L I B RA RY
DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS
A-M-N-H-
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41
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LOYALTY ISLANDS SURVEY
1938
UVEA ISLAND SUMMARY
'JtOMEI
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MISC.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
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LOYALTY ISLANDS SURVEY
1938
UVEA ISLAND SUMMARY
By L. Macmillan
LOYALTY ISLANDS SURVEY 1938
BY L. MACMILLAN
UVEA ISLAND SUMMARY
LOYALTY GROUP
W. PACIFIC
BRIEF GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION
Uvea Island, the most westerly inhabited Island of the
Loyalty Group is a long thin partial formed atoll formation Island.
The mainland, including the almost joined largest Island of the
atol 1 ic chain of Island called Moul i (which being close & identical
with the mainland can be treated as part of it) is about 20 miles
long by varying widths of from 5 miles to 1 mile in a narrow
portion near its centre. Roughly it lies between 20° 24' to 20°
41' north latitude and 166° 28' to 166° 40'. East of Greenwich*
by no means filling the full area between those positions. It
is truly an atoll but the western portion is still in an early
stage and not completely formed.
The Island lies roughly 53 miles from the NE coast of
the New Caledonian mainland at a point a little south of midway
along that litoral. It is a French colonial possession, as are
all the Loyalty group, and is administred from Noumea, the head-
quarters of France in the W. Pacific, on the Mainland of New
Caledonia, and about 120 miles away by boat. A more or less
regular six weekly interisland service being maintained by 100 ton
vessel. A local resident policeman of the regular French military
police being in residence on the island acting as a Resident
Commissioner.
The native residents number a little over two thousand
(2048 in 1934) and whites in residence number about 8, including
. .f
f ••♦'MM ’ .:i ..'01
•< .,(,» 1*'.' ' . ^
71,'wM' ‘H.! '
-v\3ir • • .
■*f*J 'nftfel »' I c.rirl ylT
,v,n,f«! f r ?»> #• «1H' '--f • *i r,)
,.,Tt - r. ».M*I <* Jtc«u Hj ifb-fu-l ,br,»ln1/.m *f»7
UMlru**ina { ♦' ■bl'V ' Mif-n br-II- -. nU'b
*»Jir zt ftr 7o ••*-.r q«rs Kr*Mf*rtt u-iJ ftfl*
K m! *nfr f o' wost ppiy^av
at ‘ikS 2»n ■»» »Jft lemt »»ol.’ino
t.ibl>insc-*0 i?f.^ .'C4 "ddf of '< t*( '*qr» ^bliJ^1^( i*l'>cr> • (•
jt .?fKJ>tI*<»<j fwwili.''* iw>q» fliil ml.1 pnUfn 9ti«wh on y<f
yHfia n» nl I Fit? bI noi '’io<! ni0lga‘4 oril fud Ifoin ni* si-
.b*»nQ^ ylartqlqirca Jon bn*
1o Jsftoo 3H oriJ Bqllin yFr'puoq *•! f hnsl?l oriT
ri^uci Bflllf * tnloQ •> fs bnRlnFwn n(>lnohfil*3 >*wW sHl
<?q« 3ff ,noi BBrs ?«o« fsHr'I^^o e sF tl .(tnoiil |if«6Fc
»rW ,f'fnMoM 1'-nt letnitnSr. gi Ffv .qu-iTg yjFfcyoJ srtt th
uail 7o SneFniwH -wFJ no .W orlJ nl i>3n«i3 7o BynJnRwo
zap I "to »*uvM - .too*} yd yr.w» zofliri OXf JunHa bfie .e’nuMfMj
noj (>0f yJ WnlRtnFcjo aolvTaz hnr. f tlT*-»rtI ylJoow v»?uf>!»T
y-ia;?riM od-t aam^l Ion tfi»hlw>n IsooF .F arsv
i-
ln>* leof* 0 a> oni ?3f. »<b nr- o*>i<t>b ? nT f)r1{s^d alll- tf
.•♦■Hitjl lffin<
bfU-‘ai*^nFt cr>f!t 'V0V(' rJ-l^il ♦ vFti n <»r!T
gniSirfawF -JUfirV q*(i».iMq S3T nl Kry I nl v^tt-
missionaries and traders. The natives of the Northern half are
almost pure Polynesian, having only comparatively recently come
by canoe from Wallis or Uea Islands (N.E. of Fiji) a distance
of nearly two thousand miles. They still have tales of their
crossing and pieces of the original canoes in which the journey
was made, about 200 years ago, are still in existence. After
having touched at certain Islands, probably the southern New
Hebrides, and being driven off, they touched at Mare and Lifu
and were driven off. Eventually they reached north Uvea and
as that Island was only sparsel y sett 1 ed by a few families from
New Caledonia (its infertility not being attractive to natives)
they managed to establish themselves in the Northern portion.
The natural stone ridges of the narrow central neck of the
Island made an easily held and defended frontier which enabled
them to hold on and become established. Sporadic warfare was
constantly keeping them on the alert but to the end they managed
to keep their footing. The chiefs shortly after arrival had
all the canoes broken up to make the people fight more desperately
to maintain their footing. Intermarriage during the recent
peaceful forty or fifty years of mission and government control
has caused the purity of the race to diminish somewhat as the
light skinned females are very popular with the darker New
Caledonian races of the mainland and Southern Uvea and Moul i
Island.
The southern part of the Islands shows a somewhat mixed
race with New Caledonia preponderence and Moul i Island shows
nearly a pure New Caledonia strain.
