s o c k s i n t h e c l e a r e d a r e a s b u t most f r e q u e n t on t h e c l i f f t o p of t h e e a s t c o a s t . F i m b r i s t y l i s cymosa R . Br . Dominant on t h e edge o f c l i f f s on t h e s o u t h e a s t and sou thwes t c o a s t s . EUPHORB IACEAE A c a l y p h a i n d i c a L. Common i n t h e coconu t g r o v e , and a l s o p r e s e n t i n open a r e a s and under t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t . E u p h o r b i a h i r t a L. Abundant i n t h e coconu t grove and i n open a r e a s . E u p h o r b i a p r o s t r a t a A i t . ? Common a long p a t h s and i n t h e coconu t g rove . I t a l s o o c c u r s i n s p a r s e l y v e g e t a t e d a r e a s and a l o n g t h e c l i f f edges . P e d i l a n t h u s t i t h y m a l o i d e s ( L . ) P o i t . Two p a t c h e s were found, one w i t h i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t and one by t h e w e l l s i n t h e coconu t g r o v e . Ph y l l a n t h u s a m a r u s Schum. & Thonn . Common i n t h e coconu t g r o v e , e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g p a t h s , and p r e s e n t i n c l e a r e d a r e a s . P h y l l a n t h u s s p . F requen t i n t h e coconu t g rove ; a l s o o c c u r r i n g i n open a r e a s . R i c i n u s communis L. F r e q u e n t w i t h i n t h e coconu t g r o v e , becoming more common i n open a r e a s . C a s s i a o c c i d e n t a l i s L. S c a t t e r e d p l a n t s w i t h i n t h e coconu t g rove . Leucaena l e u c o c e p h a l a (Lam.) de W i t . F requen t a s s c a t t e r e d bushes under t h e coconu t g rove . T a l l Leucaena dominate a s m a l l a r e a t o t h e s o u t h o f t h e s e t t l e m e n t a d j a c e n t t o t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t . S e s b a n i a s e r i c e a ( W i l l d . ) Link ? Two specimens were found w i t h i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . Vigna s p . ? Uncommon i n t h e coconu t g rove : o n l y two specimens found. GOODENIACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a Vahl Found around t h e p e r i m e t e r o f t h e i s l a n d where it domi-nates t h e c o a s t a l hedge and forms a dense t h i c k e t c o v e r i n g t h e whole s o u t h e r n p o r t i o n o f t h e i s l a n d . S c a t t e r e d i n l i e r s o c c u r on t h e marg ins o f t h e coconu t grove and i n c l e a r e d a r e a s . HERNANDIACEAE Hernandia sonora L. T r e e s up t o 12 m t a l l a r e common i n t h e coconu t g r o v e , b u t l e s s f r e q u e n t i n t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t . LECYTHIDACEAE B a r r i n g t o n i a a s i a t i c a (L. ) Kurz Two specimens found, one i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t and one i n t h e coconu t g rove . LYTHRACEAE Pemphis a c i d u l a F o r s t . Desc r ibed by Baker (1963) a s c o v e r i n g t h e s o u t h e a s t p a r t o f t h e i s l a n d , presumably i n e r r o r f o r S c a e v o l a . MALVACEAE A b u t i l o n i n d i c u m ( L . ) Sweet ? Uncommon; found w i t h i n t h e coconu t grove and i n open a r e a s . Gossypium h i r s u t u m L. P re sen t i n t h e coconut grove bu t more common i n t h e c l e a r e d a r e a s . H i b i s c u s t i l i a c e u s L. Only one specimen found, on t h e edge of t h e a i r s t r i p t r a c e . S i d a p u s i l l a Cav. Found throughout t h e i s l a n d , being common i n t h e coconut grove and open a r e a s , f r equen t a long t h e c o a s t , and p r e s e n t under t h e Scaevo la t h i c k e t . S i d a sp. Common i n t he coconut grove. MORINGACEAE Moringa o l e i f e r a Lam. A number of t r e e s have been p l a n t e d round t h e s e t t l emen t . MUSACEAE Musa s a p i e n t u m L. One pa t ch , wi th in t h e coconut grove. NYCTAGINACEAE Boerhav ia spp . Found throughout t h e i s l a n d , be ing abundant under t h e coconut grove and i n open a r e a s . I t occu r s a long t h e west c o a s t and under t he S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t , b u t i s n o t common on t h e e a s t c o a s t . A white- f lower ing form predominates, bu t t h e pink-f lowering type ( B . r e p e n s L. ? ) i s in f r equen t ly found i n t h e coconut grove. M i r a b i l i s j a lapa L. Frequent around t h e s e t t l emen t b u t uncommon i n t h e coconut grove. PASS IFLORACEAE P a s s i f 1 o r a suberosa L . Abundant i n t h e coconut grove, both on t h e ground and ascending i n t o t h e bushes. I t i s a l s o common i n open a r e a s , and occu r s a long both sou theas t and southwest c o a s t s . POACEAE (GRAMINEAE ) D a c t y l o c t e n i u m c t e n o i d e s (S teud . ) Bosser S p a r s e l y d i s t r i b u t e d i n t h e coconu t g rove . Dead g r a s s i n t h e open a r e a s and on t h e s o u t h and e a s t c o a s t s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h i s s p e c i e s i s more abundant a t o t h e r t i m e s o f t h e y e a r . D i g i t a r i a s e t i g e r a Roth. F r e q u e n t i n t h e coconu t grove and p r e s e n t i n c l e a r e d a r e a s . E l e u s i n e i n d i c a ( L . ) Gaer tn . ? Frequen t i n t h e coconu t g rove , and a l s o p r e s e n t i n open a r e a s and under S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t . E r a g r o s t i s s u b a e a u i g l u m i s Renvoize Common i n t h e coconu t grove whereground cover i s s p a r s e , and e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g p a t h s . Also o c c u r s i n c l e a r e d a r e a s . L e p t u r u s r e p e n s ( G . F o r s t . ) R . B r . Found on t h e c o a s t around t h e e n t i r e i s l a n d , and a l s o growing i n t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t . Panicum maximum J a c q . P l a n t e d i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t and a l s o found i n i s o l a t e d p a t c h e s w i t h i n t h e coconu t g rove . S t e n o t a p h r u m d i m i d i a t u m (L. ) Brongn. P r e s e n t on t h e e a s t c o a s t . PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L. P r e s e n t i n t h e coconu t g rove , e s p e c i a l l y a l o n g p a t h s , and i n f r e q u e n t on t h e e a s t c o a s t . RUBIACEAE G u e t t a r d a s p e c i o s a L . Common i n t h e c o a s t a l hedge o f t h e n o r t h e a s t b u t n o t r e c o r d e d e l s e w h e r e . Morinda c i t r i f o l i a L . Very common a s low bushes o r t r e e s i n t h e coconu t g rove . Also o c c u r s a s s c a t t e r e d bushes i n t h e open a r e a s and i n t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t . SOLANACEAE Caps i cum f r u t e s c e n s L. Three bushes , p robab ly p l a n t e d , a r e found i n t h e c o c o n u t g l o v e . D a t u r a m e t e l L . P r e s e n t a s s c a t t e r e d p l a n t s i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . S o l a n u m n i g r u m L. I n f r e q u e n t i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . TU RNERACEAE T u r n e r a u l m i f o l i a L. F r e q u e n t i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . URTICACEAE L a p o r t e a a e s t u a n s (L. ) Chew F r e q u e n t i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . VERBENACEAE L i p p i a n o d i f l o r a ( L . ) Rich Dominant i n one small area c l o s e t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t , b u t n o t r e c o r d e d e l s e w h e r e . S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s ( L . ) Vahl Common i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e and g e n e r a l l y co-dominant w i t h T r i d a x i n t h e c l e a r e d areas. V e r t e b r a t e f a u n a R e p t i l e s ?Gehyra m u t i l a t a A n o c t u r a l l i g h t brown gecko , common i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t b u i l d i n g s . P h e l suma m a d a g a s c a r i e n s i s Common i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e and b e a c h hedge . C h e l o n i a mydas Green t u r t l e A small number a r e s a i d t o b r e e d on Mar i e -Lou i se , where s u i t a b l e b e a c h e s e x t e n d from s e t t l e m e n t t o t h e n o r t h e r n p o i n t . One se t o f p i t s w a s found by s e t t l e m e n t i n 1979 and s e v e r a l t r a c e s o f ea r l i e r v i s i t s were e v i d e n t a r o u n d t h e n o r t h e r n p o i n t by t h e c e m e t a r y . Two sets o f p i t s were found i n 1980, one s e v e r a l months o l d and one r e c e n t . Both were by t h e c e m e t a r y . E r e t m o c h e l y s i m b r i c a t a Hawksbi l l t - u r t l e Around 15 females a r e s a i d t o l a n d on t h e i s l a n d each y e a r between October and February . Both t u r t l e s p e c i e s a r e t aken whenever o p p o r t u n i t y a r i s e s . B i r d s P u f f i n u s l ' h e r m i n i e r i Audubon's Shearwater Not seen . S a i d t o occur a l t h o u g h n o t t o b r e e d (0. S o u r i s , p e r s comm. . Puf f i n u s p a c i f i c u s Wedge- t a i l e d Shearwat er Two s m a l l c o l o n i e s o f c .45 burrows each were found on t h e e a s t c o a s t and a t P o i n t Fouquet , t h e sou the rnmos t t i p of t h e i s l a n d . Both c o l o n i e s were s i t u a t e d i n open ground on t h e c l i f f edge and a l t h o u g h no b i r d s were seen some burrows appeared t o be i n u s e . S u l a l e u c o q a s t e r Brown Booby An a d u l t plumaged b i r d r o o s t e d i n c o a s t a l C a s u a r i n a on t h e n i g h t o f 19 J u l y 1980. An u n i d e n t i f i e d immature booby p a s s e d o v e r t h e i s l a n d on t h e even ing of 14 June 1979. Freqa ta s p . F r i g a t e b i r d s Three immature f r i g a t e s p a s s e d o v e r t h e i s l a n d i n t h e even ing o f 19 J u l y 1980. I t was n o t e s t a b l i s h e d i f Marie-Louise i s used a s a r o o s t a l t h o u g h t h i s i s most l i k e l y . Bubu lcus ibis C a t t l e E g r e t Three b i r d s were s e e n on t h e a i r s t r i p i n 1980. The p o p u l a t i o n a p p e a r s t o be s m a l l . G a l l u s q a l l u s F e r a l c h i c k e n A number o f c h i c k e n s have gone w i l d and range t h r o u g h t h e coconu t g r o v e . T h e i r w a r i n e s s and w i l l i n g n e s s t o f l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s them from t h e domesf ica ted b i r d s . P l u v i a l i s squa t a r o 1 a Grey P l o v e r P r e s e n t , f o r a g i n g on t h e a i r s t r i p t r a c e and on t h e e a s t c o a s t . A r e n a r i a i n t e r p r e s Turnstone Common t h r o u g h o u t t h e i s l a n d and on t h e c o a s t . The manner i n which b i r d s f r e e l y pe rched i n dead bushes where ground c o v e r w a s d e n s e was remarkab le . Sterna a n a e t h e t u s Brid led Tern Severa l hundred b i r d s r o o s t i n t h e Casuarina of t h e west c o a s t bu t it was n o t e s t a b l i s h e d i f breeding took p l ace . Sterna f u s c a t a Sooty Tern Sooty t e r n s r e g u l a r l y pas s over t h e i s l a n d b u t do n o t land. G y g i s a l b a White Tern Common throughout t h e i s l a n d and a l l s t a g e s of breeding observed. The popula t ion was es t imated a t s e v e r a l thousand p a i r s . Anous t e n u i r o s t r i s Lesser Noddy Common, s e v e r a l thousands being es t imated a s p r e s e n t . Breeding was noted i n ca sua r inas behind t h e Scaevo la t h i c k e t on t h e e a s t c o a s t and r o o s t i n g b i r d s were found throughout t h e coconut grove. Anous s t o l i d u s Common Noddy Common, breeding i n coconuts throughout t he i s l a n d . With r o o s t i n g b i r d s , t h e populat ion was es t imated t o be i n t he reg ion of s e v e r a l thousand b i r d s . Passer domes t i cus House Sparrow Common around t h e se t t l emen t bu t no t i n t h e coconut grove. A n e s t was under cons t ruc t ion i n t he eave of a house i n J u l y 1980. Foudia madagascar iens i s Madagascar Fody Very common i n t h e coconut grove and i n feeding f l o c k s on t h e a i r s t r i p t r a c e . Introduced "grey p a r t r i d g e " and q u a i l were recorded a s uncommon i n 1955 (Ridley and Percy 1958) b u t n e i t h e r spec i e s , t h e p r e c i s e i d e n t i f i - c a t i o n of which is unce r t a in , was seen i n 1979 o r 1980. Both have probably d i ed ou t . Mamma 1 s MUS sp . (?muscul u s ) Mouse Mice a r e common b u t t he re a r e no r a t s . Sus s c r o f ul u s F e r a l p i g A number of f e r a l p i g s occur , one being seen i n t h e coconut grove i n dense cover. They a r e extremely wary. 198 T u r s i o p s t r u n c a t u s B o t t l e - n o s e d Dolphin Dolphins were s e e n o f f s e t t l e m e n t beach on b o t h v i s i t s . Land u s e h i s t o r y Marie-Louise i s government-owned b u t h a s been l e a s e d and pe rmanen t ly s e t t l e d s i n c e t h e l a t e 19th c e n t u r y . The f i r s t major a c t i v i t y was t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f guano and t h e i s l a n d had two co- l e s s e e s i n 1905 w i t h a t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n of 86. One l e s s e e hand led t h e guano e x t r a c t i o n and a t l e a s t 3500 t o n s were e x p o r t e d i n l a t e 1905 a l o n e (Tonnet 1 9 0 6 ) . By 1906 it was r e p o r t e d t h a t economica l ly workable d e p o s i t s were e x h a u s t e d a l t h o u g h an e s t i m a t e d 3000 t o n s remained i n 1963 o f which 1500 t o n s c o u l d be t a k e n f o r l o c a l u s e w i t h o u t damaging a g r i c u l t u r a l p o t e n t i a l (Baker 1 9 6 3 ) . I n f a c t guano h a s been imported i n r e c e n t y e a r s f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l p u r p o s e s from Desnoeufs. The second l e s s e e i n 1905 was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l development. 