The Island shows no sign anywhere of the peak on which
the coral polps must have built and this has probably never
appeared above sea level. It is probably a submerged peak of the
*-»€ >fs(^ vf^ t. vIjMfi *#n hrtit a^ I v nr 1 «* Ifr.
Maoo <r*vliri-*-^.qpfO '»no 'inlvnrf ,n- I Mnyft.'l IsomIh
»5CT..J2n* ^ ,'nt. >0 .:, ■ '■■ ‘
nl.^^ i«fs1 MHa r»fn SriPai»fHt owl n ’To
V^fiiu«[ jtrti Hsli** ilJ e*»r'0«:. sdJ Vi f-5nio iifiA pni^aona
.n:\neiz] VI il fMla »*»i» ftittif ’'•ift*Y *ti0<l6 ,»bair *rw
^ n-iwHuo* 9rtJ yfAvvV-jo «lr.f»©D i ; Kt,d30t.-» fwitv^rt
ullJ *’nr, t.: * r/btK.t v^Ht -ievl-ib pn!^ bfiG ,«9h|i<4*H
hno navM rt^nofl n»vHh oid# bn*
(pm’i ssJflrrw'^ -r.T »v yd Sol tJas vr*'at'4Q3 Yf'*o «*•'- Mwirl as
(5L«>vHB,n o:> ?*v? t'> •.*' JJc (>nlf»f< Ion «'t!' 6?nohol»5 m»M
.noiini** meriinoM e>Ait nl a*vf H*lldc^?o ni S*>pr.n«^ri
rdi sbsn Mcnicn odt Jo aepSH snoia (*"iu^on *HT
tuiMcAS rblHw u*t-»nr-.> •.sSno^^h hnt SImH Y*'a«» Sfislal
asw e>TM*«6w 3?h*no<»? ^moysd ^rw, no bicrt cl
Kfspfina^p ya^li Hno oHi o-f iuH <vH no w*Ht (>nl'iSy>l y f JnfeiBno."
KaH l«vJ-)*i« yfJ*iOf«s M-*5fb ©fJT .o^f■^oo=^ qf.orf of
Ylot»*i&qa9b plow tf4jpf^ slor-'f? rtdj sjim n-j qo rt«;f(n0 gsonny idf f|«
->rit t«fflTUb «»gr. ? viiwm:* Ini .gnljool ilwil nI«Jnrsw of
fi^TJnoo tn«Rfn*Vf^} Sna nol^airt "^0 ?')R'’Y ytlH ic yiitoJ lu’tnaspq
i«<j a« Jeriwswa.r^sinlmlh o1 »pst oriJ ^o 9^1 h*auftp aed
w?M ni»h*b »/i1 'iHliKjoq ynsv ots aofomol KsnnljJa f I
i fuoH bia MViJ fwori^uo? bns hrjfJniwn mif >0 aSDfti nufoobpleO
.'in#, (el
tK
h®xl#n Joffwww? |k ivporta ^^'V^l^t «irfi jit,q niortjuoa ^*f^T
aworit Snsljl Sn^ aonnUkSnoc.^ iQ ftlMoh®!*"' rt^lw '»3«-i
.nifiiJ* sfwiHoloD d'lHQ * ylliWin
riairtw no ons^wynu n^l* on a%«>((a bnsfal br^
’^9Vbn yfdbdo’ib aod airft Sn»> JHud *jverl -tjiwn aqfoq (snoo »rfj
odt jlfcoq bAonoftiJua M Y(d«*doiq al ^1 .fsvail (no? ‘vcw^fi bonftoqqB
submarine mountain range on which the Loyalty Island group is
formed. This range evidently paralleling the central chain
of New Caledonia. It is plainly seen that the island has had
only one upheaval. Originally it was a series of disconnected
islands probably formed by debris on the higher points of reef
of a coral chain, much as Beaupre Island is today. These
received a lift of 100 feet or so and today present sheer coral
faces. A wide level coral foot had formed about the base of
these, more especially on the inner or sheltered side of the
ring and these today are only a few feet above sea level and
more or less flat and level. A similar formation today being
present on the floor of the lagoon which for most of its area
averages 6 to 10 fathoms in depth.
The largest and main feature of the island is the
lagoon which is roughly 20 miles north and south by 18 miles
east and west. It is a more or less continuous coral chain
like a drawn out 0 with a break to the west where the drawing
out has been greatest. The mainland and Moul i Island form an
almost continuous land mass along the east side running N and
S and a short distance along the N and S sides. The rest of
the coral ring being formed by a chain of Islands and rocks
above water and a submerged joining reef awash at low tide with
here and there definite distinct breaks of varying depths and
widths, though all are narrow except the largest one in the west
which is about 3 miles wide.
The Mainland. (V/hich for all intents and purposes may include the
Island of Moul i and the small Island of Lacking all of which are
only divided by about 100 yards of water). This lies roughly
north and south for distance of about 20 miles with a short leg
of 2 miles running to the west at the north end and 3 miles SW at
e? au ' Hi* r!-^->r*K-i .
rtjArf-. aril aan-rff'-.^c .'I-fnoMve fSr!! .W">M
Wae ylrf«r fa ?1 fl
=K» ^nlnaa ,«w if YffoniaitO .I.vft-.rfc> ^n« yfno
8l .fnt arfi m r- 1 ■: <!«•»> V** yI'»fc^*!7*W
•■e'rfIT aiqiJiii'tJ H,*>win ,h1*-^o f«*K>3 • ^o
(*iro lrto8r»iQ yr.'.r? Nn* oa. in iSf*^ Oi) f * Usvlcoai
‘jzr*i nl.i ■h.r.'^r bo.^f =T H«M ^of*=1 f<'-ir.5 ldV4»l %’ Iv* . «*3»1
•H3 V hi? Kai.Mfn^f? 10 •’5.-nT Hfi? fV^ yl I?sii9i}»i* •••<»»
«^n , fevstf ^2 -wooln l—^ v«1 ' «'’6 a»t>i J Ho« oali
erridf '/eSfiJ noH'an.rt lollml? .faval hno mP a^of io oiow
?.iOM io> rioUlv no. 4 * f -»o VM-»> rto Joaeaiq
.rf?o*»H ft I zriorlifi.^ Of 0+ «> ea^Aiav*
ei hnafol *di oiu^aa^ al4ai fxit, ^aov***-*
W*(|1» ?f */H fiiurs brio rijioi 0? vfrf^MO'* #l riofrtw ooogef
•ilfcWs. fiv^oc iOOUnlKK^r' 2.*of ifl 9io«n i; «l 3 1 . bna 3««o
eraiw-»i» a*<l Bii;rKy 1«ow sffi orf 0rs-i4 E Hifw 0 1’JO rr-vr.ib s ajli I
o» »irjo1 hf»cf2l i fiioji bar i.n^^fni ai .»rtT .tcaJr^ip na*ff 2«H too
SnK M ^ninnoi al’J? Jac;> f*t*1 pfK)f& izi^ bn*( «u^jpnil«ioo ttowfa
ie«i btU - “'»i f2 : bn« M ar'J pfir I - 3ioria a bn« 2
t t:v‘i h»i6 «biii fa’ 1pf nicrij » y«* bt^n* ef>i»4 ^'"ll (aigo *dj
ri3iw »’ U wf :( ir ti^ti^K ^sai 'iof, f»Btri.'>Witue n hoi avo^*’.
bft# ffttofib n»sV ?l»*.'ir^ 3:»«!f ’«ifr difinab hna AioH
J»*w aHi rtf t?Bpi tf ^«ij tqaaxa wuiian aia lla ,8#f3Kl *
.t'bfw eofim r tuO'ft si fIoIfh«f
eifj ftlrufofll aa? oit’i' b V airt'-hti It . i4t^ ffairlW' .Sn^fnluH rrlT
»it. Hairfr > ff" eni4-»'J t'.ti^Ia! Ift.#.,* #rj> bni\ f fuo*-f brirfll
yfrigiK-i ? ff ?lffT . ■'‘»3*iJ ?SnaY lood^ /’ '^hfvfb ylrto
)?f>f Jiof’a I '‘#lv ’tffM O'; 3m u. -'*) (^irtAiafb i»*^ rttooa b*»j, rMioo
JA V2 tiiff*’ f bftn ’wirt jHifrri cmIi ?a tJ»#vr Ml? o3 trof.imn taffm *; 1*>
4.
the south enH to the end of Moull Island.
This mainland divides itself into 3 main sections. 1. A
more or less level northern part with abrupt disconnected coral
knobs or old islands along its Eastern and Northern or ocean margin.
This forms a little over ^ of the Island. 2. A small high narrow
neck of coral ridge or old Island with cliff faces along the
lagoon side and a very narrow coastal strip of sea deposted sand
and pumice along the east coastal margin. 3. This area forms
only about or Island area. The southern portion of
the Island which forms the remainder of the Island and Includes
Moul i Island is mostly a flat plain with a more or less continuous
abrupt wall of rock along the east or ocean side. This has
precepitous sides and abrupt narrow breaks or gateways in it in
3 or 4 places and a narrow coastal shelf along the ocean side.
This shelf being a continuation of the plain on the western side
of the barrier.
In both the large north and south sections the level
plain is a coral rock with rough 2 and 3 foot dykes of coral rock
outcrops here and there and is very rough and potholed as is the
nature of all such formations. Great care having to be taken
when moving through bush in this type of country as nasty falls
into these continuous sources of holes from 2 to 10 and 20 feet
in depth are likely, many such holes being only a foot or 2
across the top, others 10 and 20 feet and in some cases many yards.
Any which are more than 10 feet deep have fresh or almost fresh
water in the porous rock bottoms. In places large holes having
formed small lakes. The greater part of this level plain is
about 10 feet above sea level in the east at the foot of the
abrupt 100 foot outcrops with a gradual fall to the west shore
where it actually falls to sea level and below in many places.
^ .1 .^MtoI:^3%* r.inrt C oj^l ^I^?.•»1 O'**! '1' ilriT
r-.-KO ^ru-.rJr ^•l?<,■ 1 W ^ ^P •'IW
.„IC-,« -.O r,-,.,„-,n'., W n-,.«-. »1 ont.l» rt-«rl.l M-. •...
rt»Il( It^a •■■ .- •'*» ’'■■ = ’’"•^‘ •''”
nril onof Htl-; Sn>r f rl Mo io #5^11 >n ^.-*n
<»5-i12 foj2Kao .>o-)-»Gft yn«v ' ’-n. ao^«* f
amoV-.*-, #irfT .5^ ’•"*
finHioo (TtorflfK^z -‘»f^T .as"! I ',AO*lel c f TP <,] fl*io
eahulsni bo^ Snntal srH i-i-filA/nsi erlJ 2r-->o^ -Wl
auuurJtn o aaal io o risiM ntnfq s vhgnm ^} knMal » luoT^
f-»: aiill .ohfi rt:i«30 no i0^9 oHj {»nol* Joon II'-w Jemtio
ni ll nl avrav^nJ^e nO v<rin'ic.<» lOi-nHa t »io a*M* euft-* lfpo«n<
.^U v^X. Msrii vK>ni>n, > bna WCflq TO C
ai.lv ma?cew srin no nl- f<i ooiUuniJnoo a pnl'^a *'rfT
.*i(*ln*j6'J arti ^o
(♦V*-! •rii» »nol3oaa rtJoo* bna jlJnon ofnal artJ Hjck' nl
7^M>‘^ IftTOD ^ '’^***'
•»1i ai za bnlodioq Sne r^giwn '^nf*v vi hot «>nwli l>nr> aneri vcona^oo
naJ-.i oi OJ enlvcri «n;53 twnO .vnoiJMncI rtnov Me >s‘iuUn
9ti*\ IR v-,j,iu<» ^ aajift e«Hi ni «a»>: flfiuonrfi nrlv-.*!