800 c o c o n u t s and t h e C a s u a r i n a on t h e wes t c o a s t had a l r e a d y been p l a n t e d and e f f o r t was m a i n t a i n e d a s h o l e s were dug th rough t h e sands tone f o r f u r t h e r p l a n t i n g s . The w e l l s sunk from chambers e x c a v a t e d under t h e s a n d s t o n e b e d s a l s o p robab ly d a t e from t h i s p e r i o d . Fo l lowing t h e e x h a u s t i o n o f t h e guano, a g r i c u l t u r e and f i s h i n g became t h e s o l e a c t i v i t i e s s u p p o r t i n g a p o p u l a t i o n o f a b o u t 20. S i x t y y e a r s l a t e r , P i g g o t t (1969) commented t h a t t h e e s t a t e was n e g l e c t e d and it remained i n much t h e same c o n d i t i o n i n 1979-80 a l t h o u g h p i g s , p o u l t r y , v e g e t a b l e s , ma ize , t o r t o i s e s h e l l and s a l t f i s h were produced f o r i s l a n d u s e and t o augment c o p r a e x p o r t s . The a i r s t r i p t r a c e i n t h e n o r t h - e a s t was c u t some 10-15 y e a r s ago b u t t h e work was n o t completed. The I s l a n d Development Company took t h e l e a s e o f Marie-Louise i n 1981 and , g i v e n t h e emphasis p l a c e d by government on o u t e r i s l a n d development and t h e i n f l u x of r e s o u r c e s and e x p e r t i s e under t h e new management, a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t y i s e x p e c t e d t o be i n t e n s i f i e d i n f u t u r e . D i s c u s s i o n The Du Roslan e x p e d i t i o n , p a s s i n g by i n 1771 and g i v i n g Marie- L o u i s e i t s name, d e s c r i b e d t h e i s l a n d a s w e l l wooded (Fauve l 1908) and t h e p r e s e n t v e g e t a t i o n i s a p r o d u c t o f a c e n t u r y of human a c t i v i t y super imposed upon t h e e f f e c t s o f d i f f e r i n g s o i l s and d e g r e e o f exposure t o wind and wind-borne s a l t . The a c t i v i t y w i t n t h e most f a r - r e a c h i n g e c o l o g i c a l impact must have been t h e guano e x p l o i t a t i o n i n v o l v i n g t h e removal o f any v e g e t a t i o n growing on it and t h e v i r t u a l l o s s o f a l l t o p s o i l , and i n 1905 t h i s f o r m e r l y wooded i s l a n d was c l o t h e d o n l y i n s m a l l b u s h e s and young c o c o n u t s (Tonnet 1 9 0 6 ) . The subsequen t development o f t h e v e g e t a t i o n h a s been c o n t r o l l e d by management a s an a g r i c u l t u r a l p l a n t a t i o n . The f l o r a o f Marie-Louise i s now unremarkable and, of t h e 66 p l a n t s p e c i e s n o t e d , 34 a r e g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d t o be i n t r o d u c t i o n s t o t h e S e y c h e l l e s a s c a s h c r o p s , v e g e t a b l e s , o rnamenta l s , f o r medic ina l purposes o r as weeds. T h i s i s an o v e r - s i m p l i f i c a t i o n a s some n a t i v e s p e c i e s a r e weedy o r widely p l a n t e d and may n o t have formed p a r t o f t h e o r i g i n a l Marie-Louise f l o r a w h i l s t o t h e r s a r e o f u n c e r t a i n s t a t u s b u t , d e s p i t e t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s i n c a t e g o r i s a t i o n , a rough a n a l y s i s o f t h e provenance o f t h e f l o r a can be made: V e g e t a t i o n t y p e A 1 1 t y p e s Coconut grove C l e a r e d a r e a s C o a s t a l hedge,W. C o a s t a l hedge ,E . S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t N o - n a t i v e N o - i n t r o d u c e d t o t a l % i n t r o d u c e d s p e c i e s s p e c i e s s p e c i e s I f t h e p r o p o r t i o n o f i n t r o d u c e d s p e c i e s can be t aken a s an i n d i c a t o r o f h a b i t a t d i s t u r b a n c e , it i s e v i d e n t t h a t t h e c o a s t a l hedge and S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t have been a l t e r e d l e a s t d e s p i t e t h e p resence o f p i t s dug under t h e l a t t e r , s u g g e s t i n g c u t t i n g back i n a n e f f o r t t o i n c r e a s e coconut p r o d u c t i o n . I t i s l i k e l y t h e n t h a t t h e hedge and t h i c k e t a r e e s s e n t i a l l y p e r s i s t e n t f e a t u r e s of t h e o r i g i n a l v e g e t a t i o n a l t h o u g h t h e r e h a s been some i n v a s i o n by hardy weeds, p a r t i c u l a r l y on t h e more s h e l t e r e d wes t c o a s t . I t i s a l s o c e r t a i n t h a t t h e c o a s t a l hedge and i t s i n l a n d e x t e n s i o n a s S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t i s v i t a l i n p r o t e c t i n g t h e coconut grove and , b e f o r e t h a t , t h e f o r e s t no ted i n 1 8 t h c e n t u r y . Th is f o r e s t must have c o n s i s t e d a t l e a s t of Hernandia , B a r r i n g t o n i a , Neisosperma , Morinda and C o r d i a , and probab ly of o t h e r s p e c i e s i n c a p a b l e of w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e combined e f f e c t s of removal of t h e guano i n which t h e y grew and t h e subsequent r e p e a t e d c o p p i c i n g p r a c t i c e d as an a d j u n c t t o coconut c u l t i v a t i o n . Tha t t h e f o r e s t w a s n o t more widespread i s sugges ted by t h e d i f f i c u l t y w i t h which n a t i v e t r e e s e s t a b l i s h themse lves w i t h i n t h e S c a e v o l a t h i c k e t even though a l l s p e c i e s concerned a r e c a p a b l e o f growth i n i t s s o i l s . The c r i t i c a l f a c t o r a p p e a r s t o be exposure t o s a l t s p r a y . The s e a b i r d s a r e p e r h a p s t h e most i n t e r e s t i n g e c o l o g i c a l f e a t u r e of t h e i s l a n d . D e s p i t e t h e comments o f Rid ley and Percy (1958) who d i d n o t c o n s i d e r Marie-Louise t o be a s e a b i r d i s l a n d from t h e egg c ropp ing v iewpoin t and recorded L e s s e r and Common Noddies a s b r e e d i n g i n smal l numbers o n l y , t h e i s l a n d a c t u a l l y s u p p o r t s one o f t h e l a r g e s t concen t ra - t i o n s o f t r e e n e s t i n g t e r n s i n t h e Amirantes even though t h e g r e a t e r number may o n l y r o o s t r a t h e r t h a n b r e e d . T h i s p o p u l a t i o n complements t h e s i m i l a r c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f ground n e s t i n g and t u n n e l l i n g s e a - b i r d s i n t he o the r southern Amirante I s l ands of Desnoeufs, Boudeuse and E t o i l e . The two noddies a r e taken f o r food by the i s l a n d inhab i t an t s bu t it i s highly un l ike ly t h a t t h i s a c t i v i t y has any marked e f f e c t on t h e t e r n popula t ions and only the small co lon ie s of wedge-tailed shearwaters can be considered t o be a t r i s k through d i r e c t human predat ion . The important f a c t o r s maintaining t h e number of b i r d s on Marie-Louise a r e the absence of r a t s and the presence of t he coconut grove which provides breeding and roos t ing s i t e s and would continue t o do so even under more in t ens ive management. A s a l ready suggested, t he ex i s t ence of the coconut grove i s dependant upon t h e s h e l t e r of t h e beach hedge and Scaevola t h i c k e t . There i s no r e a l c o n f l i c t between a g r i c u l t u r a l development and w i l d l i f e conservat ion i n t e r e s t s on Marie-Louise. Indeed, t he well- being of the coconut grove i s t o the advantage of a l l and the undesir- a b i l i t y of t h e in t roduct ion of r a t s i s genera l ly accepted. However, the c r i t i c a l importance of t he i n t e g r i t y of t h e c o a s t a l vegeta t ion must be s t r e s s e d . The removal o r reduct ion of c o a s t a l hedge o r Scaevola t h i c k e t t o f r e e land f o r a g r i c u l t u r e without t h e establ ishment of some o the r adequate screen such a s a Casuarina b e l t would be counter- product ive on Marie-Louise and a l s o considerably diminish t h e spec ies and h a b i t a t d i v e r s i t y among t h e southern Amirantes. Acknowledgements My thanks go t o those members of t h e Department of Agriculture? who accompanied me on my v i s i t s t o the ou te r i s l a n d s and i n p a r t i c u l a r t o M r . Lindsay Chong-Seng, t o M r . 0. Sour is f o r i n v i t i n g me t o Marie- Louise from Desnoeufs and f o r h i s kind h o s p i t a l i t y , and t o D r . F. Friedman and Mrs. Ann Robertson f o r t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e i n i d e n t i f y i n g specimens. These observa t ions were made whi l s t working f o r t he Department of Agr i cu l tu re , Seychel les , on a t echn ica l co-operation c o n t r a c t with the Overseas Development Administrat ion of t h e B r i t i s h government. References Baker, B. H. 1963. Geology and mineral resources of t h e Seychel les a rchipe lago. Geol. Surv. Kenya Mem. 3 . Fauvel, A . A . 1909. Unpublished documents on the history o f the Seychelles islands anterior to 1810. Government P r i n t i n g Off ice , Mahe. P iggo t t , C . J. 1968. A s o i l survey of the Seychel les . Tech. B u l l . 2 , Land Resource Division, D i rec to ra t e of Overseas Surveys, Tolworth. P i g g o t t , C . J. 1969. A report on a v i s i t to the outer islands o f Seychelles between October and November 1960 . Land Resources D i v i s i o n , Tolworth, Sur rey . R id ley , M . W . and Percy, R. 1958. The e x p l o i t a t i o n o f s e a b i r d s i n S e y c h e l l e s . Col. Res. Studies 25 (H.M.S.O.). Tonnet, A. 1906. Report on a v i s i t to the outlying islands. S e y c h e l l e s N a t i o n a l Arch ives , manuscr ip t C / S S / ~ . 11. ECOLOGY OF DESNOEUFS, AMIRANTES ISLANDS by J. R . Wilson I n t r o d u c t i o n Desnoeufs ( 6 ' 1 4 ' s , 53'02'E) i s t h e southernmost o f t h e Amirantes . It i s s i t u a t e d 13 km from i t s n e a r e s t ne ighbour , Marie-Louise, and 290 km from Mahe i n t h e g r a n i t i c S e y c h e l l e s . It i s roughly c i r c u l a r ( F i g u r e 12) w i t h an a r e a of 39.7 ha and a maximum e l e v a t i o n o f 4 m on i t s s l i g h t l y r a i s e d p e r i m e t e r . There i s one s a f e l a n d i n g on t h e beach i n t h e n o r t h behind which a number of h u t s have been e r e c t e d t o house a workforce of around 30 men s t a t i o n e d on t h e i s l a n d each y e a r from May t o August t o c o l l e c t s e a b i r d eggs . A r e s e r v e o f 16.6 ha h a s been e s t a b l i s h e d on t h e western s i d e . Desnoeufs h a s r e c e i v e d s e v e r a l v i s i t s by s c i e n t i s t s o v e r t h e p a s t 25 y e a r s . Percy and Rid ley (1958) d e s c r i b e d t h e n a t u r a l h i s t o r y i n d e t a i l and t h e r e have been a s e r i e s o f subsequent c e n s u s e s o f t h e s o o t y t e r n co lony ( F e a r e 1976, Percy and Rid ley 1966, P r o c t e r 1 9 7 0 ) . The geology and s o i l s have a l s o been examined (Baker 1963, P i g g o t t 1968) w i t h p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on t h e guano d e p o s i t s . The o b s e r v a t i o n s p r e s e n t e d h e r e were made d u r i n g two v i s i t s t o t h e i s l a n d , d u r i n g 15-24 June 1979 and 18 July-1 August 1980. Geoloav and s o i l s The i s l a n d i s b e l i e v e d t o be an u p l i f t e d cay i n which s a n d s t o n e , o r i g i n a l l y formed a s beach r o c k , s p r e a d s outwards i n c o n c e n t r i c r i n g s from a c e n t r e approx imate ly 100 m i n d iamete r ( P i g g o t t 1968, 1969) . Beachrock -formation c o n t i n u e s on t h e s h o r e w h i l s t t h e o l d e r s a n d s t o n e s i n l a n d have become phospha t i sed t o v a r y i n g d e g r e e s and on p a r t s o f t h e s o u t h c o a s t f ragments o f t h i s d a r k brown p h o s p h a t i s e d m a t e r i a l have been r e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e more r e c e n t beds . Unconso l ida ted c a l c a r e o u s g r a v e l s and sands u n d e r l i e t h e rock . A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n No. 273: 203-222, 1983. Coconut wood land Beachrock and coastal phosphate rock Li t toral scrub Herbaceous mat 1 ?igure 12. Desnoeufs The s o i l s a r e formed from guano and wind-blown sand. ~ a k e r (1963) e s t ima ted t h a t t h e average depth of guano was approximately 20 crns b u t it i s n o t evenly d i s t r i b u t e d and rock i s widely exposed. The guano i s t h e type f o r t h e Desnoeufs series s o i l (P iggo t t 1968) , a r i c h l y phosphat ic dark brown humus ove r ly ing t h e p a r t i a l l y phosphat ised sandstone and p r i n c i p a l l y de r ived from ma te r i a l imported by s e a b i r d s with l i t t l e con- t r i b u t i o n from t h e under ly ing rock. A s t r u c t u r e l e s s pink sk in occurs on t h e su r f ace of occupied and abandoned booby co lonies . Windblown sand forms low dunes which a r e b e s t developed on t h e n o r t h e a s t and southwest c o a t s w h i l s t on t h e northwest and sou theas t , t h e c o a s t s f ac ing d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e two p r e v a i l i n g winds, t h e sands extend f u r t h e r in land and a r e t h i n l y spread. Farquhar S e r i e s s o i l s develop. Typica l ly t he se c o n s i s t of a shal low organic horizon grading through t o pure sand a t about 30 crns (P iggo t t 1968) b u t on Desnoeufs they have a p a r t i c u l a r l y h igh phosphat ic con ten t and t h e o rgan ic ma te r i a l i s mixed t o g r e a t e r dep th .because of ex t ens ive burrowing by wedge-tailed shear- waters . Vegetat ion The i s l a n d i s gene ra l l y cothed i n coa r se herbage al though t h e r e i s a small coconut grove, a s i n g l e H i b i s c u s t r e e and a s h o r t s t r e t c h of c o a s t a l hedge. E ight vege t a t i on communities were d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e on t h e b a s i s of s t r u c t u r e and spec i e s con ten t b u t it was ev iden t t h a t cons ider - a b l e seasona l changes took p l a c e and t h a t t h e herb communities desc r ibed h e r e were t r a n s i e n t . During t h e w e t t e r northwest monsoon when t h e sooty t e r n s a r e absen t t h e ground vege t a t i on i s a i d t o be l u x u r i a n t (0 . S o u r i s , p e r s . comm.) b u t it d i e s back over t h e south e a s t t r a d e s between Apr i l and September under t h e combined e f f e c t s of drought , exposure t o s a l t spray, t rampling by s e a b i r d s and accumulation of f r e s h droppings. The vege t a t i on was cons iderab ly more open and community boundaries l e s s d i s t i n c t i n l a t e J u l y 1980 than was t h e case i n June 1979 and it has been assumed t h a t t h e s e changes a r e e s s e n t i a l l y s i m i l a r each year . Beach c r e s t community A d i scont inuous cover of p r o s t r a t e spec i e s i nc lud ing L e p t u r u s r e p e n s , P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a , S t eno taphrum micranthum, S i d a p a r v i f o l i a , Euphorbia p r o s t r a t a and Boerhavia sp. occurs on t h e beach c r e s t . I n June t h e community i s g e n e r a l l y confined t o a s t r i p ca 1 m wide al though extending s e v e r a l metres i n l and i n more exposed s i t e s on t h e south c o a s t . La t e r i n t h e year it p a r t i a l l y spreads i n t o t h e a r e a opened up by t h e reduc t ion i n cover of t h e dune community. Dune community I n June t h e vege t a t i on of t h e Farquhar S e r i e s s o i l s i s dominated by Stenotaphrum. To t h e no r th it forms a dense sward, a l s o con ta in ing P h y l l a n t h u s amarus and ~ a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a , w h i l s t i n t h e south t h e t h i n n e r s o i l s b e a r a s h o r t e r , s p a r s e r S teno taphrum sward mixed with P o r t u l a c a , S i d a and Boerhav ia . La te r t h e S teno taphrum t ends t o d i e back and B o e r h a v i a becomes dominant o r co-dominant. S i d a and P o r t u l a c a remain common. D a c t y l o c t e n i u m dominated t r a n s i t i o n a l community Behind t h e c o a s t a l r i d g e i n t h e n o r t h and e a s t l i e s a b e l t of s o i l t r a n s i t i o n a l between t h e Farquhar and Desnoeuf s S e r i e s . I n June t h e a r e a i s dominated by w i t h e r i n g D a c t y l o c t e n i u m s p . wi th s c a t t e r e d S t e n o t a p h r u m , S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s , S i d a , Cleome q y n a n d r a , P o r t u l a c a and B o e r h a v i a . A s t h e D a c t y l o c t e n i u m d i e s and becomes mat ted , S t a c h y t a r p h e t a and B o e r h a v i a become more f r e q u e n t . South c o a s t t r a n s i t i o n a l community A more f l o r i s t i c a l l y d i v e r s e v a r i a n t o f t h e dune community o c c u r s i n l a n d a long t h e s o u t h c o a s t where t h e sand mixes w i t h guano. S t e n o t o p h r u m is dominant and S t a c h y t a r p h e t a common i n June b u t i n J u l y t h e S t e n o t a p h r u m d i e s back and B o e r h a v i a and P o r t u l a c a become co- dominant. C o a s t a l hedge A narrow, dense hedge o f S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a a b o u t 75 m long o c c u r s a long t h e l e a s t exposed s e c t i o n of t h e n o r t h c o a s t . I t is i n t e r r u p t e d by t h e s e t t l e m e n t b u i l d i n g s . S h e l t e r e d mixed h e r b community A mixed h e r b community grows behind t h e c o a s t a l hedge and e x t e n d s c.100 m beyond it towards t h e e a s t . C o n s t i t u e n t s p e c i e s i n c l u d e P h y l l a n t h u s amarus , Aca l ypha i n d i c a , A b u t i l o n s p . , Solanum n i q r u m , Amaranthus d u b i u s , S t a c h y t a r p h e t a , Datura m e t e l , C a t h a r a n t h u s r o s e u s and D a c t y l o c t e n i u m . These s p e c i e s were a l l p r e s e n t i n June 1979, forming a dense sward up t o 75 cm t a l l . P h y l l a n t h u s and D a c t y l o c t e n i u m were a b s e n t i n J u l y 1980 and t h e community was more open w i t h t h e e a s t e r n e x t e n s i o n , fo rmer ly dominated by S t a c h y t a r p h e t a , p a r t i a l l y c l e a r e d a l l o w i n g Amaranthus t o p e r s i s t and P o r t u l a c a t o become dominant. Coconut g rove A smal l coconut g rove i s found i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h e i s l a n d . I n 1979 it s h e l t e r e d a s i m i l a r community, w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n of E l e u s i n e . i n d i c a , C o l u b r i n a a s i a t i c a and A l o c a s i a m a c r o r r h i z a , t o t h a t found beh ind t h e c o a s t a l hedge b u t had been c l e a r e d i n J u l y 1980. Neverthe- l e s s t h e c o n s t i t u e n t s p e c i e s of t h e 1979 f l o r a remained a s s c a t t e r e d i n d i v i d u a l s . Desnoeufs S o i l community Th is i s n o t a homogenous v e g e t a t i o n t y p e b u t a mosaic , t h e composi t ion o f which i s seemingly determined by p r e v i o u s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f s e a b i r d s , t h e i r p r e s e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n , and t h e c l e a r i n q a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e egg c o l l e c t o r s . In June 1979 S t a c h y t a r p h e t a , C y p e r u s l i q u l a r i s , P o r t u l a c a a n d Amaranthus a l l o c c u r r e d i n m o n o s p e c i f i c b l o c k s o r i n mixed communi t i e s w i t h o c c a s i o n a l D a c t y l o c t e n i u m , So lanum, B o e r h a v i a a n d Cleome . These l a t t e r s p e c i e s g e n e r a l l y grew where t h e guano w a s mixed w i t h s a n d o r i n s m a l l p o c k e t s o f s o i l i n l o o s e s a n d s t o n e b l o c k s b u t A b u t i l o n , S e s b a n i a a n d Datura were s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e a r e a . I n J u l y 1980 t h e v e g e t a t i o n w a s more open w h i l s t a d e f i n i t e d i f f e r e n c e had d e v e l o p e d be tween t h e r e s e r v e a n d t h e c ropped a r e a . The r e s e r v e , now d e n s e l y o c c u p i e d by b r e e d i n g s o o t y t e r n s , w a s domina ted by open P o r t u l a c a w i t h s c a t t e r e d C y p e r u s a n d B o e r h a v i a . . O c c a s i o n a l b u s h e s o f S e s b a n i a a n d Datura were p r e s e n t b u t Amaranthus p e r s i s t e d o n l y i n a r e a s w i t h few n e s t i n g b i r d s . S t a c h y t a r p h e t a domina ted t h e a r e a by t h e r e s e r v e boundary . I n t h e c r o p p e d area S t a c h y t a r p h e t a w a s g e n e r a l l y dominant w h i l s t B o e r h a v i a and P o r t u l a c a were common a n d C y p e r u s formed d e n s e mono-spec i f i c b l o c k s . Where t h e S t a c h y t a r p h e t a had been u p r o o t e d by e g g - c o l l e c t o r s , P o r t u l a c a s p a r s e l y c o v e r e d t h e open g round . A s i n g l e H i b i s c u s t i l i a c e u s t r e e fo rms a un ique e l e m e n t i n t h e Desnoeufs S o i l v e g e t a t i o n mosa ic . L i s t o f p l a n t s 30 s p e c i e s o f v a s c u l a r p l a n t s were r e c o r d e d a f t e r e x h a u s t i v e s e a r c h . The f o l l o w i n g a r e a l l s i g h t r e c o r d s , a l t h o u g h spec imens were r e t a i n e d f o r v e r i f i c a t i o n i n Mahe i f a p o s i t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c o u l d n o t be made a t t h e t i m e . The names u s e d h e r e have been checked by F . R . F o s b e r g , a n d conform t o t h o s e i n o t h e r s o f t h i s s e r i e s o f r e p o r t s . AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus d u b i u s Mar t . e x T h e l l . Dominant o r co-dominant w i t h P o r t u l a c a o n Desnoeuf s s o i l , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h i n t h e r e s e r v e , b u t a l s o found b e h i n d t h e c o a s t a l hedge a n d w i t h i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . A p p a r e n t l y d i e s back e a r l i e r t h a n P o r t u l a c a . APOCYNACEAE C a t h a r a n t h u s r o s e u s ( L . ) G . Don Commonbehind t h e beach hedge , i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e , and i n sandy s o i l s b e h i n d t h e d u n e s o f t h e n o r t h c o a s t . Only t h e w h i t e - f l o w e r i n g v a r i e t y i s f o u n d . Nei sosperma o p p o s i t i f o l i a ( L a m . ) Fosb . a n d S a c h e t The c o a s t a l hedge c o n t a i n s a s i n g l e s h r u b which i s h e a l t h y and f r u i t i n g b u t grows no h i g h e r t h a n t h e s u r r o u n d i n g S c a e v o l a . ARACEAE A l o c a s i a m a c r o r h i z a ( L . ) G . Don S e v e r a l y e l l o w e d spec imens grow i n p i t s on t h e f r i n g e o f t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . ARECACEAE ( PALMAE ) Cocos n u c i f e r a L. About 30 p l a n t e d t r e e s form t h e g r o v e i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h e i s l a n d , a n d a s m a l l number o f n u t s s p r o u t a r o u n d t h e c o a s t . CAPPARIDACEAE C l e o m e g y n a n d r a L . P r e s e n t b e h i n d t h e dunes on t r a n s i t i o n a l s o i l s o r on t h e Desnoeufs s o i l s p r o p e r . I n June most f r e q u e n t a s a s e e d l i n g o r d y i n g ma tu re p l a n t s i n t h e s o u t h e r n h a l f o f t h e i s l a n d . Very few s e e d l i n g s a n d n o ma tu re p l a n t s were l o c a t e d i n J u l y 1980. CARICACEAE C a r i c a papaya L . S e v e r a l s m a l l p l a n t s were found i n 1979 g rowing from s e e d thrown o u t from t h e camp i n t o t h e l e e o f t h e c o a s t a l hedge . None r ema ined i n J u l y 1980. CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea m a c r a n t h a Roem. & S c h u l t e s One p l a n t w a s found on t h e d u n e s o f t h e wes t c o a s t i n 1979 b u t w a s n o t p r e s e n t i n t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r . CYPERACEAE C y p e r u s l i g u l a r i s L . Two l a r g e p a t c h e s grow on t h e s o u t h w e s t and n o r t h e a s t o f t h e i s l a n d on Desnoeufs s o i l . I s o l a t e d t u s s o c k s o c c u r e l s e w h e r e on t h e guano b u t a r e t h i n l y d i s t r i b u t e d . EUPHOFBIACEAE A c a l y p h a i n d i c a L. F r e q u e n t under a n d b e h i n d t h e beach hedge a n d w i t h i n t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e . Euphorbia p r o s t r a t a A i t . ? Common on t h e b e a c h - c r e s t community and on t h e dunes wherever v e g e t a t i o n c o v e r i s d i s c o n t i n u o u s . P h y l l a n t h u s amarus Schum. & Thonn. O c c a s i o n a l i n t h e n o r t h c o a s t dune community b u t more f r e q u e n t i n t h e s h e l t e r e d mixed h e r b community a n d among t h e c o c o n u t s . FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE) S e s b a n i a s p . p r o b a b l y s e r i c e a ( W i l l d . ) Link I s o l a t e d p l a n t s o r g roups o f p l a n t s wide ly s c a t t e r e d o v e r t h e c e n t r a l p a r t o f t h e i s l a n d . I n June 1979 most were d y i n g back and i n J u l y 1980 o n l y t e n w i t h l i v i n g s h o o t s remained. GOODENIACEAE S c a e v o l a s e r i c e a Vahl L imi ted t o t h e c o a s t a l hedge on t h e n o r t h c o a s t . MALVACEAE A b u t i l o n i n d i c u m ( L . ) Sweet ? F r e q u e n t i n t h e Desnoeufs S o i l community, t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e , b e h i n d t h e beach hedge , and i n 1980 on t h e edge o f t h e dunes o f t h e n o r t h w e s t c o a s t . Most p l a n t s were dead , even i n J u n e . S i d a p u s i l l a Cav. Common w i t h i n t h e dune community a n d on t h e beach c r e s t H i b i s c u s t i l i a c e u s L. A s i n g l e l a r g e t r e e grows on t h e Desnoeufs S o i l n e a r t h e c e n t r e of t h e i s l a n d . NYCTAGINACEAE B o e r h a v i a s p . A whi t e - f lowered , f l e s h y t r a i l i n g h e r b , most common on sandy s o i l s a round t h e - p e r i m e t e r of t h e i s l a n d b u t w e l l r e p r e s e n t e d i n l a n d by J u l y . PASSIFLORACEAE P a s s i f l o r a s u b e r o s a L . I n 1979 two o r t h r e e v i g o r o u s p l a n t s sc rambled o v e r S t e n o t a p h r u m i n one s m a l l area o f t h e dunes on t h e n o r t h w e s t c o a s t . The f o l l o w i n g y e a r t h e s e p l a n t s had s p r e a d t o c o v e r a n area o f a b o u t 3000 sq metres, and a s i n g l e specimen was a l s o l o c a t e d on t h e n o r t h e a s t c o a s t . POACEAE (GRAMINEAE) ~ a c t y l o c t e n i u m c t e n o i d e s (S teud . ) Bosser Occurs p r i m a r i l y a s a dominant s p e c i e s beh ind t h e dunes on t r a n s i t i o n a l s o i l s on t h e n o r t h e a s t and e a s t s i d e s o f t h e i s l a n d , b u t it i s a l s o p r e s e n t i n t h e coconut grove and i n t h e dunes o f t h e west c o a s t . Apparent ly d i e s back e a r l y d u r i n g t h e s o u t h e a s t t r a d e s . E l e u s i n e i n d i c a (L. ) Gaertn . Most f r e q u e n t behind t h e beach hedge and w i t h i n t h e coconut g rove , b u t i n 1979 o c c a s i o n a l l y found e l sewhere immediately behind t h e dunes . L e p t u r u s r e p e n s R . B r . Found i n s m a l l i s o l a t e d p a t c h e s a s a p r imary c o l o n i s e r o f t h e beach c r e s t , o c c a s i o n a l l y e x t e n d i n g i n t o t h e dune community beh ind . S t e n o t a p h r u m m i c r a n t h u m (Desv . ) Hubb. I n June S t e n o t a p h r u m dominates s o i l s around t h e i s l a n d p e r i m e t e r and a l s o i n l a n d where i s o l a t e d p a t c h e s of windblown sand o v e r l i e t h e phospha t ic sands tone . By J u l y it h a s g e n e r a l l y d i e d back b u t s c a t t e r e d p l a n t s s t i l l p e r s i s t . PORTULACACEAE P o r t u l a c a o l e r a c e a L. Found th roughout t h e i s l a n d i n open a r e a s b u t a p p a r e n t l y suppressed by denser v e g e t a t i o n . It f l o u r i s h e s i n t h o s e a r e a s w i t h t h e d e n s e s t Sooty Tern c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , where it i s g e n e r a l l y dominant o r co-dominant wi th A m a r a n t h u s . RHAMNACEAE C o l u b r i n a a s i a t i c a (L. ) Brongn. A dense and f l o u r i s h i n g mass of bushes w i t h s e v e r a l o u t l i e r s grows i n t h e coconut grove. SOLANACEAE D a t u r a m e t e l L. Frequen t i n t h e coconut grove and i n t h e s h e l t e r e d mixed h e r b community b u t l e s s common e l sewhere on Desnoeufs S o i l and a b s e n t from Farquhar S e r i e s s o i l s . N i c o t i a n a t a b a c u m L . A s i n g l e p l a n t was found i n t h e beach hedge i n J u l y 1980. S o l a n u m n i g r u m L. L o c a l l y common th roughout t h e Desnoeufs S o i l a r e a i n J u n e , b u t l i m i t e d by J u l y t o t h e coconut grove and t h e s h e l t e r of t h e c o a s t a l hedge. VERBENACEAE S t a c h y t a r p h e t a j a m a i c e n s i s (L.) Vahl The most consp icuous h e r b on t h e i s l a n d , o c c u r r i n g th roughout t h e a r e a o f Desnoeufs S o i l i n dense monospecif ic p a t c h e s o r dominat ing i n mixed communities, and a l s o growing i n s o i l s t r a n s i t i o n a l w i t h t h e Barquhar S e r i e s . ZYGOPHYLLACEAE T r i b u l u s c i s t o i d e s L. One l o c a l i s e d p a t c h c o n s i s t i n g o:C l e s s t h a n t e n p l a n t s was found i n 1979 i n t h e s o u t h c o a s t t r a n s i t i o n a l community. S e v e r a l p l a n t s were p u l l e d o u t by t h e egg c o l l e c t o r s a l t h o u g h seed had a l r e a d y been dropped. The s i t e c o u l d n o t be r e l o c a t e d i n 1980. V e r t e b r a t e fauna Hemidactylus s p . ( ? f r e n a t u s ) A brown n o c t u r n a l gecko common i n t h e camp b u i l d i n g s and a l s o found i n t h e coconut grove under b l o c k s o f sands tone . ?Gehyra m u t i l a t a A number o f p a l e r , more t r a n s l u c e n t geckos were seen on t h e camp b u i l d i n g s i n 1980 a l t h o u g h t h e y were n o t r ecorded i n 1979. No specimens were c o l l e c t e d and t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s t e n t a t i v e . Chelonia mydas Green T u r t l e P i t s dug by n e s t i n g green t u r t l e s were d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s accord ing t o age . Those t h a t were e roded , p a r t i a l l y i n f i l l e d and invaded by v e g e t a t i o n were e s t i m a t e d a s be ing o l d e r t h a n 6 months, t h o s e w i t h v e g e t a t i o n s t a r t i n g t o invade and w i t h s u r f a c e s smoothed t o s t a b l e g r a d i e n t s were c l a s s e d a s 1-6 mcnths o l d and t h o s e uninvaded by vege- t a t i o n and wi th u n s t a b l e s u r f a c e s were c o n s i d e r e d r e c e n t . Groups of p i t s o f s i m i l a r age were t aken t o be t h e r e s u l t o f one v i s i t by a female . On t h i s b a s i s t h e t r a c e s o f 48 v i s i t s o v e r t h e p a s t s i x months remained e v i d e n t i n mid-June 1979 and 5 more l a n d i n g s , p robab ly t h e e f f o r t s o f 2 females , took p l a c e between 14 and 24 June. Allowing f o r 4 l a n d i n g s p e r female i n which p i t s were excava ted deep enough t o remain e v i d e n t d u r i n g our v i s i t , a c o n s e r v a t i v e e s t i m a t e o f 13 females u s i n g Desnoeufs o v e r t h e f i r s t h a l f o f 1979 is o b t a i n e d . Peak n e s t i n g p robab ly t a k e s p l a c e fromMay-Septemberbut l a y i n g a l s o o c c u r s a t o t h e r t i m e s o f y e a r ( F r a z i e r 1976) and s imple doubl ing of t h e e s t i m a t e f o r t h e f i r s t s i x months g i v e s an extremely rough e s t i m a t e of an a n n u a l b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n o f 26 females . However, no r e c e n t p i t s were found i n Ju ly 1980 and t h e r e were very few p i t s i n t h e 1-6 months age c l a s s , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e number of b reeding animals can vary cons iderab ly from yea r t o yea r . Three sandy beaches l a c k i n g rock b a r r i e r s o r unnegot iab le sand c l i f f s a r e p r e s e n t i n ~ u n e / ~ u l y of which t h e l o n g e s t i s i n t h e no r th (c.350 m ) where t h e camp is s i t u a t e d . The remaining two a r e pocket beaches of 40 and 50 m l eng th i n t h e south e a s t b u t one is s t e e p l y s lop ing and sh ing ly wi th no evidence of nes t i ng . However, t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of t r a c e s of b reeding a t t empt s does i n d i c a t e t h a t sand movements, by o b l i t e r a t i n g o b s t a c l e s , a l low n e s t i n g a t some t i m e o r another over c.1150 m of s h o r e l i n e inc luding ex t ens ions of t h e t h r e e beaches mentioned above and two a d d i t i o n a l pocket beaches i n t h e south west. Such sand movements a r e u sua l ly a s s o c i a t e d wi th t h e change i n d i r e c t i o n of t h e p r e v a i l i n g wind from t h e sou th -eas t t r a d e s t o t h e north-west monsoon and t h i s evidence suppor t s t h e sugges t ion of prolonged and probable year-round breeding. E r e t m o c h e l y s i m b r i c a t a Hawksbill T u r t l e A t u r t l e seen immediately o f f sho re i n 1979 was t e n t a t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d a s t h i s spec i e s . Bi rds P u f f i n u s 1 ' h e r m i n i e r i Audubon's Shearwater A small number were r e g u l a r l y seen a t n i g h t i n t h e coconut grove where burrows were made by c l e a r i n g n a t u r a l h o l e s i n t h e sandstone of s o i l and d e b r i s . No more than 5 b i r d s were no ted on any one n i g h t i n 1979 and 3 i n 1980. P u f f i n u s p a c i f i c u s Wedge-tailed Shearwater Several thousand p a i r s used t h e i s l a n d a t n i g h t i n June 1979 and J u l y 1980. Burrows were d i s t r i b u t e d around t h e e n t i r e per imeter of t h e i s l a n d b u t were denses t i n t h e deeper sandy s o i l s on t h e n o r t h e a s t and south west c o a s t s . Any n a t u r a l o r man-made break i n t h e phosphat ic sandstone f u r t h e r in land was a l s o exp lo i t ed and it i s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e popula t ion approaches t h e maximum the i s l a n d can suppor t . Breeding i s s a i d t o occur from November t o February w h i l s t June and J u l y i s a per iod of burrow excavat ion and p a i r i n g . Remarkably, t h e b i r d s may be seen on t h e ground i n t h e open throughout t h e day al though numbers i nc rease from mid-afternoon onwards. S u l a d a c t y l a t r a Masked Booby There a r e two c o l o n i e s on t h e i s l a n d , one i n l and i n t h e south western quadran t and a smal le r colony i n t h e dunes of t h e south west c o a s t . 