0*^ '-r»t. Of *.) S mr*’^ ^O V!> nL-O? t»^«jUf:J tm >' “J'U
S no 300^ n yfno poiniJ vnfcifil rtmin yn^f* ,yl >'M n- rfJo'b
.sbnay yn**^ ni bn* l-wt OS b/i* Ol vn-*d.o ,<joi '-»d.-i ai'-nne
rfesn^ no rUon’i t>v*^ n»tfb f**l Ol n&fH mew rtnJdw yriA
9rtTvftd ?.nfoil »on«l e.)34f<i ni .? yjjtod ll^-^n avonoa ndi ni v>i»w
«l nisfq leva I vidt inatj nat .nno *ffT flwiie KemnoT
ofli 10©^ rrW S6 ts6* nHi nl f^vel >d» nwflp te*1 f’l J»K>d*
enoi’e ia-w *dj oi Mai f*t<iv.nr * dl I w «oonoli«a JooT CM Jqun'J*
«
.aontjq yn*s« nl v*>I‘»v‘ hm. l-'V*! ft*B nj tlU’l vlUula* Jl nnoffy
5.
There swamps have formed behind high 15 and 20 foot sand dunes
which have been thrown up by westerly hurricanes and retained
by vegetation, mostly coconuts. This bank is slowly widening
and extending westward into the lagoon. A cross section of the
greater part of the Island would appear thus.
■r - nr( ^ ./ac( ;
7 -
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X Al .iOo^K OCfA^
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^pLUMi') .'if
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Owing to irregular coral outcrop dykes and so on, water
has formed a more or less continuous chain down the centre of the
Island from north to south; swamps behind the deposited sand banks
and lakes in the more easterly coral stone areas, except in the
South-central part and Moul i Island. If these dry areas had pot
holes of sufficient depth they would have permanent water also,
during heavy rains lakes form there and slowly drain away. In
the rather rough and rugged small central neck, several lakes
appear where holes reach sea level and lower. At times of
southerly or northerly hurricanes, salt water drives up these low
lying arms to as far as lahnimiha in the south and a little south
of St. Joseph in the north making long peninsulars of the deposited
sand banks but more or less drain away with low tides after
normality iS restored in the weather.
There are no true rivers on the island though at times
of heavy rains the swamps behind the sand banks form wide
sluggishly, moving bodies of water draining to north and south.
Surface water is plentiful in many areas in lakes and swamps at
f
OS Hnr. H^Irt ho\f^ K^nri *-vr.H .cruw. fT
K3nl«;M»i Hn. i^o^ol-nurl yf*irJMv- on rt«>»d -v«d
enindl.iw Wlwrfz si Inud alHT .aiurrf>3f>* ,noHr.i**-v yd
V. MoHanz aa-cf. .ooop»=I • di otnl Sncw/iaM^ gnlhaajxt. I^n«
.2UI»1 -.rooqn Uluow ^'Trfal n*o
brtft io^Jyb qoi3?uo Ifcioa TolnQc*i''f
otii 0T4rt!»3 •1*1 ftJoflo zuounHnon sssf no »n<» ^
34rt&d hfiBz h0l?3o<K>b sd^ hnIH®d zqrwwz ;rtJu03 oi d?non mon^ hnalal
9tii ni »<joox® ,200*16 onoic l«*i6o yln»1»to ont^ oHl nf M*
U‘Q boH aoono yiS i^asrfi .b.noJsl Ht-fW hr.c inr.q r onJnon-iftuoB
,o2l» -tsJ«w 7fwmfc'in»« ->V0H bli»- w v*«‘i dtQob J'lolat'^^uo
nl .yovift ntinl) yr>«f« bn* tin/*di «ri<.rt ?ojl6f sniro y P»iHob
3»>»6f Conovoe ,jlo«n fonioe.i f I *** hnr* i»pi)*n nai<:>fn aril
Tici iufniJ iA .novfol line lovt f *0? do&on ealort oncHw '*6000*
w»r i.*<mti3 qu 8»vinb natow lU» .sanooHnuH Yl'’»dl*ion no /fnodjiio®
d^u02 ofJJll ft hnt, riiito^ OfiJ nl ftriJmlartol ?e no^ ?r M arncv pnl/l
b£<11»o<k.«b oHt 8n». fosnln<M» poo? enl?Jfc<n rbne« adt ^il d^•^o' . .‘.i ^o
2»bit wot rtJlw Y0WI* nlnnb aeaf to onn»n tml bne?
’.nariiaow adt ni honoJzon 'I 1 1 \iffnon
2!y^lt rttyuorit hn.Jal ad^ no 3u>vl*i aunJ on on«i
biw frt^o^ 2;lfie<l bn»* *dt Midod aonos^t orit anion yv^ad ^0
.d-t(K>2 bfie dinon on pnlnlonW na^ew Mbodl edi vc*n , yf d#l »
J4 anfn» w bnr. ni aoona Ynr.» nl fu'^iJnoTq «i najRW o . ’'nu'
all times and after heavy rain casual water appears in all places
but soon drains away in the porous rock.