18 n e s t s were found i n June 1979 with a maximum count of 45 b i r d s w h i l s t 8 n e s t s and a maximum of 31 b i r d s were noted i n J u l y 1980. On 14 June 1979 the dune colony c o n s i s t e d of 5 n e s t s each wi th 2 eggs and the in land colony conta ined 9 n e s t s , one with a c l u t c h of 3 eggs and t h e remainder w i t h 2. By 18 June t h e dune co lony had i n c r e a s e d by 1 n e s t and t h e i n l a n d co lony by 3 . A number of e g g s ha tched i n t h e i n l a n d co lony on 17 and 18 June by which t ime it c o n s i s t e d o f 6 n e s t s w i t h 2 e g g s , 4 w i t h 1 egg and 1 c h i c k , 1 w i t h 2 eggs and 1 c h i c k and 1 w i t h a s i n g l e c h i c k . On 24 June 1980 t h e i n l a n d co lony c o n s i s t e d of 6 n e s t s o f which 1 c o n t a i n e d 1 egg , 2 c o n t a i n e d 2 e g g s , 1 h e l d 1 egg and 1 c h i c k , 1 h e l d 2 c h i c k s and 1 c o n t a i n e d a s i n g l e l a r g e downy c h i c k (Van Swelm pers-comm.) . On 27 J u l y 3 n e s t s were c l o s e l y brooded and 3 c o n t a i n e d s i n g l e l a r g e downy c h i c k s w h i l s t t h e dune co lony c o n s i s t e d of 2 n e s t s o f which one was c l o s e l y brooded and t h e second c o n t a i n e d a l a r g e c h i c k . A r e g u r g i t a t i o n was r e c o v e r e d from one c h i c k , c o n s i s t i n g of 2 s e m i - d i g e s t e d f i s h c .20 cm i n l e n g t h . S u l a l e u c o g a s t e r Brown Booby The maximum number of brown b o o b i e s r e c o r d e d i n 1979 was 10, w h i l s t t h a t i n 1980 was 8 a l t h o u g h an immature b i r d n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h i s c o u n t was seen on s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s . Two n e s t s were l o c a t e d i n 1979 of which one c o n t a i n e d a n egg. A t h i r d n e s t was under c o n s t r u c t i o n and a l l t h r e e were w i t h i n 25 m o f one a n o t h e r . A l a r g e downy c h i c k was p r e s e n t i n J u l y 1980. Loaf ing brown b o o b i e s f r e q u e n t e d t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e i r n e s t s , b o t h masked booby c o l o n i e s and a rocky head land on t h e s o u t h c o a s t . S u l a s u l a Red f o o t e d Booby An a d u l t b i r d was n o t e d i n June 1979 and a n immature i n J u l y 1980. Both b i r d s r o o s t e d o v e r n i g h t i n t h e H i b i s c u s . F r e g a t a spp. F r i g a t e b i r d s Immature b i r d s p a s s e d o v e r t h e i s l a n d each even ing i n b o t h y e a r s and a l t h o u g h o n l y one r o o s t i n g b i r d was seen i n 1979, up t o 15 r e g u l a r l y s p e n t t h e n i g h t i n t h e c o c o n u t s i n J u l y 1980. The s p e c i e s c o u l d n o t g e n e r a l l y be de te rmined b u t a male G r e a t e r F r i g a t e ( F r e g a t a minor) was p r e s e n t i n June 1980 (Van Swelm pers.comm) and two L e s s e r F r i g a t e s ( F r e g a t a a r i e l ) were seen i n J u l y . Bubulcus i b i s C a t t l e E g r e t Counts of r o o s t i n g and f o r a g i n g b i r d s i n 1979 gave a p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e of 35 i n d i v i d u a l s and comparable numbers were p r e s e n t t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r . Approximately 20 d i s u s e d n e s t s were found i n t h e H i b i s c u s i n June 1979 and 21 p u l l i were found i n June 1980 (Van Swelm pers .comm.) . The b i r d s f o r a g e o v e r t h e e n t i r e i s l a n d e x c e p t t h e sea- s h o r e and t h e c o n t e n t s o f 26 p e l l e t s showed t h e p r e y t o be p r i m a r i l y i n s e c t s a l t h o u g h 5 p e l l e t s a l s o c o n t a i n e d egg membranes and one i n c l u d e d u n i d e n t i f i e d bones . Maggots have been recorded from t h e stomach o f a Desnoeufs b i r d (Chong-Seng,pers.comm.) and an e g r e t was seen t a k i n g a t e r n c h i c k i n J u l y 1980. A s m a l l bounty is g i v e n f o r e g r e t s because of t h e i r p r e d a t o r y h a b i t s and a l l 21 p u l l i were d e s t r o y e d i n 1980. P l u v i a l i s s q u a t a r o l a Grey P l o v e r Two b i r d s were s e e n i n 1979 a n d 5 i n 1980. A l l were i n non- b r e e d i n g plumage a n d f o r a g e d e x c l u s i v e l y on t h e s h o r e . A r e n a r i a i n t e r p r e s T u r n s t o n e Common, f o r a g i n g on r o c k y s h o r e s a n d i n l a n d i n s m a l l g r o u p s . 213 were c o u n t e d i n one r o o s t i n g f l o c k i n 1979 a n d comparab le numbers were p r e s e n t i n 1980. Many b i r d s b o r e b o l d f a c i a l p a t t e r n i n g a l t h o u g h none were i n f u l l b r e e d i n g plumage. Turns tone p r e y e d upon u n a t t e n d e d s o o t y t e r n e g g s a n d approached masked booby e g g s i f t h e s e were exposed a f t e r d i s t u r b a n c e . Cal i d r i s a 1 ba Sander l i n g One b i r d w a s n o t e d i n 1979 a n d two i n 1980. S a n d e r l i n g s f r e e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t u r n s t o n e , f o r a g i n g i n l a n d as w e l l as on t h e s h o r e . C a l i d r i s f e r r u q i n e a Cur lew S a n d p i p e r A s i n g l e b i r d was r e c o r d e d i n 1980, accompanying t u r n s t o n e s a n d f o r a g i n g i n l a n d . T r i n q a n e b u l a r i a Greenshank Two b i r d s were p r e s e n t i n J u l y 1980, f o r a g i n g on t h e s h o r e . Limosa 1 a p p o n i c a B a r - t a i l e d Godwit Two b i r d s were n o t e d i n J u l y 1980, f o r a g i n g p r i m a r i l y i n l a n d b u t r o o s t i n g w i t h t u r n s t o n e s on t h e s h o r e . Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel A s i n g l e whimbrel was s e e n on t h e beach on 27 J u l y 1980. Gal 1 u s ga l 1 u s Fera l . c h i c k e n F r e q u e n t l y s e e n i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e c o c o n u t g r o v e and H i b i s c u s . Chickens were t a k e n s p a r i n g l y i n 1979 b u t j e a l o u s l y g u a r d e d i n 1980 a l t h o u g h t h e y were s u s p e c t e d of p r e d a t i n g s e a b i r d e g g s . Tha l a s s e u s b e r g i i C r e s t e d Te rn Three s u b a d u l t s a n d one a d u l t were p r e s e n t i n June 1979 w h i l e 6 were n o t e d i n June 1980 (Van Swelm, p e r s . c o m . ) . E i g h t s u b a d u l t s were n o t e d on 23 J u l y b u t numbers r o s e r a p i d l y t h e r e a f t e r a n d 28 b i r d s o f a l l a g e s were s e e n a t t h e e n d o f t h e month. The C r e s t e d T e r n s g e n e r a l l y f o r a g e d i n t h e s u r f l i n e b u t a l s o t o o k t e r n c h i c k s . I n b o t h y e a r s j u v e n i l e s were s e e n u n s u c c e s s f u l l y b e g g i n g from a d u l t b i r d s . Sterna f usca ta Sooty Tern The massive sooty t e r n colony i s t h e most remarkable f e a t u r e of Desnoeufs. Est imates o f numbers were der ived from egg counts a long t r a n s e c t s i n t h e r e se rve and from t h e d a i l y egg c o l l e c t i o n over t h e remainder of the i s l a n d . The method i s desc r ibed i n d e t a i l elsewhere (Wilson and Chong-Seng 1979) , t h e only d i f f e r e n c e between yea r s being t h a t t he counts were made i n t h e r e se rve a t t h e time of peak breeding a c t i v i t y i n 1980 b u t 15 days beforehand i n 1979. The 1980 e s t ima te of peak a t tendance was 769,000 p a i r s on 11-13 Ju ly w h i l s t t h a t f o r 1979 was 1,195,000 p a i r s on 3 Ju ly . This l a t t e r f i g u r e r e l i e d upon a p r o j e c t i o n f r o m c o u n t s i n mid-June and assumed a maximum l a y i n g dens i ty of 5 n e s t s / s q m throughout t h e Stenotaphrum-free p a r t of t he r e s e r v e , b u t , a l though maximum d e n s i t i e s of 4.5 n e s t s / s q m were reached i n 1980, t h e average over t h e whole r e se rve was only 2.4 n e s t s / s q m . The number r e p o r t e d a t the c l o s e of the 1979 season was t h e r e f o r e probably an over- e s t ima te and the a c t u a l f i g u r e i s b e t t e r taken a s l y i n g between 844,800 and l,l95,OOO p a i r s . The e s t ima te s a r e of t h e maximum number of b reeding p a i r s based on t h e i s l a n d a t any one time and a r e n o t measures of t h e t o t a l number of p a i r s which used t h e i s l a n d dur ing the e n t i r e breeding season. Such an e s t ima te would be complicated by in te r -co lony movement of breeding b i r d s and was n o t a t tempted. Squid and f l y i n g f i s h up t o 12 cm body l e n g t h , small shrimp-like c rus t aceans and siphonophores (?Porpita sp. ) were found amonst t he Sooty Tern colony and were assumed t o be food i tems. The Sooty Terns d i d n o t l a y on t h e dunes where Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were common al though they were p r e s e n t up t o t h e beach c r e s t on hard s u b s t r a t e s . Numbers were g e n e r a l l y low i n a r e a s dominated by Stachytarpheta and Cyperus liqularis and no l a y i n g took p l ace under t h e coconut grove. Large numbers of eggs were l o s t i n J u l y 1980 when shal low poo l s formed a f t e r heavy r a i n . Once these p o o l s d r i e d o u t t h e open a r e a s were s w i f t l y r eco lon i sed . Sterna anaethetus Brid led Tern Two p a i r s o f b reed ing b r i d l e d t e r n s were l o c a t e d i n t h e cropped p a r t of t h e i s l a n d i n 1980. Both had l a i n beneath c a i r n s . Anous stolidus Common Noddy Common noddies bred throughout t h e i s l a n d i n bo th y e a r s , forming smal l c o l o n i e s i n rocky a r e a s around t h e per imeter of t h e i s l a n d and, f u r t h e r i n l and , on c a i r n s , boulder p i l e s , heaps of herbage uprooted by the egg c o l l e c t o r s and i n coconut crowns. Noddy n e s t s were counted a t t h e same time a s t hose of t h e sooty t e r n s and 8400 breeding p a i r s were e s t ima ted i n t h e r e s e r v e i n Ju ly 1980. Assuming t h e same dens i ty throughout t h e i s l a n d t h e breeding popula t ion i s i n t h e reg ion of 20,000 p a i r s . One ch ick was found i n mid-June 1979, sugges t ing l a y i n g had begin i n mid-May. Eggs and c h i c k s were p r e s e n t i n J u l y 1980 b u t t h e age s o f t h e o l d e s t c h i c k s i n d i c a t e d o n s e t of l a y i n g a t t h e beg inn ing o f June. A n o u s t e n u i r o s t r i s Lesser Noddy S ing l e b i r d s r o o s t e d i n t h e coconuts on t h e n i g h t s of 18 June 1979 and 2 2 J u l y 1980. G y g i s a l b a White Tern Two b i r d s were seen o f f s h o r e on 24 J u l y 1980 and a s i n g l e b i r d f l e w over t h e i s l a n d on 26 J u l y . F o u d i a m a d a g a s c a r i e n s i s Madagascar Fody A smal l f l o c k f r equen t ed t h e coconut grove and mixed he rb community behind s e t t l e m e n t w i t h maximum coun t s of 6 b i r d s i n 1979 and 16 i n 1980. Mamma 1 s Mus sp . ( ? m u s c u l u s ) House Mouse Mice were common i n t h e camp and consumed eggs h e l d f o r shipment b u t t h e i r d i s t r i b u t i o n over t h e i s l a n d a s a whole was n o t a s c e r t a i n e d . O r y c t o l a g u s c u n i c u l u s Rabbi t Rabbi t s were r e l e a s e d on Desnoeufs p r i o r t o 1900 (Percy and Rid ley 1958) and were common i n 1979/1980 rang ing over t h e whole i s l a n d a l though most f r e q u e n t l y around t h e coconut grove from which t hey emerged t o f o r age a t dusk. A t l e a s t 20 were t aken f o r food i n 1979 and probab ly more i n 1980. T u r s i o p s spp Dolphins Schools of do lph in s up t o 75 s t r o n g were commonly s i g h t e d o f f s h o r e . Bot t le-nosed do lph in s ( T u r s i o p s t r u n c a t u s ) were d e f i n i t e l y p r e s e n t b u t a second s p e c i e s , sma l l e r and more g r e y i s h w i th a p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y more s l e n d e r b i l l and narrow d o r s a l f i n , was a l s o common and may have been predominant i n some groups. Land use Desnoeufs is government owned b u t given o u t on a s i n g l e l e a s e w i th Marie-Louise. It has been h e l d by a succe s s ion of p r i v a t e i n d i v i d u a l s and companies and h a s been most r e c e n t l y t aken ove r , i n 1981, by t h e I s l a n d Development Company. Guano The i s l a n d was f i r s t s i g h t e d i n 1771 by t h e Du Roslan exped i t i on b u t remained uninhabited u n t i l it was permanently s e t t l e d f o r the e x p l o i t a t i o n of guano towards the end of the 19th century (Percy and Ridley 1958). This a c t i v i t y ceased around 1910 although the d e p o s i t s a r e the l a r g e s t remaining i n Seychel les (Baker 1963). Small shipments of s eve ra l t o n s each a r e s t i l l occas ional ly taken t o Marie-Louise f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l purposes. Agr icul ture In the f i r s t decade of the 20th century Marie-Louise had two l e s s e e s of which one developed the a g r i c u l t u r a l p o t e n t i a l of t he i s l a n d i n the wake of t h e guano e x p l o i t a t i o n (Wilson i n p rep . ) and it i s probable t h a t the same system was appl ied t o Desnoeufs although with l e s s success. About 30 coconuts had b e e n p l a n t e d i n 1900 (Ridley and Percy 1958) and rows of p i t s bear evidence of cons iderable e f f o r t t o c r e a t e a coconut p l a n t a t i o n over the e n t i r e i s l a n d w h i l s t t he deep we l l s , s u b s t a n t i a l t u r t l e pond and remains of paved c a r t - t r a c k s probably a l s o da te from t h i s per iod . About 300 p i g s were free-ranged between 1900 and 1910, s u b s i s t i n g on herbage and eggs, and p i g s have occasion- a l l y been r e l eased ou t s ide the birds-egg season s ince then b u t not a s common p r a c t i c e ( 0 . Sour is , pers.comrn.). The coconuts a r e n o t considered worth c o l l e c t i n g bu t tobacco i s sometimes grown over the north-west monsoon and i s s a i d t o be very success fu l . Chickens and r a b b i t s a r e p r imar i ly taken f o r use by Marie-Louise i n h a b i t a n t s b u t a r e a l s o shipped t o t h e g r a n i t i c i s l a n d s i n small numbers. Seabirds The seasonal seabi rd egg c o l l e c t i o n , t ak ing p l ace between mid-May and e a r l y August, is the major commercial a c t i v i t y on the i s l a n d . This opera t ion has been descr ibed elsewhere (Percy and Ridley 1958, r e a r e 1976) and cont inues on the same l i n e s with th ree r e c e n t modif ica t ions ; t h e c l o s e season has been discontinued i n favour of establ ishment of t h e 16.6 ha r e se rve , t he c r a t e s (used a s a bas i c measure of the annual crop) have been reduced i n s i z e t o take 400 r a t h e r than 750 eggs and Department of Agr icul ture s t a f f monitor the c o l l e c t i o n on t h e i s l a n d each year . 