There is a small tidal lagoon in the north and a large
long one in the south which completely dry out during the rise
and fall of tides leaving extensive sands and mud flats and man-
grove flats for waders to feed on.
Generally speaking the Island has no striking geographi
features except the abrupt coral outcrops in the east which have
previously been islands. These have extensive caves in their
precepitous sides. Here and there on the island caverns of no
large extent are present in the more or less level coral plain
generally in the form of dry pot holes, with only slightly over-
hanging edges. Nowhere do collapsed caverns appear. The most
constant features are the innumerable potholes of varying size
previously mentioned, the greater part being small and shallow.
These play a large part in the island vegetation and they have
trapped and held soil as it formed from weathering of coral rock
and decomposing vegetable matter. Where such have been small
and numerous and shallow areas of more or less level soil have
formed but even these are broken with larger holes 3 and k feet
deep at wide or often close intervals.
Generally speaking the island is very infertile except
for small soil pockets which reach a certain but low degree of
fertility. The most extensive of these being generally on the
higher parts of the plain in the east and near the bases of the
hundred foot outcrop barrier.
Rainfall is very irregular and probably from 40 to 60
inches a year more often in the forties. The bulk of this falls
from Feb. to May or during hurricanes in latitudes to the north
and west. Hurricanes visit the island only infrequently (once in
.4-,n-, „Kn.K „H -.t '• ■•■. ' ■•’
^n«I - '"W it^vyn «t\) ni !(■*» '■ ■**i*'^T
,rfl ■O'’ yl,.1.lr--.» '■IW'S '*'> *'■"
-tyo 1.AA aJPlT Hun Hn- sHumz ! ->W*pI snUJ hw
» . "vri^
ItoJrturWK. pniiJ-»^3 V.
1.c^ ni .cr^^iuo J.>o. tounH.
n1,Hi n\ wv?3m=»i*» avM ^IbuoW*'1o
o wi =ra m-wno hn«r*! no bnu oiaH .»*M«
J*;-.oi> l^vrl »«cf no »no». ar^i «1 ^f»«»nq
-n#vo ^ridt.If? yr^to ,2v.»oH toq ynH 1o pno^ *il vfr*n*nac
tew aWT .nfla«qf. ernt./'i;> hceof.M. j nh anarlM^I
arU eniynr.v a-.Mtoo »Hr.-,w-ujnr.l a*<t ate; .'.*n«<tae>t Jr.ftJa«on
.w.^ff^v^^ ?Sn*i n«na yleuol/ano
/aftl hn/» flbiir.tBt.av bnf.lBi ari) nf tn<vq apnt f » VbI« *3«rtT
<9on (cnoa -to poTnaHi^ wn=t ho«nr.^ jJ f |.oe bNrl bn« ht,o«n1
n*.i,.a ntmd svfiH e*»*Hy pn 5 eorvanpaa Hnw
«v*f1 Mt': f»v«T tent 10 '^noir e&*n» nxiflndj bnr> aocnemun to*
.i ho.n f «eror< lORnnl r<l1- -r. '-r. • »«yb na^ Jud b«i.no»
. "fr. .'t'.ini 'tof-n no *b»w i« oe«b
t<V*-ona aHT-c^rl vn^v :1 W.lal »<(l e.lHaas? yUb* na?
^o sanoab ■v'T' t'»'J f't^iJnftP t Hr.t.»-'n d:*?A/ at-oion Hoc |fw« no^
aril no yll«-'vnae -' .ytUima^
arit ti9tfd »vij T.s®n boa tars'* j.. ^ nf rtlrJq 1c ei'naq nod^fb
,nf>tT;nil qonatiJO tool V*nboi«i
BJf ot wn1 yf<lr.Hkno bna n- *'
eir*1 ?f*f1
dt-i^.n .»i!t ot «ah«riM«f '‘f a£>fl«of*'niJ<f E”’*»'*«> *"' Y*'' '^5 •
n1 apn..' vftnym^.- ^n' ' m.l*t ‘.fit Halv ?{.M*y!nirf< .thm4 hna
7.
8 or 10 years (but do great damage when they do.) Uvea seemingly
being in a pocket fairly free of hurricanes as numbers forming
in the new Hebrides and areas west of there pass north and west
of Uvea towards the Queensland coast, others passing well to the
east between the New Hebrides and the Loyalties and way south
easterly. The last hurricane to visit Uvea being in 1932-3 hot
season when a great amount of damage was done to building,
vegetation, gardens and forests and considerable loss of life
both bird, animal and human was suffered.
Climate is equable and more or less high temperatures
constant, compatible with its latitude. The expansive shallow
sheet of water in the lagoon reaches temperatures some degrees
above that of the surrounding ocean and keeps day and night
temperatures more nearly even. Cool season temperature ranges
from 70 to 85 (N & D) and hot season from 80° - 90°F. (N&D) .
February and March generally being excessively hot with an
almost constant temperature of over 90°F. Average annual temp-
erature would probably be about 80 - 85° this being considerably
above that of the rest of the Loyalties.
The island is not healthy. Swarms of mosquitoes (Cul ex
fat i qans probably and Aidees??) breed in the swamps and pools to
come in clouds at nightfall during the months January - May making
life impossible without protection of nets and so on after dark.