1,037,600 eggs l e f t Desnoeufs i n 1979 and 723,700 i n 1980, both f i g u r e s inc luding ca 1 0 % s e n t a s g i f t s by the l e s s e e o r l aboure r s and n o t reaching the open market b u t excluding the consumption on the i s l a n d i t s e l f , es t imated t o be one c r a t e pe r day. Shearwater ch icks a r e cropped annual ly during February and e a r l y March and around 2000, s a i d t o be h a l f t he t o t a l number a v a i l a b l e , a r e taken each year f o r shipment t o t h e g r a n i t i c Seychel les . I t i s s t rong ly suspected t h a t both f r i g a t e s and noddies a r e taken f o r food from time t o time. T u r t l e s Green t u r t l e s a r e captured whenever t h e opportuni ty p resen t s i t s e l f . Although some animals may have been exported from Desnoeufs i n the p a s t a l l a r e now consumed on t h e i s l a n d . Desnoeufs i s genera l ly dese r t ed during the north-west monsoon when breeding hawksbil ls might be expected. Discuss ion Ecology Both' Marie-Louise and Desnoeufs were de sc r i bed by t h e Du Roslan exped i t i on i n 1771 a s be ing well-wooded and it would be remarkable i f t h e s e two neighbouring i s l a n d s of s i m i l a r geology and comparable s i z e were markedly d i f f e r e n t i n ecology i n t h e i r p r i s t i n e c o n d i t i o n , a l though Desnoeufs cou ld have harboured ground-nest ing s e a b i r d s on i t s c o a s t s o r i n c l e a r i n g s i n l a n d . The d i f f e r e n c e s today between b l e a k , open Desnoeufs and Marie-Louise w i th i t s overgrown coconut p l a n t a t i o n s and Scaevola t h i c k e t s must t h e r e f o r e be p r i m a r i l y due t o a d i f f e r e n c e i n land-use p r a c t i c e . C e r t a i n l y t h e known h i s t o r y o f human a c t i v i t y on Desnoeufs and t h e f a c t t h a t 40% of i t s f l o r a i s in t roduced , i nc lud ing t h e dominant S t achy t a rphe t a , sugges t s profound mod i f i c a t i on d e s p i t e t h e a s s e r t i o n t h a t it is t h e " t h e on ly example of a v i r t u a l l y untouched i s l a n d i n t h e [Amirantes] group" ( P i g g o t t 1963) . It i s most p robab le t h a t t h e e a r l y management of Desnoeufs and Marie-Louise was run on i d e n t i c a l l i n e s . A t t h e t u r n of t h e cen tu ry b i r d s ' eggs were n o t an impor tan t a r t i c l e of commerce, a s t h e f r e e - rang ing of p i g s t o f e ed on eggs sugges t s , and bo th i s l a n d s were e x p l o i t e d f o r guano be fo r e be ing p l a n t e d up wi th young coconuts . The d i f f e r e n c e between t h e two must have i t s source h e r e , f o r t h e Marie- Louise p l a n t a t i o n was s u c c e s s f u l w h i l s t t h a t on Desnoeufs was n o t . The l i k e l y exp l ana t i on i s t h a t s t r i p p i n g of t h e vege t a t i on t o e x p l o i t t h e guano i nc luded , on Desnoeuf s, t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e c o a s t a l s h e l t e r t h u s a l lowing s a l t - l a d e n wind t o s e v e r e l y r e t a r d r egene ra t i on of woody v e g e t a t i o n over t h e e n t i r e i s l a n d . The open space t h u s formed would favour expansion o f any e x i s t i n g soo ty t e r n co lony , c r e a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s even l e s s s u i t a b l e f o r r egene ra t i on and t h e open vege t a t i on t ype would be pe rpe tua t ed a f t e r t h e e s t ab l i shmen t of b i r d s egg cropping by t h e p r a c t i c e of annual e x t e n s i v e c l e a r a n c e of ground cover t o promote mamximum n e s t i n g d e n s i t y i n t h e colony. Thus t h e predominance of ground-nest ing s e a b i r d s i s i t s e l f an a r t i f a c t , having r ep l aced a l a r g e l y a r b o r e a l b r eed ing av i f auna . Under any c i rcumstances Desnoeufs s t a n d s a s an example of t h e extreme and o f t e n unexpected a l t e r a t i o n which can be imposed upon an i s l a n d ecosystem i n a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t t ime-span, i n t h i s c a s e around a c en tu ry , by human management. The r e c o r d s of t h e n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of Desnoeufs c o l l e c t e d by Percy and Ridley (1958) and con t i nued by subsequent v i s i t o r s a l s o g i v e s i n d i - c a t i o n of t h e t u rnove r of s p e c i e s which i s t o be expected on t h e i s l a n d . It is known t h a t Cassytha f i l i f o r r n i s had been l o s t and S t achy t a rphe t a e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e e a r l y p a r t of t h e 20th cen tu ry . Ca r i ca , T r ibu lu s and Ipornoea rnacrantha were a l l r ecorded i n 1979 b u t n o t t h e fo l lowing y e a r w h i l s t Nico t ina made a perhaps temporary appearance and t h e marked i n c r e a s e i n P a s s i f l o r a may s i g n i f y expansion o f a r e c e n t c o l o n i s e r . Among t h e b i r d s , Green-backed Heron (Bu to r ide s s t r i a t u s ) a n d Lesser Noddy b r ed i n 1955 (Percy and Ridley 1958) b u t n o t 1979/80 a l though t h e Lesser Noddy s t i l l r o o s t s . Crab Plover (Drornas a r d e o l a ) , Grea t Sand Plover (Cha rad r iu s l e s c h e n a u l t i i ) and Mascarene Mart in (Phedina borbonica) may a l s o be added t o t h e b i r d l i s t a s migran ts o r v a g r a n t s . Percy and Rid ley (1958) remarked upon t h e c r i c k e t s i n t h e i r t e n t y e t made no mention of mice; any comment now on n o c t u r n a l n u i s a n c e s would n o t make t h i s o m i s s i o n , s u g g e s t i n g t h e mice t o o a r e r e c e n t c o l o n i s t s a s may be t h e second gecko s p e c i e s . A c o n t i n u a l f l u x i n s p e c i e s composi- t i o n o f t h e i s l a n d b i o t a i s e v i d e n t . Conserva t ion The c o n s e r v a t i o n v a l u e of Desnoeufs l i e s e n t i r e l y i n i t s s e a b i r d s . The Sooty Tern co lony i s one o f t h e l a r g e s t i n t h e world w h i l s t , a l t h o u g h t h e i r b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n s a r e n o t t h e most s u b s t a n t i a l i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s , t h e b o o b i e s a r e of n o t e i n view o f t h e i r g e n e r a l d e c l i n e i n t h e r e g i o n ( F e a r e 1978) . Most i m p o r t a n t l y , t h e management o f Desnoeufs i s d i r e c t e d towards maintenance o f i t s w i l d l i f e f o r economic g a i n i n a d u r a b l e system c o o r d i n a t i n g commerce and c o n s e r v a t i o n and , whatever f e e l i n g s one may h o l d r e g a r d i n g t h e t r a d e i n b i r d s ' e g g s , t h e r e is no d o u b t t h a t t h e d i s p a r a t e i n t e r e s t s m a r s h a l l e d beh ind m a i n t a i n i n g t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y of t h e Sooty Tern co lony a c t i n t h e g e n e r a l f avour o f w i l d l i f e c o n s e r v a t i o n b o t h on Desnoeufs and , by example and a s s o c i a t i o n , e l s e w h e r e i n S e y c h e l l e s . The main means by which c o n s e r v a t i o n i s e f f e c t e d i s th rough t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e 16.6 ha r e s e r v e i n p a r t i a l r e s p o n s e t o t h e most r e c e n t recommendations on t h e management o f t h e egg c o l l e c t i o n ( F e a r e 1976) . The b r e e d i n g s e a b i r d s i n t h e r e s e r v e , which i n c l u d e t h e b o o b i e s , remain t o t a l l y unmoles ted w h i l s t a l l e g g s l a i d i n t h e remain ing 23.1 ha o f t h e i s l a n d a r e t a k e n f o r a s l o n g a s it i s p r o f i t a b l e t o do s o and a t l e a s t two M i n i s t r y of A g r i c u l t u r e s t a f f a r e p r e s e n t on t h e i s l a n d th roughout t h e c o l l e c t i o n t o e n s u r e t h e r e s e r v e i s n o t v i o l a t e d , t o moni tor t h e egg c r o p and t o g a t h e r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n from which annua l b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n s may be c a l c u l a t e d . By and l a r g e t h i s sys tem works w e l l and t h e r e s e r v e i s r e s p e c t e d , f o r a l t h o u g h t h e two wardens may have d i f f i c u l t y i n a s s e r t i n g a u t h o r i t y when l i v i n g i n i s o l a t i o n wi th up t o 30 egg c o l l e c t o r s , t h e purpose o f t h e r e s e r v e i n m a i n t a i n i n g egg p r o d u c t i o n i s g e n e r a l l y unders tood . P o t e n t i a l f o r problems a r i s e more where t h e need f o r c o n t r o l i s l e s s w e l l a p p r e c i a t e d and t h e d e g r e e o f p r o t e c t i o n which can be a f f o r d e d t o female g r e e n t u r t l e s and t o noddy t e r n s is l i m i t e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y when t h e c o n d i t i o n of t h e l a n d i n g p r e v e n t s f i s h i n g t o v a r y t h e egg dominated d i e t o f t h e i s l a n d workers . However, w i t h n o d d i e s a t l e a s t it i s h i g h l y u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e l i m i t e d d e p r e d a t i o n s which t a k e p l a c e have an a p p r e c i a b l e e f f e c t on o v e r a l l numbers. These shor tcomings a p a r t , t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n management o f t h e i s l a n d d u r i n g t h e c r o p p i n g season is f a i r g iven t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s under which it o p e r a t e s and i ts e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e i s t h a t it works. The Sooty Tern p o p u l a t i o n h a s been c o n s i s t e n t l y e s t i m a t e d a t between 1.2 and 1 .75 m i l l i o n p a i r s o v e r t h e p a s t 25 y e a r s ( F e a r e 1976, Percy and R i d l e y 1958, 1966, P r o c t e r 1970) w i t h peak l a y i n g i n June . The 1979 and 1980 s e a s o n s were b o t h l a t e and p o o r l y a t t e n d e d , r e g u l a r o c c u r r e n c e s which, t aken i n c o n j u n c t i o n wi th p o s s i b l e d i f f e r e n c e s i n c o u n t i n g t e c h n i q u e between o b s e r v e r s , do n o t a l l o w t h e low c e n s u s r e s u l t s o f t h e s e l a t t e r y e a r s t o be t aken a s ev idence o f overc ropp ing . The l a n d i n g beach i s unusable from l a t e August u n t i l t h e n o r t h west monsoon h a s s e t i n and o v e r t h i s p e r i o d t h e i s l a n d p r o v i d e s t o t a l l y s a f e c o n d i t i o n s f o r b o o b i e s t o r e a r c h i c k s and f o r t u r t l e s t o b reed , From mid-October t o l a t e May however, t h e i s l a n d is unwardened and a c c e s s i b l e t o b o a t s f i s h i n g i n t h e a r e a o r from Marie-Louise. Given t h e t r a f f i c i n t h e Amirantes it is q u i t e p o s s i b l e t h a t such v i s i t s a r e f r e q u e n t a l t h o u g h i n d i v i d u a l l y o f s h o r t d u r a t i o n and , i n t h e absence o f permanent o c c u p a t i o n , t h e beaches shou ld s t i l l p r o v i d e r e l a t i v e l y s a f e b r e e d i n g f o r t h e s m a l l number of t u r t l e s t h a t f r e q u e n t them, t h u s a s s i s t i n g i n main ta in ing t h e e a g e r l y s o u g h t - a f t e r t u r t l e p o p u l a t i o n among t h e i s l a n d s . The boobies a r e more a t r i s k . I n 1955 Desnoeufs s u p p o r t e s some 20 Brown Boobies and, between 1955 and 1965, 100-450 p a i r s o f Masked Booby, y e t by 1974 o n l y 4 Brown and 21 Masked Booby p a i r s b r e d , reduced f u r t h e r i n 1976 t o 3 Brown and 17 Masked Booby n e s t s ( F e a r e 1 9 7 8 ) . The o b s e r v a t i o n s p r e s e n t e d h e r e s u g g e s t t h a t t h e r a t e o f d e c l i n e , a t t r i b u t e d t o human p r e d a t i o n , i s s lowing b u t r e p o r t s o f d e s t r u c t i o n o f boobies c o n t i n u e w i t h b o t h v i s i t s by f ishermen and o i l p o l l u t i o n b e i n g blamed. Permanent wardening is n o t f e a s i b l e and c o n t r o l o v e r such a c t i v i t y imposs ib le t o e x e r t u n l e s s t h e r e i s a fundamental change i n a t t i t u d e towards t h e s e b i r d s . U n t i l such t ime a s t h i s might be e f f e c t e d , t h e o n l y b o o b i e s l i k e l y t o r e a r e d s u c c e s s f u l l y on Desnoeufs a r e t h o s e ha tched and f l e d g e d between May and October , making t h e recovery o f t h e i s l a n d p o p u l a t i o n u n l i k e l y . Of o t h e r s p e c i e s , t h e Wedge-tailed Shearwater p o p u l a t i o n a p p e a r s t o be m a i n t a i n i n g i t s numbers and d e s c r i p t i o n s by Percy and Rid ley f o r 1955 and 1966 a p p l y e q u a l l y w e l l today d e s p i t e t h e i r recommendation t o i n c r e a s e c ropp ing (Percy and Rid ley 1966) . The C a t t l e E g r e t s a l s o seem c a p a b l e o f w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e i n t e n s e p e r s e c u t i o n recommended by Percy and R i d l e y and c a r r i e d o u t by s u c c e s s i v e i s l a n d managers. The p a t t e r n of human a c t i v i t y on Desnoeufs i s now w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d i n a g e n e r a l l y s a t i s f a c t o r y manner and , w h i l s t f u r t h e r re f inement o f b o t h w i l d l i f e c o n s e r v a t i o n and o f t h e b i r d s ' egg t r a d e i s d e s i r a b l e and e x p e c t e d , t h e f u t u r e management o f t h e i s l a n d is l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e on t h e same l i n e s a s long a s c a r e is taken n o t t o i n c r e a s e t h e c r o p beyond t h e s u s t a i n a b l e y i e l d o f t h e t e r n p o p u l a t i o n and t h a t t h e commerce i s main ta ined . Acknowledgements These o b s e r v a t i o n s were made w h i l s t working f o r t h e Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e and Land Use, S e y c h e l l e s , on a t e c h n i c a l c o o p e r a t i o n c o n t r a c t w i t h t h e Overseas Development A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e B r i t i s h government. My thanks go t o t h o s e members o f t h e Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e and Land U s e who accompanied me on my v i s i t s and i n p a r t i c u - l a r t o M r . Lindsay Chong-Seng, t h e Conserva t ion O f f i c e r . My t h a n k s a l s o t o M r . 0. S o u r i s f o r h i s h o s p i t a l i t y on Desnoeufs and M r s . Anne Robertson f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n i d e n t i f y i n g p l a n t specimens. R e f e r e n c e s Bake r , B.H. 1963. Geology and m i n e r a l 2 2 1 r e s o u r c e s o f t h e S e y c h e l l e s a r c h i p e l a g o . Geol. Surv. Kenya Pfem. 3. F e a r e , C. J , 1976. The e x p l o i t a t i o n o f s o o t y t e r n e g g s i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s . Biol. Conserv. 1 9 , 169-181. F e a r e , C. J. 1978. The d e c l i n e o f booby ( S u l i d a e ) p o p u l a t i o n s i n t h e w e s t e r n I n d i a n Ocean. Biol. Conserv. 1 4 , 295-305. F r a z i e r , J . 1976. R e p o r t on s e a t u r t l e s i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s a r e a . J . mar. b io l . Assoc. India, 1 8 , 179-241. P e r c y , R. and R i d l e y M . W . 1958. The e x p l o i t a t i o n o f s e a b i r d s i n S e y c h e l l e s . Col. Res. Studies, 25. H.M.S.O. P e r c y , R. and R i d l e y , M . W . 1966. Report on the exploitation o f seabirds i n the Seychelles. Mimeographed. Depar tment o f A g r i c u l t u r e and Land U s e , S e y c h e l l e s . P i g g o t t , C. J . 1963. No tes on some o f t h e S e y c h e l l e s i s l a n d s . Atoll Res. B u l l . 8 3 , 1-10. P i g g o t t , C. J. 1968. A s o i l s u r v e y o f t h e S e y c h e l l e s . Tech. B u l l . No.2, Land Resource D i v i s i o n , D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s Survey. P i g g o t t C. J. 1969. A report on a v i s i t t o the outer islands o f Seychelles between ~ c t o b e r and November 1960. Land Resource D i v i s i o n , D i r e c t o r a t e o f O v e r s e a s Survey , To lwor th . P r o c t e r , J . 1970. Conservation i n the Seychelles. S e y c h e l l e s Government P r i n t e r . Wi lson , J . R. and Chong-Seng, L. 1979. Report on the exploitation o f sooty tern eggs on Desnoeufs i n 1979 and the implementation o f controls on cropping. Mimeographed 10 pp . N a t i o n a l P a r k s and N a t u r e Conservancy Corn rn i s s ion /~epa r tmen t o f A g r i c u l t u r e and Land U s e , S e y c h e l l e s . Wi l son , J. R. T h i s i s s u e . The e c o l o g y o f Mar i e -Lou i se , Ami ran te s i s l a n d s . Atoll Res. Bull . 273. 12. SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL V A R I A B I L I T Y OF RAINFALL ON ALDABRA ATOLL by D. R . S toddar t In t roduct ion In s p i t e of the ex i s t ence of s u b s t a n t i a l amounts of information on a t o l l c l imates i n both the Indian and P a c i f i c Oceans, remarkably l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n has been pa id t o the poss ib l e ex is tence of c l i m a t i c v a r i a t i o n s within ind iv idua l a t o l l s . There i s a presumption t h a t because of pervas ive marine in f luences , small a r e a , and n e g l i g i b l e e l e v a t i o n above the sea , a t o l l land a r e a s have a s u f f i c i e n t l y homogeneous c l i m a t i c regime (neglec t ing the e f f e c t of d i f f e r e n t vege ta t ion types on micro- c l ima te ) t h a t a s i n g l e record ing s t a t i o n w i l l g ive an adequate charac- t e r i s a t i o n of a to l l -wide cond i t i ons . Three observa t ions a t l e a s t r a i s e doubts about t h i s p ropos i t i on . One i s the gene ra l ly recognised d i s t i n c t i v e n e s s of windward and leeward s i t u a t i o n s on a t o l l s i n the Trade Wind b e l t s . A second i s the sharp ly l imi t ed incidence of i nd iv idua l r a i n f a l l even t s , o f t en generated by s i n g l e cumulus c louds of smal le r - than-a to l l s i z e , e s p e c i a l l y i n e q u a t o r i a l r eg ions . A t h i r d , known f o r c e n t u r i e s , i s the coincidence of cumulus development with a t o l l l o c a t i o n s . R a i n f a l l v a r i a b i l i t y on a t o l l s A study of i n t r a - a t o l l r a i n f a l l v a r i a b i l i t y was made a t Enewetak A t o l l , Marshall I s l a n d s , i n 1957-58. The raw da ta were publ ished by Biumenstock and Rex (1960) b u t no a n a l y s i s appeared. The d a i l y observa t ions show wide v a r i a b i l i t y between s t a t i o n s ( e . g . 5.28 mm on 13 November 1957 a t Enewetak I s l and compared with 0.06 mrn on Engebi I s l and 38 km away), with some ind iv idua l monthly t o t a l s varying between s t a t i o n s by a f a c t o r of up t o 2 . Never the less , over a 5 month per iod (December 1957-April 1958) the t o t a l r a i n f a l l a t t h r e e s t a t i o n s (Enewetak I s l and , Parry I s l and , Engebi I s l a n d ) va r i ed by l e s s than 5 pe r c e n t . and over an 11 month per iod (September 1957-August 1958) t o t a l A t o l l Research Bu l l e t i n No. 273: 223-246, 1983. r a i n f a l l a t two of t h e s t a t i o n s (Enewetak I s l and and Parry I s l and , 9 km a p a r t ) va r i ed by only 6 pe r c e n t . Longer-term reco rds a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r two s t a t i o n s 5 .5 km a p a r t on t h e western r i m of Canton A t o l l , Phoenix I s l a n d s , f o r which monthly and annual r a i n f a l l d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r t he 16 y e a r s 1948-1962 and 1966. Ind iv idua l monthly t o t a l s f r equen t ly d i f f e r between t h e two s t a t i o n s by more than 40 pe r c e n t (maximum 71 pe r c e n t ) . Few annual t o t a l s d i f f e r by more than 20 pe r c e n t , however, and the annual means f o r t he 16 y e a r s of record d i f f e r by only 5.5 pe r c e n t . Overa l l t h e r e i s a c o r r e l a t i o n g r e a t e r than 0 .9 between a l l p a i r s of both monthly and annual records . R a i n f a l l on Aldabra A t o l l Aldabra A t o l l (46'20'E, 9 '24 's) i s l oca t ed i n t h e dry southwestern s e c t o r of t h e t r o p i c a l Indian Ocean (S toddar t 1971) . I t is a s l i g h t l y e l e v a t e d a t o l l , wi th a land a r e a of 155 sq krn, enc los ing a lagoon of s i m i l a r a r e a , with a l imestone r i m t h a t reaches a maxi.mum a l t i t u d e of 8 m and with c o a s t a l dunes reaching 15 m above sea l e v e l . In conse- quence of a high t i d a l range , l a r g e a r e a s of t he lagoon f l o o r a r e emersed dur ing low sp r ing t i d e s . The a t o l l i s a f f e c t e d by s t rong and p e r s i s t e n t Southeast Trade winds between Apr i l and November, and by weaker and l e s s cons t an t Northwest Monsoon winds f o r t h e r e s t of t h e yea r . For a l l t he se reasons it might be expected t h a t i f c l i m a t i c d i f f e r e n c e s were t o be found on land a r e a s of a t o l l s , they would be e x h i b i t e d on Aldabra. A Meteorological S t a t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d a t t he Se t t lement on I l e P i ca rd , on t he western s i d e of t h e a t o l l , i n September 1967. I t was subsequent ly r e l o c a t e d a t t he Royal Soc ie ty Aldabra Research S t a t i o n , 1 km t o the south , i n 1970. I n i t i a l l y a s i n g l e d a i l y synopt ic observa t ion was made a t 0900 hours (GMT + 3 ) , bu t i n January 1975 t h e S t a t i o n was upgraded t o World Weather Watch s t anda rds , j o i n t l y s t a f f e d by the U.K. Meteorological Of f i ce , Bracknel l , England, and the Royal Soc ie ty . Three-hourly synop t i cobse rva t ions and d a i l y r a i n f a l l r eco rds a r e a v a i l a b l e from t h i s d a t e . Before 1967 r a i n f a l l had been measured a t t he Se t t lement by t h e a t o l l manager between June 1949 and June 1953 (only one complete yea r of record : 1192 mm i n 1950) , and again i n 1958 and 1959 (very low f i g u r e s of 381 and 349 rnm) . These e a r l i e r monthly d a t a a r e l i s t e d by S toddar t and Mole (1977) , b u t because of t h e i r dubious r e l i a b i l i t y they a r e n o t considered f u r t h e r he re . Table 1 l is ts t h e monthly and annual r a i n f a l l s a t t he Meteorologi- c a l S t a t i o n f o r t he 15 y e a r s 1968-1982. The mean annual t o t a l is 1089 mm, with a minimum of 547 and a maximum of 1467 mm. The s c a t t e r diagram of monthly r a i n f a l l s i n F igure 13 shows the g r e a t v a r i a b i l i t y of r a i n f a l l a t a s i n g l e s i t e from year t o yea r , and t h e annual h i s t o - grams i n Figure 14 show the v a r i a b i l i t y i n seasona l incidence from yea r t o yea r . Though t h e Aldabra r eco rd i s t o o s h o r t f o r a n a l y s i s , it seems l i k e l y t h a t t he annual t o t a l s show s u b s t a n t i a l c y c l i c a l f l u c t u a - t i o n s from decade t o decade, a s i d e n t i f i e d f o r t h e g r a n i t i c Seyche l les (S todda r t and Walsh 1979) . There high r a i n f a l l s occurred be fo re 1905, between 1923 and i937, and s i n c e 1959, wi th markedly lower r a i n f a l l s dur ing 1905-1922 and 1938-58. The changes a r e of t h e o rde r of 500 mrn, o r 20 p e r c e n t , between each p e r i o d l a n d a l l a r e s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i - c a n t a t t he 99 pe r c e n t confidence l e v e l . Local r a i n f a l l v a r i a b i l i t v on Aldabra Since a c t i v e r e sea rchbeganon Aldabra t h e r e has been specu la t i on about t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of sys temat ic c l i m a t i c d i f f e r e n c e s e x i s t i n g between d i f f e r e n t p a r t s qf t h e a t o l l . Farrow (1971, 85) d i scussed t h e s e , and provided d a i l y r a i n f a l l d a t a f o r t h e p e r i o d 24 September- 17 October 1968 a t t h e Meteorological S t a t i o n and a t Passe Houareau (Middle Camp). These i n d i c a t e d day-to-day v a r i a b i l i t y comparable t o t h a t a l r eady desc r ibed a t Enewetak, though t o t a l s were s i m i l a r over t h e pe r iod of record . Subsequently J . F r a z i e r .maintained r a i n f a l l r eco rds f o r a t o t a l of 221 days between June 1969 and June 1970 a t Dune Jean-Louis on t h e south c o a s t . The t o t a l r a i n f a l l a t t h e Meteorologi- c a l S t a t i o n over t h i s pe r iod was 70.5 pe r c e n t of t h a t recorded a t Dune Jean-Louis, and t h e number of ra in-days 69.5 pe r c e n t . Cor re l a t i on of d a i l y r a i n f a l l t o t a l s between t h e two s t a t i o n s was only 0.35, though t h e mean r a i n f a l l pe r rain-day was very s i m i l a r . Rain a t t h a t pe r iod t h u s f e l l on more days on t h e windward than on t h e leeward c o a s t s (S todda r t and Mole 1977, Table 15) . A sys temat ic e f f o r t t o s tudy l o c a l r a i n f a l l v a r i a b i l i t y on Aldabra began i n 1973. Between A p r i l 1973 and November 1977 t h i r t e e n record- i ng s t a t i o n s were e s t a b l i s h e d a t s i t e s around t h e a t o l l (Table 2, F igure 1 5 ) . They c o n s i s t e d of a p l a s t i c 1-gal lon c o n t a i n e r , f i rmly anchored i n s o i l o r rock , wi th a p l a s t i c r e c e i v i n g c y l i n d e r . A t Middle Camp, however, a s tandard metal Bradford gauge was - i n s t a l l e d from t h e beginning, and s i m i l a r gauges supp l i ed by t h e U.K. Meteoro- l o g i c a l Off ice r ep l aced t h e p l a s t i c c o n t a i n e r s a t a l l o t h e r s i t e s dur ing 1976-77. To minimise evapora t ion a small q u a n t i t y of o i l was p l aced i n t h e gauge t o form a f i l m on t h e water s u r f a c e ; t h e i n i t i a l use of coconut o i l f o r t h i s purpose was d i s con t inued because of i ts a t t r a c t i o n t o coconut c r a b s B i r g u s latro. The p l a s t i c gauges had t o be f r e q u e n t l y r ep l aced i n t h e e a r l y days on account of being chewed by coconut c r a b s o r d e t e r i o r a t i n g i n s u n l i g h t . Ants and r a t s proved troublesome a t some s i t e s . On one occasion t h e da t e of a read ing was l o s t when the d a t a ca rd was chewed by a g o a t . The gauges were emptied and c o n t e n t s recorded whenever f i e l d workers v i s i t e d t h e s i t e s . Heavily-used camp s i t e s such a s Middle Camp and Cinq Cases t h u s genera ted l a r g e numbers of c losely-spaced r eco rds (252 and 161 r e s p e c t i v e l y , with mean time i n t e r v a l s of 12.7 and 19.5 d a y s ) , b u t o t h e r more remote s i t e s were v i s i t e d l e s s f r equen t ly . On some occas ions t he c a p a c i t y of t h e gauge was l e s s than t h e amount of r a i n f a l l between r ead ings and t h e gauge overflowed; t o some e x t e n t , t h e r e f o r e , t he d a t a w i l l under-est imate a c t u a l r a i n f a l l . The frequency of record ing dec l ined dur ing 1980-81, and records ceased t o be maintained du r ing December 1981-January 1932. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e main s i t e s a f u r t h e r gauge was i n s t a l l e d f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d a d j a c e n t t o t h e main M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S t a t i o n , t o p r o v i d e a check on t h e r e l i a b i l i t y of t h e method. T h i s s i t e i s i d e n t i f i e d a s S t a t i o n . The d a t a a v a i l a b l e t h u s comprise a s e r i e s o f r e a d i n g s a t i r r e g u l a r , v a r i a b l e and non-synchronous t i m e s . They were compiled o n t o s t a n d a r d r e c o r d c a r d s on s i t e , p e r i o d i c a l l y t r a n s c r i b e d a t t h e Aldabra Research S t a t i o n , and one s e t o f c a r d s r e t u r n e d t o London w i t h a d u p l i c a t e s e t ma in ta ined on t h e a t o l l ; two c a r d s were l o s t i n t h i s p r o c e s s . A p r e l i m i n a r y a n a l y s i s o f r e c o r d s f o r e i g h t o f t h e s i t e s f o r p e r i o d s up t o February 1975 h a s been g i v e n by Hnat iuk (1979, 3 2 ) . For each s t a t i o n t h e d a t a of b o t h d a t e of o b s e r v a t i o n and r a i n f a l l were t h e n t a b u l a t e d i n cumula t ive form from a n a r b i t r a r y o r i g i n on 1 January 1973. For s t a t i o n s wi th g a p s i n t h e r e c o r d new cumula t ions were s t a r t e d when t h e r e c o r d was resumed. Da i ly cumula t ive v a l u e s f o r each s t a t i o n f o r t h e p e r i o d of r e c o r d were t h e n g e n e r a t e d u s i n g a programfIWTERPOiL),by l i n e a r i n t e r p o l a t i o n between each s u c c e s s i v e p a i r of r e c o r d s . The i n t e r p o l a t e d cumula t ive t o t a l s c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e l a s t day of each month f o r t h e p e r i o d o f r e c o r d were used t o d e r i v e r a i n f a l l t o t a l s f o r a l l months. These were summed t o g i v e annua l f i g u r e s . While t h e s e c a l c u l a t e d monthly t o t a l s c a n n o t o b v i o u s l y be e q u a l t o a c t u a l monthly r a i n f a l l s because of t h e in f requency of t h e o r i g i n a l o b s e r v a t i o n s , t h e y do n e v e r t h e l e s s p r o v i d e a b a s i s f o r comparison b o t h between s t a t i o n s a t any t ime and between months a t any s t a t i o n . R e s u l t s C a l c u l a t e d annua l t o t a l s f o r a l l l o c a l s t a t i o n s , t o g e t h e r w i t h a c t u a l annua l r e c o r d s a t t h e M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S t a t i o n , a r e g i v e n i n Table 3 and F i g u r e 16. These show s u b s t a n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e s between s u c c e s s i v e y e a r s a t each l o c a l i t y , and a l s o between d i f f e r e n t s i t e s i n t h e same y e a r . Tha t t h e temporal v a r i a b l i t y i s r e a l i s i n d i c a t e d by t h e f a c t t h a t o v e r t h e p e r i o d of t h i s s t u d y t h e annua l t o t a l s a t t h e M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S t a t i o n i t s e l f v a r i e d from 826 t o 1467 mm. The d i f f e r - e n c e s i n annua l means between s i t e s i s of t h e same o r d e r (minimum o f 1098 mm a t Middle Camp and maximum o f 1567 rnrn a t Anse V a r ) . The l e v e l of annua l v a r i a b i l i t y i s d e t a i l e d i n Table 4 ( p e r c e n t a g e d i f f e r e n c e between annua l t o t a l s a t each s t a t i o n and t h e mean a t t h a t s t a t i o n ) , Table 5 ( p e r c e n t a g e d i f f e r e n c e between annua l t o t a l s a t each s t a t i o n and t h e t o t a l f o r t h a t y e a r a t t h e M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S t a t i o n ) , and Table 6 ( p e r c e n t a g e d i f f e r e n c e between annua l t o t a l s a t each s t a t i o n and t h e 15-year mean [ I089 mm] a t t h e M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S t a t i o n ) . I n s p e c t i o n o f t h e s e t a b l e s shows t h a t t h e l e v e l and d i s t r i b u t i o n of p e r c e n t a g e v a r i a b i l i t y i n t ime i s very s i m i l a r t o t h a t f o r v a r i a b i l i t y i n space . T a b l e s 7-20 g i v e t h e i n t e r p o l a t e d monthly f i g u r e s and annua l t o t a l s f o r each of t h e s i t e s , t o g e t h e r w i t h means based on d a t a f o r completed c a l e n d a r y e a r s of r e c o r d . F i g u r e 17 g i v e s h i s t o g r a m s of mean monthly r a i n f a l l a t each s t a t i o n . These d a t a c l e a r l y d e m o n s t r a t e t h e v a r i a b i l i t y o f r a i n f a l l i n b o t h space and t i m e , as r e v e a l e d by a monthly sampl ing i n t e r v a l , t h u s c o n f i r m i n g t h e e a r l i e r i n f e r e n c e s from t h e Enewetak a n d Canton d a t a . The s p a t i a l d imension o f r a i n f a l l e v e n t s i s t h u s smaller t h a n t h e a t o l l d imens ion , and t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f r a i n f a l l a c r o s s t h e a t o l l i s i n g e n e r a l non- synchron i sed . These g e n e r a l i s a t i