These being Filiarisis carriers whites and natives show a 100%
Filiarisis infection, though only 5“10% show visible signs of
elephantiasis. A local mission nurse says many, especially
females, show lesser signs of enlargement in smaller areas of
the bord. (scrotum, labia major etc.) During these months
mosquitoes are bade in the day also, anywhere in sheltered positions.
pnJ«nfa 8-»*-'Jnun a<v 2f*rw,'ji*?’.u<l 'Hl'.i -t --’-'^. •
..no rfl.on a.no
»H- oi Hiw p' l32«fl 8T^‘’?o ^ ^
ri?.>*>8 rsv Sns ?.-?lIf.^J "H-. IWIN «»M o^-:i ♦»*''-
jofi nf P'%l3*» ^ •»»#-■ Hvi/1 +«oI ‘<iT .rl^ciaaat
,pni»>flu'3 .->■/ **ns'' 4.- 4"cJ» '• > )r.<i *.i- *■ «»**^ noa*p«
n=tn 230 f l.rT5. »*'»» »n»h*M»fe
asniii**«-sc*3ir»1 rtpH a»#T no ^ncin »oo ?»
.^offoHs »yl3neo^ ’tl riti#
, j««;5»-nco
r^f^ng»4i *ft»a :nnt^'^r<^ ?sfr.-o»»‘i ntxspfif *»•>««# lO t*«rt*
1i\p\n boo vM. 2aPO>l ‘mw. 00930 Bol^nuonno* »H3 io 4^*ll
«to*n 4.nu5SfMmoi ooeios f^'-V --^Ve ylnoan •»•.«* aonoion-.qnoJ
- “Oft won^ no2.‘-o? »»«■•
no HjT*4 ioH r!»v52?^3Xi» eoI»<< '/(f^nroaq finn*!* ^o#
Ifcunrtf, 99Pn,v»' .l"cp novo <,*>y .s*>£H.«o1 1^ioieo«> 5eoe f*
Yld43,b^eitor. pni»^ alfU ®?8 - 0« lu-^J‘. »«« yldMlonq Mmcn ^-n.^ono
.ioUfoyoJ ^o Je-n 3nrt<? /••v-nd*
y;^ f i^tjl i ui>X<^:n* .yritfusrt Ion ?! bnni?? sHl
of »Jof.a bns zVfWt »r.) n! hoond 'Utogy^ l^n# yfdo^.oc .S|b£.!joI
i>n?l«. y*JI - ynsuoob »rflo*JP’ i.nHul) fUlii+eJn Ai *! onlo 0 *tk«
.>H( b -ie'3'tii «<' 1* l»oo ajon "!o iioUoatono i Tiii r?<-ttn1 _^1! f
^1 « MX‘a l»ri.. 2i»3I(V ?n>lviOD ?1»i*u-in^ \4n!-*t oa^rtT
a*if-1e sf'^t-’lv y'^o riBU'^f’t ,n.j.J }r**^-fil al-’i- 1M
vMt.?3i^2» , YOf-a »yca f*anu<i aol.ftCi^^; I..;...! . ?! .' 1 ?•• <dc- lo
*o#no oi 3ftf4frfM»n Ujp ang!a r ?csf vofV? , , a ( <ipi6^
,Htnw vnHufl .3>p •'o|.6n !d«.f ,'iiiifO-i^" .'nod
At other times of the year certain localities have a fev/
mosquitoes but the great bulk of them (98%) disappear. During
the long dry spells plagues of fleas appear on the sandy
deposit bank along the lagoon margin where 80% of the inhabi-
tants live permanently, though some move further east at this
season to temporary homes. At such times plagues of sand flies
occur which often make it necessary to work under net protection
and so on.
The greater part of the food of the natives (because of
infertile soil and lack of suitable areas for domestic animals)
necessarily comes from the lagoon which teems with fish, conse-
quently like all fish eating races the greater number have bad
teeth.
There are no wiid pigs and few pigeons consequently
few bush tracks outside roads to gardens and the natives know
comparatively little about the bush of their island. They could
tell you the nature of the floor of the lagoon and the best fish-
ing areas and so on but could not tell you, nor in most cases
find their way about the bush of the island where garden tracks
are absent. They are consequently most unreliable observers
as regards birds or bushlore though expert in sea or fish lore.
The island could be made very much healthier by allowing
the swamps to build up as they rapidly would especially under some
legumosa, but owing to lack' of food areas these sv/amps have to be
*> ^
constantly maintained as taru fields and this taru forms 60% or
more of the vegetable food of the islanders. Dry taru could be
grown in place of the swamp variety if arable land were available
but this is not the case and the built up swamps would not be
fertile enough for many decades. Yams and sweet potatoes grow
very poorly in most areas, one or two small areas growing a medium
,_u\ u> .V. >ce cV - I ^ «n«>1up*^m
,Hnr,< rd1 rK ir^oo» e- ^ ^<> **‘**‘’"
-Idadfif odl "^o o*»fd^ fil<>i«a r»»*'s»tvl •r'i lI8<■-^^•
J- J»=« ^V«- Krbi f4*>ucH5 ,vr-fn*iKw»i0O *vl I atrift*
2pif^ Kn.z 10 asiK.'^rc S^n d’'li2 ^ o4 «K.*«»8
:f9n •,®l.nu W ll rti>ldw ncoDC
,rto o» bne
>o »»ur a^,vn..ri i»dJ 1o h/,«^ adi =io tnr-'l «dT
(«lnwi»T« 3it2-j/:«K io1 sosinfi o{d*i1o3 "lo >bi.l b<T* lloa
.rk?T /hi^ Hn^.91 /loidt. vo^'l cfit Yni*a*»os«
b»d -vri^un ^
/f Jaduoozifia ene«>ai<J t 'tf- bll ' (id r*i*»dT
y«onal »r.vl3<M« •dj bnis aottt.iY* *• ^ ihl* V^ gs. >i>-»? fUiid ViftT
bruo3 YK-dT .b«tslt? Titidl ’♦o tizud .r» ' '.fnll yI^v?