o n s w i l l n o t , however, n e c e s s a r i l y h o l d when t h e a t o l l i s a f f e c t e d by l a r g e - s c a l e r e g i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e s such a s c y c l o n e s . I t i s o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o a s c e r t a i n whether o v e r l o n g e r t i m e - s c a l e s t h e a v e r a g e c o n d i t i o n s v a r y s y s t e m a t i c a l l y w i t h l o c a t i o n . I n s p e c t i o n of t h e d a t a s u g g e s t t h a t t h e y do . I f we g r o u p t o g e t h e r t h e s t a t i o n s on t h e n o r t h w e s t s i d e of t h e a t o l l (Anse M a i s , B a s s i n Leb ine , Anse Var , Polymnie a n d G i o n n e t , w i t h 31 i n d i v i d u a l a n n u a l t o t a l s a l t o g e t h e r ) t h e mean o f a l l a n n u a l t o t a l s i s 1340 mm. T h a t f o r t h e s o u t h c o a s t s t a t i o n s (Cinq C a s e s , Anse Takamaka, Dune Jean-Lou i s , Dune d 'Messe , w i t h 24 a n n u a l t o t a l s ) i s 1203 mm. Tha t f o r t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n a r e a (Anse Malabar , Middle Camp: 13 a n n u a l t o t a l s ) i s 1137 mm. The mean o f a l l annua l t o t a l s f o r a l l s t a t i o n s (92 ) i s 1228 mrn. Conc lus ion Whether t h e s e r e g i o n a l d i f f e r e n c e s would be s u s t a i n e d by l o n g e r - t e rm r e c o r d s i s an open q u e s t i o n , b u t a s t h e y s t a n d a t p r e s e n t t h e y p o i n t t o i n t e r e s t i n g geomorpho log ica l and e c o l o g i c a l consequences . In h i s s t u d y of a l o n g s e r i e s o f h o u r l y o b s e r v a t i o n s , June 1949 t o Februa ry 1959, a t Enewetak A t o l l , Lavoie (1963, i v ) conc luded t h a t ' t h e a t o l l i n f l u e n c e upon c l o u d o r p r e c i p i t a t i o n o v e r t h e a t o l l i t s e l f i s h a r d l y d e t e c t a b l e a n d p r o b a b l y i n s i g n i f i c a n t ' . However h e d i d n o t have a v a i l a b l e r a i n f a l l d a t a ( o t h e r t h a n o c c u r r e n c e o r non-occur rence ) f o r q u a n t i t a t i v e a n a l y s i s . I f L a v o i e ' s c o n c l u s i o n can b e t a k e n t o imply s p a t i a l h e t e r o g e n e i t y o f r a i n f a l l o v e r t h e ocean i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f a n a t o l l , t h e n it i s c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e Aldabra d a t a . I f , however, it i s i n t e r p r e t e d t o mean t h a t t h e a t o l l i t s e l f h a s a homo- geneous r a i n f a l l env i ronment a t l e a s t up t o t i m e - s c a l e s o f a decade and s p a t i a l s c a l e s o f 30-40 km, t h e n as a g e n e r a l i z a t i o n it n e e d s r e - e x a m i n a t i o n . I t would be o f g r e a t i n t e r e s t t o examine r a i n f a l l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s on o t h e r a t o l l s w i t h l a r g e compact l a n d masses ( e . 9 . C h r i s t m a s I s l a n d , P a c i f i c Ocean) as w e l l as t h o s e w i t h s m a l l and s c a t t e r e d i s le ts . Without t h e b e n e f i t o f an a c t i v e r e s e a r c h programme, however, as on A l d a b r a , such a s t u d y c o u l d o n l y f e a s i b l y b e c a r r i e d o u t u s i n g a u t o m a t i c r e c o r d i n g equipment . Acknowledgements T h i s p a p e r would have been i m p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t t h e r a i n f a l l r e c o r d i n g c a r r i e d o u t between 1973 a n d 1982 a t remote s i tes under o f t e n d i f f i c u l t c o n d i t i o n s by many members o f s t a f f o f t h e Aldabra Resea rch S t a t i o n and by many v i s i t i n g s c i e n t i s t s . The r e c o r d i n g programme was o r g a n i s e d by s u c c e s s i v e D i r e c t o r s , A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O f f i c e r s , Wardens, S t a f f S c i e n t i s t s a n d M e t e o r o l o g i c a l O f f i c e r s a t t h e S t a t i o n . G r e a t a s s i s t a n c e i n t a b u l a t i o n a n d a n a l y s i s o f t h e d a t a w a s g i v e n by H . M. Green and D . J. Reed, of t h e Department of Geography, Cambridge, a n d t h e l a t t e r wro te a n d e x e c u t e d programs f o r d e r i v i n g monthly f i g u r e s . The r a w d a t a on which t h e a n a l y s i s i s b a s e d i s h e l d by t h e Aldabra Data U n i t a t t h e Depar tment o f Geography, Cambridge. R e f e r e n c e s Blumenstock, D . I. a n d Rex, D . F. 1960. M i c r o c l i m a t i c o b s e r v a t i o n s a t Eniwetok. A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 71, i - i x , 1-158. Farrow, G . E . 1971. The c l i m a t e of Aldabra A t o l l . P h i l . T r a n s . R. S o c . L o n d . B 260, 67-91. Hna t iuk , R . J. 1979. Temporal a n d s p a t i a l v a r i a t i o n s i n p r e c i p i - t a t i o n on A l d a b r a . P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 25-34. L a v o i e , R . L. 1963. Some a s p e c t s of t h e me teo ro logy of t h e t r o p i c a l P a c i f i c viewed from a n a t o l l . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 96 , i - i v , 1-80. S t o d d a r t , D. R . 1971. R a i n f a l l on I n d i a n Ocean c o r a l i s l a n d s . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 147, 1-21. S t o d d a r t , D. R . a n d Mole, L. U . 1977. C l i m a t e o f Aldabra A t o l l . A t o l l R e s . B u l l . 202, 1-21. S t o d d a r t , D. R. a n d Walsh, R . P. D . 1979. Long-term c l i m a t i c change i n t h e w e s t e r n I n d i a n Ocean. P h i l . T r a n s . R . S o c . L o n d . B 286, 11-23. Table 1. Monthly and annua l r a i n f a l l a t Aldabra 1968-1982 Year 1968 1969 1970 197 1 1972 1973 1974 197 5 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Me an J a n - 11 - 9 153.4 47.5 244.5 224.5 261 .O 290.6 131.4 358.4 262.4 254.0 233.6 82.1 143.5 83.0 185.5 Feb - 28.0 147.2 85.2 57.4 15.0 286.8 114.5 162.8 177.4 116.3 139.2 108.6 151.9 52.9 43.0 112.4 Jun - 38.0 36.8 29.5 65.9 100.3 47.7 29.4 41.4 64 - 4 89.5 48.1 51 - 4 66.1 26.2 103 .O 55.8 Sep 9.7 18.5 7.3 8.6 4.2 21.8 1.9 14.5 4.7 5.0 8.7 19.4 10 - 0 12.1 40.9 12.5 Nov Dec Year - 85.0 547.1 56.8 1253.7 56.0 700.3 201.8 1220.3 240.2 1054.8 77.6 1220.9 148.9 1467.4 136.2 965.8 104.4 1241.3 120.8 1432.4 234.4 1463.3 278.5 1127.7 123.1 825.7 339.6 990.5 34.6 820.5 230 Tab le 2. L o c a l r a i n f a l l s t a t i o n s a t A ldabra A t o l l L o c a l i t y S t a t i o n B a s s i n Leb ine Anse V a r Polymnie G i o n n e t Anse Malabar Middle Camp A i r s t r i p T r a c e C inq C a s e s Anse Takamaka Dune Jean -Lou i s Dune d 'Messe Anse Mais I le E s p r i t G r i d r e f e r e n c e 050 090 067 100 070 100 106 126 139 125 253 128 314 119 374 083 398 058 346 035 260 035 189 013 069 043 105 061 Gauge i n s t a l l e d 1 13 F e b r u a r y 1975 (10 March 1977) 9 November 1976 (15 A p r i l 1977) 18 August 1976 (11 May 1977) 9 November 1973 ( 1 June 1977) 15 A p r i l 1974 ( 9 F e b r u a r y 1977) 21 A p r i l 1974 (23 September 1977) 5 A p r i l 1973 ( 5 A p r i l 1973) 16 November 1977 (16 November 1977) 1 June 1973 ( 3 August 1977) 28 F e b r u a r y 1974 30 June 1973 (23 March 1977) 29 A p r i l 1973 (16 September 1977) 3 J u l y 1973 (17 September 1976) 27 June 1976 (31 August 1977) F i n a l r e c o r d 3 December 1981 26 December 1981 28 December 1981 29 December 1981 29 December 1981 14 J a n u a r y 1 98 2 13 J a n u a r y 1982 12 J a n u a r y 1982 11 J a n u a r y 1982 17 December 1977 27 J a n u a r y 1982 27 J a n u a r y 1982 11 December 1981 29 December 1981 l ~ a t e i n p a r e n t h e s e s i s t h a t o f t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a s t a n d a r d B r a d f o r d gauge . Table 3. Annual r a i n f a l l a t d i f f e r e n t l o c a l i t i e s a t Aldabra A t o l l 1974-1982 L o c a l i t y Meteoro log ica l S t a t i o n S t a t i o n B a s s i n Lebine Anse Var Polymnie Gionnet Anse Malabar Middle Camp A i r s t r i p Trace Cinq Cases Anse Takamaka Dune Jean-Louis Dune d tMesse Anse Mais I l e E s p r i t Number of s t a t i o n s 2 ~ e a n No. of v e a r s Mean 1189 951 1390 1567 1326 1448 1199 1098 1195 1231 1342 1125 1210 1349 1141 1284 T o t a l l e n g t h o f r e c o r d 15 y e a r s and o v e r a l l mean 1089 mrn. Excluding M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S t a t i o n . Table 4 . Pe rcen tage d i f f e r e n c e between annual r a i n f a l l a t each s t a t i o n and t h e mean annua l r a i n f a l l a t t h a t s t a t i o n L o c a l i t y S t a t i o n Anse Var Polymn i e Gionnet - h s e Malabar Middle Camp A i r s t r i p Trace Cinq Cases Anse Takamaka Dune Jean-Louis -12.0 -8.5 - +30.6 +28.3 -1 1 .4 -3 .6 -23.3 Dune dlMesse - -29.6 -6 .7 +97.6 +15.5 -21 - 7 -25.6 -29.3 Anse Mais - -18.0 +5.0 +53.7 +3.9 -21.1 -23.4 -23 - 4 I l e E s p r i t - - - +4 .8 +37.1 -9 .8 -16.3 -15.9 Tab le 5. P e r c e n t a g e d i f f e r e n c e between i n d i v i d u a l l o c a l and M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S t a t i o n r a i n f a l l s f o r e a c h y e a r L o c a l i t y 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 S t a t i o n - - - - - 0 . 3 - 5 . 9 - Anse V a r - - - +7.4 +41.5 +25.3 +51.3 - Polymnie +30. 1 +49.4 +31.7 -36.7 -1.6 +20.1 +21 .1 -7.3 Gionne t - +38.5 +77.9 +15.6 -6.3 +25.7 +25.4 +11.7 Anse Malabar - - - 1 . 9 - + 6 . 1 +O. 1 +42 -7 -7 .5 Middle Camp -15.8 +19.0 -3 .2 -35.7 + 5 . 3 -12 .3 +29.5 -31 .5 A i r s t r i p T r a c e - - - - +8 .9 -3 .2 +42 .9 -7 .9 C inq C a s e s -9.2 +74.9 -1.9 -5.4 -10.6 -3 .8 +28.9 -20.1 Anse Takamaka - +49.3 0 - - - - - Dune Jean-Loui s -32.5 + 6 . 5 - +2 - 6 -1 - 4 -11 - 6 +31.2 -12.9 Dune d lMesse - -1 1 . 8 -9.0 +67.0 -4 .4 -16.0 +9.0 -13.7 Anse Mais - +14.5 +14.1 +44 .8 -4.2 -5 .7 +25.1 - I l e E s p r i t - - - -16.5 +6.9 -8 .8 +15.6 -3 .'1 Table 6. Percentage difference between the annual r a i n f a l l a t each l oca l i t y and the 15-year mean annual r a i n f a l l a t the Meteorological Stat ion Locality Meteorological Stat ion Station Bassin Lebine Anse Var Polymnie Gionnet Anse Malabar Middle Camp Ai r s t r i p Trace Cinq Cases Anse Takamaka Dune Jean-Louis Dune d'Messe Anse Mais I l e Espr i t Tab le 7. Monthly r a i n f a l l a t S t a t i o n , I le P i c a r d Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May Jun J11 Aug Sep Oct Ncv D e c T o t a l - -- - - - - - - - -.- - T a b l e 8 . Monthly r a i n f a l l a t B a s s i n L e b i n e , I l e P i c a r d Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May J u n J u l Aug Sep Oc t Nov D e c T o t a l - - - - - - --- ' complete y e a r s o n l y Tab le 9 . Monthly r a i n f a l l a t Anse Var , I l e P i c a r d Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug Sep - - - - - - - - - - - oct - Nov Dec T o t a l - -- - '1977-1979; f r e q u e n c y o f r e a d i n g s a f t e r May 1980 t o o low f o r r e c o r d s t o be r e l i a b l e 2 36 T a b l e 10. Monthly r a i n f a l l a t Polyrnnie, I l e Polyrnnie Year 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 ~ e a n J a n Feb Mar Apr May J u n J u l Aug Sep O c t Nov D e c T o t a l ----- - - - - - - - - - ' comple te y e a r s o n l y T a b l e 11. Monthly r a i n f a l l a t G i o n n e t , I l e Malabar Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May - -- --- Jun J u l Aug Sep ---- Oct Nov D e c T o t a l 'complete y e a r s o n l y Table 12. Monthly r a i n f a l l a t Anse Malabar, I l e Malabar - ---- J u l Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Tota l Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 'complete yea r s only Table 13. Monthly r a i n f a l l a t Middle Camp, I l e Malabar Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Tota l - --- 'complete yea r s only T a b l e 14 . Monthly r a i n f a l l a t A i r s t r i p T r a c e , Grande T e r r e Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug Sep Oc t Nov Dec T o t a l - ---- ---- ' ~ o m p l e t e y e a r s o n l y T a b l e 15 . Monthly r a i n f a l l a t C i n q C a s e s , G r a n d e T e r r e Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec T o t a l - -------- - -- ' ~ o m p l e t e y e a r s o n l y T a b l e 16 . Monthly r a i n f a l l a t Anse Takamaka ,Grande T e r r e Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug Sep O c t Nov Dec T o t a l - ---- - - - - - - - - - - ' ~ o m p l e t e y e a r s o n l y T a b l e 17. Monthly r a i n f a l l a t Dune J e a n - L o u i s , Grande T e r r e - --- J u l Aug Sep O c t Nov D e c T o t a l Year J a n Feb Mar Apr !4ay Jun ' ~ o r n ~ l e t e y e a r s o n l y T a b l e 18. Monthlv r a i n f a l l a t Dune d l M e s s e . Grande T e r r e Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May J u n J u l Aug Sep O c t Nov Dec T o t a l - --- ---- 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Mean T a b l e 19. Monthly r a i n f a l l a t Anse Mai s , Grande T e r r e Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug Sep O c t Nov Dec T o t a l - ----- - - -- - - -- ' complete y e a r s o n l y T a b l e 20. Monthlv r a i n f a l l a t I le E s p r i t Year J a n Feb Mar Apr May - ----- Jun J u l Aug Sep O c t Nov D e c - - - - - - - - T o t a l 'complete y e a r s o n l y J F M A M J J A S O N D Figure 13. Monthly r a i n f a l l on Aldabra 1968-1982 (Meteorological S t a t i o n d a t a ) Figure 14. Histograms of monthly distribution of rainfall for each year of record at Aldabra, 1968-1982 (Meteorological Station data) ?igure 15. Location of local rainfall stations at Aldabra Figure 17. Monthly d i s t r i b u t i o n of r a i n f a l l a t l o c a l record ing s t a t i o n s on Aldabra 13 . THE GOAT AND THE COCCID: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TWO INTRODUCED HERBIVORES AND THE VEGETATION OF ALDABRA ATOLL by Marga re t S. Gould, M. Garry H i l l and David McC. Newbery A b s t r a c t Feed ing p r e f e r e n c e s o f two i n t r o d u c e d , t a x o n o m i c a l l y remote h e r b i - v o r e s were examined on Aldabra A t o l l , i n t h e w e s t e r n I n d i a n Ocean. Both t h e f e r a l g o a t s (Capra h i r c u s ) and t h e c o c c i d s ( I c e r y a -. seyche l l a ru rn ) ex- h i b i t e d c l e a r p r e f e r e n c e s as t o which p l a n t s p e c i e s were f e d upon, and t h e s e p r e f e r e n c e s o v e r l a p p e d t o some e x t e n t . Al though t h e i n d i v i d u a l a c t i o n s of g o a t s and c o c c i d s d i d n o t c o n t r i b u t e d i r e c t l y t o p l a n t mor- t a l i t y , t h e combined e f f e c t of t h e s e two h e r b i v o r e s may b e enough t o j e o p a r d i z e t h e s u r v i v a l of p r e f e r r e d , s u s c e p t i b l e p l a n t s p e c i e s , and t h u s may a l t e r community s t r u c t u r e on t h e a t o l l . When g i v e n a c h o i c e , a cap- t i v e g o a t p r e f e r r e d c o c c i d - i n f e s t e d v e g e t a t i o n t o u n i n f e s t e d v e g e t a t i o n . I n t r o d u c t i o n I n t e r a c t i o n s between h e r b i v o r e s of v e r y d i f f e r e n t taxonomic o r d e r s have been se ldom i n v e s t i g a t e d , though t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e i s o f t e n s u s p e c t e d i n many ecosys tems . S i t u a t i o n s r a r e l y a r i s e i n which t h e i r e f f e c t s c a n be s e p a r a t e d from many o t h e r e n v i r o n m e n t a l i n t e r a c t i o n s . We p r e s e n t h e r e an u n u s u a l example of such an i n t e r a c t i o n which may g e n e r a l l y b e more common t h a n p r e v i o u s l y r e a l i z e d . T h i s pape r summarizes o u r knowledge of t h e f e e d i n g p r e f e r e n c e s of two t a x o n o m i c a l l y r emote b u t e x t r e m e l y impor- t a n t h e r b i v o r e s on t h e a t o l l of A ldabra and d i s c u s s e s t h e i r combined i m - p a c t on t h e i s l a n d ecosys tem. Aldabra i s a l a r g e , r a i s e d c o r a l a t o l l i n t h e w e s t e r n I n d i a n Ocean (46'201E, 9 ' 2 4 ' s ) . Its geo logy and eco logy have been e x t e n s i v e l y re- p o r t e d e l s e w h e r e ( e . g . , W e s t o l l & S t o d d a r t , 1971; B r a i t h w a i t e -. e t - a l . , 1973; Gould & Swingland, 1980; H i l l & Newberry, 1980) . A t o l l Resea rch B u l l e t i n No. 273: 247-254, 1983. The o n l y i n t r o d u c e d v e r t e b r a t e h e r b i v o r e on t h e a t o l l h a s been and s t i l l i s t h e f e r a l g o a t (Capra h i r c u s L . ) . Al though t h e p r e c i s e h i s t o r y -. p-. of t h e p o p u l a t i o n i s u n c e r t a i n , i t p r o b a b l y o r i g i n a t e d from i n t r o d u c t i o n s i n t h e l a t e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y ( S t o d d a r t , 1981; Gould & Swingland, 1980) . Gould (1979) and Gould & Swingland (1980) have d e s c r i b e d t h e p o p u l a t i o n dynamics and b e h a v i o r a l e c o l o g y o f t h e g o a t s and t h e i r i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h t h e a t o l l ' s major n a t i v e h e r b i v o r e , t h e g i a n t t o r t o i s e (Geochelone g i g a n t e a Schwe ige r ) . The most abundan t i n v e r t e b r a t e h e r b i v o r e on A l d a b r a i s a phloem- f e e d i n g i n s e c t , t h e c o c c i d I c e r y a s e y c h e l l a r u m Westwood (Homoptera; Marga rod idae ) . From t h e t i m e of i t s f i r s t r e p o r t i n 1968 , t h e p o p u l a t i o n r o s e t o e p i d e m i c p r o p o r t i o n s on t h e a t o l l i n t h e mid-1970's and h a s now (1979-82) f a l l e n t o a s t a b l e , low l e v e l ( H i l l & Newbery, 1980; Newbery, u n p u b l i s h e d ) . The o r i g i n s of t h e i n f e s t a t i o n are u n c e r t a i n , a l t h o u g h a c c i d e n t a l i n t r o d u c t i o n on f r u i t o r p l a n t s t o c k i s t h e most l i k e l y ex- p l a n a t i o n ( H i l l & Newbery, 1 9 8 2 ) . Newbery (1980a , b ) found t h a t t h i s c o c c i d c o u l d r e d u c e s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e g rowth o f h i g h l y s u s c e p t i b l e t r e e s p e c i e s , b u t i t seems t h a t i n f e s t a t i o n caused l i t t l e d i r e c t tree mor- t a l i t y ( H i l l & Newbery, 1 9 8 0 ) . Methods Expe r imen t . -. 1: --. G e n e r a l v e g e t a t i o n p r e f e r e n c e s .-- o f g o a t s Expe r imen t s on t h e f e e d i n g p r e f e r e n c e s of g o a t s were conduc ted from J a n u a r y t o May 1977 , i n a 4m x 4 m mangrove-pole e n c l o s u r e a t t h e e a s t e r n end o f Malabar I s l a n d , A ldabra . A g o a t was c a p t u r e d a t n i g h t , p l a c e d i n t h e e n c l o s u r e and a l l o w e d t h e f o l l o w i n g day t o become accus tomed t o i t s c o n f i n e m e n t , t h e p r e s e n c e of a n o b s e r v e r , and t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l r o u t i n e . Data c o l l e c t e d f rom t h e second day on were used i n t h e a n a l y s i s . A t dawn e a c h d a y , f i v e f o r a g e b u n d l e s were hung i n s i d e t h e e n c l o s u r e a t head h e i g h t f o r t h e g o a t and spaced s o t h a t t h e a n i m a l had t o t a k e a t l e a s t s e v e r a l s t e p s t o move from one b u n d l e t o a n o t h e r . The p o s i t i o n s o f t h e b u n d l e s were randomized d a i l y . Each b u n d l e w a s composed o f one of f i v e p l a n t s p e c i e s known from d i r e c t f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s (Gould, 1979) t o be p r e f e r r e d browse s p e c i e s f o r t h e g o a t s : C a p p a r i s - c a r t i l a g i n e a Decne, Pemphis a c i d u l a F o r s t . , P h y l l a n t h u s c a s t i c u m W i l l e m e t f . P o l y s p h a e r i a m u l t i f l o r a H i e r n , and ~ i d e r o x ~ m m e L. . An e f f o r t w a s made t o h a v e a l l f i v e b u n d l e s a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e same s i z e e a c h day . Be- g i n n i n g w e i g h t s o f t h e b u n d l e s r anged from 275 t o 2280 g o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t s . The e x p e r i m e n t a l an ima l was o b s e r v e d c o n t i n u o u s l y t h r o u g h o u t t h e day u n t i l d a r k when t h e remnants of t h e b u n d l e s were r e - moved f rom t h e e n c l o s u r e . Dur ing t h e d a y , t h e c u m u l a t i v e t i m e s p e n t f e e d i n g a t e a c h s p e c i e s b u n d l e w a s r e c o r d e d . Each e x p e r i m e n t l a s t e d 2-4 d a y s and t h r e e r e p l i c a t e g o a t s were u s e d : a m a t u r e m a l e , a ma tu re f e m a l e , and a n immature ( s u b - a d u l t ) male . Exper iment 2: Goat p r e f e r e n c e f o r I c e r y a - i n f e s t e d v e r s u s I c e r y a - f r e e - --- -. . P. v e g e t a t i o n To d e t e r m i n e i f f e e d i n g p r e f e r e n c e s were i n f l u e n c e d by t h e p r e s e n c e of c o c c i d s on some of t h e v e g e t a t i o n , a c a p t i v e g o a t was a l lowed t o choose Letween i n f e s t e d and un in f e s t ed food bundles . Using t h e same expe r i - mental se t -up a s i n t h e f i r s t exper iment , two sma l l (2.5-80 g) bundles , one w i th -- I c e rya - i n f e s t ed Sideroxylon and t h e o t h e r w i th I c e rya - f r ee -. ---. S i d e r o z l o n , were hung i n t h e enc lo su re f o r two minutes , then removed. -- - Only ----. Sideroxylon inerme was used f o r t h i s experiment s i n c e Experiment 1 had shown t h a t i t T Z f h e g o a t ' s most p r e f e r r e d browse s p e c i e s . The time spen t f e ed ing a t and t h e amount e a t e n from each of t h e two bundles were recorded du r ing t h e two minutes . The experiment was r epea t ed 32 t i m e s w i t h t h e same goa t , t h e immature male. The p o s i t i o n of t h e bundles was r eve r s ed on succe s s ive t r i a l s t o remove any p o s i t i o n a l b i a s . F i e l d s t u d i e s on I ce rya f e e d i s p r e f e r e ~ -. - p- . Feeding p r e f e r ences of -. I c e r y a w e r e recorded i n surveys of t h e Aldabra v e g e t a t i o n 1976-1978. The abundance of -- I c e rya on 52 common p l a n t s p e c i e s a t 79 sites was a s se s sed u s i n g a s u b j e c t i v e f i ve -po in t s c a l e ( 0 = no I ce rya p r e s e n t , t o 4 = - . I c e x a i n f e s t a t i o n d e v a s t a t i n g ) . The median s c o r e f o r each p l a n t s p e c i e s over t h e whole a t o l l may be cons idered a comparative measure of I c e r y a p r e f e r ence ( H i l l & Newbery, 1980) . R e s u l t s Experiment -- 1 and I c e r y a f eed ing p r e f e r ences Sideroxylon inerme was by f a r t h e most p r e f e r r e d food sou rce f o r bo th t h e f e r a l g o a t s and t h e cocc id s (Table 1 ) . Agreement between t h e - - goat and cocc id rank ings of t h e o t h e r f ou r s p e c i e s is less c l e a r , es- p e c i a l l y s i n c e t h e goa t s showed i n d i v i d u a l v a r i a t i o n . Cappar is c a r t i l a n i n e a . however. w a s l e a s t referred bv t h e goa t s o v e r a l l and 9 - was n o t u t i l i z e d a t a l l by cocc id s . Po ly sphae r i a m u l t i f l o r a on t h e o t h e r hand had a f a i r l y h igh p r e f e r ence rank w i th I c e rya (11 th o u t of 52 s p e c i e s i n 1978) , bu t was a low choice f o r two of t h e goa t s . Experiment - 2 The I ce rya - i n f e s t ed bundles of Sideroxylon were p r e f e r r e d s i g - n i f i c a n t l y t o t h e un in f e s t ed bundles both i n terms of t h e t i m e s p e n t f e ed ing a t each and t h e percen tage (by weigh t ) of a v a i l a b l e f o r age e a t e n (Table 2 ) . Discussion The rank ing of p l a n t s p e c i e s ob ta ined i n Experiment 1 does no t match t h e f requency of consumption of t hose same s p e c i e s observed i n t h e f i e l d . For example, c a p t i v e goa t s p r e f e r e n t i a l l y consumed much Sideroxylon and r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e Cappar is . Y e t i n f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s made a t t h e e a s t e r n end of Malabar I s l and du r ing t h e same t i m e of y e a r , Cappar is w a s t h e most f r e q u e n t l y observed browse s p e c i e s and Sideroxylon ranked t h i r d (Gould, 1979; Gould & Swingland, 1980). Th i s d i s c r epancy is most l i k e l y exp la ined by d i f f e r e n c e s i n a v a i l a b i l i t y of browse s p e c i e s i n t h e f i e l d ve r su s i n t h e enc losure . In t h e enc lo su re , a l l f i v e s p e c i e s were r e a d i l y and e q u a l l y a v a i l a b l e , and t h e consumption p a t t e r n of t h e g o a t s was an a c c u r a t e r e f l e c t i o n of t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s . Y e t i n t h e f i e l d under n a t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s , much more of t h e low, shrubby Cappar is was a v a i l a b l e t o t h e g o a t s t h a n was t h e t ree-form S ideroxy lon wi th i t s es - t a b l i s h e d browse l i n e s (Gould, 1979). There was a l s o a h igh procurement c o s t ( i n terms of t i m e , energy and r i s k of i n j u r y from browsing on hind- l e g s ) a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t r y i n g t o feed on Sideroxylon i n t h e f i e l d (Gould & Swingland, 1980) . I n d e t a i l e d s t u d i e s of I c e r y a on Aldabra , Newbery (1980a, b ) h a s shown t h a t heavy i n f e s t a t i o n s of t h i s s p e c i e s can reduce t h e growth r a t e of two h o s t p l a n t s p e c i e s (Scaevola -- s e r i c e a Vahl, and Euphorbia p y r i f o l i a Lam.) by approximately 50%. The l o n g term e f f e c t of t h i s l e v e l . of i n - f e s t a t i o n upon t h e s u r v i v a l of t h e s e p l a n t s p e c i e s and upon t h e s t r u c t u r e of t h e p l a n t community is n o t y e t known. Those s p e c i e s which a r e pre- f e r r e d by b o t h i n v e r t e b r a t e and v e r t e b r a t e h e r b i v o r e s w i l l be s u b j e c t t o even g r e a t e r l e v e l s of stress. Sideroxylon inerme is an impor tan t component of most s c r u b communi- t ies on Aldabra (Hnatiuk & Merton 1979; Newbery & H i l l , 1981) . Many of t h e mature trees of t h i s s p e c i e s have c l e a r l y d e f i n e d goa t browse l i n e s and a r e o f t e n bad ly i n f e s t e d w i t h I c e r y a . I n a d d i t i o n , on t h o s e p a r t s of t h e a t o l l where g o a t d e n s i t i e s a r e g r e a t e s t ( e . g . , t h e e a s t e r n end of Malabar I s l a n d ) s e e d l i n g Sideroxylon a r e rare and r e s t r i c t e d t o a r e a s o f deep ly d i s s e c t e d c o r a l l i m e s t o n e i n a c c e s s i b l e t o g o a t s (Gould & Swingland 1980) . The combined impact of g o a t s and I c e r y a may w e l l have a s e r i o u s e f f e c t upon t h e c o m p e t i t i v e a b i l i t y and s u r v i v a l of S ideroxy lon , a t l e a s t on some p a r t s of t h e a t o l l . Experiment 2 showed t h a t I c e r y a - i n f e s t e d S ideroxy lon was consumed p r e f e r e n t i a l l y t o u n i n f e s t e d S ideroxy lon . T h i s is encourag ing , a s one p e s t ( t h e g o a t ) w i l l t h e r e b y e a t t h e o t h e r ( t h e c o c c i d ) . However, s i n c e t h e f o l i a g e i s a l s o consumed i n t h e p r o c e s s , t h e n e t r e s u l t is of dubious b e n e f i t t o t h e v e g e t a t i o n . The reason f o r t h e p r e f e r e n c e i s u n c l e a r , though a l i k e l y e x p l a n a t i o n i s t h a t t h e goa t i s a t t r a c t e d by honeydew, t h e sweet excrement c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f phloem-feeding i n s e c t s such a s I c e r y a . The r e s u l t s s u g g e s t t h a t two h e r b i v o r e s o f wide ly d i f f e r i n g t a x a demons t ra te s t r o n g f e e d i n g p r e f e r e n c e s which o v e r l a p t o some degree . The cumula t ive e f f e c t o f such t a x a b e i n g i n t r o d u c e d i n t o i s l a n d eco- sys tems such a s Aldabra may be f a r r e a c h i n g , and i s l i k e l y t o a f f e c t p l a n t community s t r u c t u r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n y e a r s t o come. Fur thermore, s u c c e s s i v e a c c i d e n t a l i n t r o d u c t i o n s o f h e r b i v o r e s a r e l i k e l y t o have an a c c e l e r a t i n g i n f l u e n c e upon p l a n t community changes i f c e r t a i n p l a n t s p e c i e s a r e t y p i c a l l y more s u s c e p t i b l e t o a wide range of h e r b i v o r e s . F u t u r e r e s e a r c h aimed a t q u a n t i f y i n g t h e s u s c e p t i b i l i t y of p l a n t s t o a wide range o f h e r b i v o r e s would b e of i n t e r e s t , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h r e g a r d t o i s l a n d s such a s Aldabra which have a h i g h d e g r e e of endemism (Renvoize, 1971) . It h a s been p o s t u l a t e d t h a t p l a n t s e v o l v i n g on i s l a n d s i n t h e absence of s t r o n g h e r b i v o r e p r e s s u r e a r e more l i k e l y t o l a c k Tab le 1 . D a i l y mean f e e d i n g t i m e (m inu tes ) o f g o a t s , median abundance o f l c e r y a ( H i l l and Newbery, 1980) , and r e l a t i v e . p r e f e r e n c e ranks f o r f i v e p l a n t s p e c i e s . Numbers i n pa ren theses f o r l c e r y a -- = p r e f e r e n c e ranks among t h e 52 p l a n t spec ies examined f o r l c e r y a i n f e s t a t i o n . Goat #I feed i ng t i m e rank S i d e r o x y l o n 52 .5 i ne rme (49%) Pemph i s -- 27.2 2 a c i d u l a (2 5%) P h y l l a n t h u s 15.6 3 (14%) c a s t icum P o l y s p h a e r i a 4 . 7 5 I T I L I I L i f l o r a (4%) Cappar i s --- 7.7 4 c a r t i l a g i n e a (7%) Goat #2 f e e d i n g t i m e r a n k Goat #3 feed i ng t i m e rank Goat T o t a l s f e e d i ng t i m e r a n k l c e r y a i n f e s t a t i o n median s c o r e 976/1977 1978 rank chemical d e f e n s e s a g a i n s t h e r b i v o r e a t t a c k (Levin , 1976) . I f t h i s i s t r u e , i t i s endemic p l a n t t a x a such a s S ideroxy lon inerme (endemic s s p . c r y p t o p h l e b i a (Baker) Hemsley) which a r e most a t r i s k from i n t r o d u c e d h e r b i v o r e s . '1'aldc. 2 . Chi-scluarc t c s t of time (sccondr,) r;ljcnt feeding o n i n fc s t cd and ul? i .nf t? : ; tcd Sir?c:ror.:~lor~ iz;~ridles, p l u s t e s t Tor ~ q u a l i t y of twr, perccn t ayes --.--- (Sokal & liolilf, 1969) based on t h e grams ( g ) ea ten of each. Cocc i d i n Ec s tcd Acknowledgements t irnc 2 We thank D r . P. H. K lopfe r , D r . N . Waloff and P r o f e s s o r A. J . R u t t e r f o r a d v i c e and encouragement d u r i n g o u r work, t h e many Aldabra c o l l e a g u e s who he lped i n innumerable ways, and t h e Royal S o c i e t y f o r p r o v i d i n g f a c i l i t i e s a t t h e Aldabra Research S t a t i o n . The goat r e s e a r c h w a s con- duc ted by M. S. Gould i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t f o r t h e Ph.D. degree a t Duke U n i v e r s i t y and was suppor ted by a g r a n t from t h e Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n t o D r . K lopfe r . The c o c c i d work w a s f inanced by a N a t u r a l Environment Research Counci l g r a n t t o D r . Waloff and P r o f e s s o r R u t t e r . r; no t p(oL heinq cj cater1 oaten c a t c n ) C; t References B r a i t h w a i t e , C. J. R . , J. D. Tay lor & W. J. Kennedy. 1973. The evolu- t i o n of an a t o l l : The d e p o s i t i o n a l and e r o s i o n a l h i s t o r y of Aldabra . P h i l . Trans . R. Soc. Lond., 266, 307-40. ---. -. -. Gould, M. S. 1979. The b e h a v i o r a l ecology of t h e f e r a l g o a t s of Aldabra I s l a n d . Ph. D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , Duke U n i v e r s i t y , North C a r o l i n a , U.S.A. Gould, M. S. & I. R. Swingland. 1980. The t o r t o i s e and t h e g o a t : I n t e r a c t i o n s on Aldabra I s l a n d . B i o l . 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