Otel'V Ja»d hn». m>oe» J *d3 1 . ifiolT <»di I** rioliin trfa uoy
ni Tun ,uoy M?i rroit M''0:> lud .to i. bfW e^eTfs ^nl
<tstb*tt' oi»Hw M»«2l «Klt 1 > 9A1 i.tr- Jg. y/\^ TilsHl bull
»irtV>f2.^0 <»[«t«.n3’’nu Ja^Jfl^ f 1 f-'dl .Initatk »n«
,0^rtt dan no •t>? nl Jnno>jj :« <n ’fd«i ' im e’oH sbYt^ot **
fwKrjn* t(d n#l/i>f.nisH f{ 'U»» yv'v oi l*J<xo b.nolr? »dr
«va toSm; 'f? ? Vfu'W OT' ). *t * r»* qu MTv'd •-? aqiwvs nHj
•d ni »yt.d aqpkMa o-'dt ^*>nf> lutp^ ivai^ni.f »t pttt ^ ;i<.'i
no ^ ijtrtt^t v\f>i 3lflf ) m.. fcbfiP '.M ■» J-
nd Miw uT4l .8iv’.n£T i o'lOtw
• fdt.lii^vt. ■>•»*« » f»«l ftfd*-'rt yIoIt' M qn«6 «a oriJ >0 ?ixkfq ii] r>anp
jtd ■»‘>n I h" ' *qP9..ia Ifli'd itt?d bni^ '»)!'-'» odi Jort fi zM^ )ud
wong +%I»W8 h«i . .coSro-at yn- n no^ do»K>no »mn*l
mJlSsi’ A pnlw*«np s«.^n* J U.ia o ^ no n.-Mi jjori n? /fnoo^ ynsv
5
9.
low grade quality, bananas do vjell in isolated pockets. The
coconut does well or reasonably well in many areas and a con-
siderable part of the island is given over to them to produce
copra for means to meet taxes and increasing wants of European
goods, and food. Especially the latter as they have to depend
on the latter to supply their wants at times of distress or
failure of crops and bad seasons and to balance rations at off
seasons. Native wild fruits and foods are almost entirely lack-
ing. Breadfruits only growing passable well on the sand deposit
banks and a few other small areas elsewhere. Copper has been
tried as a money producer but without success so far.
Because of mission influence and general poverty, of
natives, a wise system of increasing coconut area cultivation
has been followed and today the bulk of Uvea natives are the
wealthiest natives of the Loyalties though they are subject to
heavy drainage of resources by lack of natural foods, government
taxes and large scale mission schemes of church buildings etc.
A decrease is noticeable in the Catholic communities
but a large increase in the Protestant communities keeps the
population fairly static. The Protestants keep a qualified nurse
on the island who runs a first class medical service which is
attended by numbers of Catholics also. The community at present
is about evenly divided between the two faiths but generally
speaking the Protestants appear much more progressive and show
more initiative as they appear to be carrying on the policy,
(which all were previously compelled by authority to do) of plant-
ing a certain area under coconuts each year. The Catholics
appear to have mostly dropped back and discontinued this practice
since compulsion has ceased. This community division has some
influence on bird life as generally speaking, the Catholics are
«1 Umoh 2^^'^ VK> f
-,^ra A Knr. S'^o-tr vrj.r^ fil U'< > -/[-’ ^^J?*'***» •»<> ^ ' *®<>' >on<»r,c
^rjuK.i*»fl J# *•! -iavo rtuvili «i ^*’ j»f* '■•'tff! • a
^rsctio'.o? 1'* <r*| ^^^^»•1onI *«*'>** •*i^a
Ot rvc-fl 'oHy e* n-HiJef *'H’ yfl'i>»02' ,HciO> hflf- ,2b<V3Q
no ^o 2tiTPl> 5»..*Jfi.-' ^U(b '^r<j<y>a no
ti ent-l-t'-t bofteifcji o5 hnr. *nu*rw»a KoJ Un» aciono Vo
- -o*. f 9*<» ah<T»1 Kn* s^?un» M >w oviloM ,?oo8^»«
Ji?^t;'.K hnf.« f»r!J nt' ffa^/ ufKftzarvc oolvjsfnp y}nrt a i lu-^’tS L»tfl .pnl
(WM.H ar.ii .Ti2.iiwnaro Hw* 1014)0 ws’' • hno 93fno4
.n*'f oa aaoooJi'a au j'Hlw 3u«i niiaiA^io vfnvjt* o a* b®ItJ
^r* y)')Mi<aafr f*»T»fiHi& *Mts 9on«Hf^'''i ^O *i *u<fc;>*0
fif»? •t<»v( 1 f u& Jofmj'W i5jf..-j."i.'>r'T '>’** rtii)7','? ««l’-' * ,ar’vHAf»
•rff3 6-ir, aovittn «»*svt' '^o ;Htid *>rif •'*’ '♦ «*»<
oS i:*a{*f**a »iB y«H3 rk'»>ortt u(i^ .*iiv|j*..-i ’*#14jr*4rv
,«W-(> UiulHT lo i»3cl Jifd aaoitK>9ai Jo a^.nl:nh wn#H
.5t» a^i’/f lud Hcnodo ZBWwdae rw'la-i)M r T&.52 si nal huo sO)UH
«ol3lt»ir»v*r. allodial odJ nt «i A
•fH eall?m»frtt'3 ino1^- ?o-»^ ftH3 nl s*.. naoi '• *vd
sr>vn h^J^K J>p 0 ortt^ «3nci f93-i<l .dT .^i at? YfnNt noitnfuqoai
?l doFHw .>nl\nt»2 T<»3P>vn za-»lo J^^^r . anun cwK# hnslal >rij no
Inofinnq ?ft v^imirn^oo ;w|T .ralo *^1 fodtc!) anot.'rnjn yd b»hnr-33#
ytfytfwioo tiK} ou-t »dl •(C''wi..<l 5*obivr> yPwvo tuod? ■!
v<orta ‘brto -j-ntyw rbo^i n atM' »• Ji'-iT 9<h pordnnq*
. pifoq iwftl no pnlrnc.' ««J > ■ y < * qa ovit- Mln{
tn&tq (Ob V-.1 y»HoHfu« y t Uult^hKo: yl?t < Jvt.'m •n>.' Hi* Holdw)
BrfT ,n-^y •!,> '^^ atiffKxxfO n‘'H.'itJ . '•n nl»-.-r*>s3 o ^nl
firtt bijoul b" • (*£'qqinh yf3»»3Ri <^vari o) ni;»qo*
«ifj? ?^wl i-wdsIvP v-t T 'Hjwtco aidT ,' i?. la o< 1 ? f iwj*ko asffta
0*»ki aoUod’w,. '<dt ,gnl )€nqa yTfs-ton'vp ?' *^n b*i i ' no isf^noun »l
10
strongest at the 2 ends of the island the Protestants in the
center where the largest types of forests appear.
It is of interest to note the similarity between Mare
and Uvea in the areas of altitude. (see Mare Islands summary)
and Beaupre Island also. In fact all three islands show consider-
able similarity though Lifu shows less than the other three.
Speaking generally all the Loyalties show four regular stages.
Mare, the most advanced to Beaupre, the least, and latest forma-
tion. The whole showing that the mountain chain is probably a
block rising in the east and falling in the west and as sub-
marine peaks have reached depths suitable for coral polyps to
colonise they have built on these peaks and raised coral masses
to sea level which have been since raised above sea level by vol-
canic up thrust or continued raising and tilting of the block
forming the earth's crust in that area.
Sub-Areas and Variation of Soil and Vegetation
Soil anywhere on Uvea is scanty and generally speaking
rather infertile and except for the deposited sand banks is no-
where of any depth.
Roughly speaking it is divided into 3 main types and a
sub type and the sand deposit banks which are a 90% calcareous
sea deposit sand with vegetable admixture of approximately 10%
or less in most places. Much of the surface of the island is
pure coral rock outcrop. All soils are calcareous and nowhere
does a clay or real loam appear. A kind of clay or clayish matter
is present in much of the soil but this is caused purely by a
letching in coral limestone which produced a type of slurry,
which if admixed with vegetable matter kept wet, forms a kind of
clay soil; but which, if dried, causes a rock like crumbly cake,
almost like a sandstone. This slurry may be seen in great
fit bfirfal 'fi* ® iw^o-ilz
ZBC^'d r«Ktw nMn#?
suvH itrtwdotJ !wfi *tnf» ti) 1aar>f'rtl -•
(yttunEius 2t»rtsfr' .ahi-f ni fr. nt tn»v li(M>
-nobiarwi) t«*l2 ebnftlrl N-' nl .oal*. bnr.l*l ftiotj&e'i
-tfifftw arl^ iwHt sasf Sforla o=HJ y^H^rirtU
Iftiucjftt TIX>^ Wfi* &nt lf«V*’J Hfc vlfi*Tt>'Op nftf t»«j2
-e»rio^ -i99ia\ !k«'» adi oJ taafttivU- 4aof *'f'7 ,0-1*11
A »fdcdc-iq ai nlofto nUlauw* aril eoJ*«ria »\os\¥J sHT .no\i
-tioa a« bn* limi odd ol . S/ib iato a/H -'»! rftialt A.-vnfd
f»f aqyfoa F&*i03 afrit Jlua 2rtJcr>b batfo'*'.'*’ '’V*ri q anfispi
aasaam fsiOD t>3al-ii bfw* iriaaq orterii no dffutl avfcri vnril natnofoo
-tov yd fnval <eui2 avr-d* gqrilt r«»ri avnri lavof t.*'? ol
riaoTi pnlUI' bru, gniaf<n hMjfifjnoa to Jau*»rii ou
.ftats i-jrid ftl arif Hrtimif
ri/ iiBli>woV bite. Ilof^ iv»; »|10
t^nf.lBaqa yfltnartso Kno ytf»sa« ef d>ovU no o-i^ffvr/UB Mo?
-an ti t^rudJ S/n- fMklfanqab ad' **^(1 ;fqdd>'.o b,t* nt’dlsn
.ft‘c»b ,' i)k to «'->»r*w
• bn*i aor.yj ni«n F oJnf ImbfvfV ci 'f pnU ca 'Hriiof*
eooancalio b o*»« HilfJw ji«cq*’» >««ia *rii Hn- acyl rlu«
siuJxiwbe rifi4ol»p»v riihf bn ,x I nqab ae»2
9I KnafaF 0/H "^o aatliua arid rtaoTi *j<’< 'I 10
onafb/oft i.iw au^'S-iBalio aifc ellr? flA .nona^uo tocn Ifttoa ‘^Tiq
rialy'Ua io Y*^f^ ^ .tBOoq''- m:<>l ( *t m ,► la s 2dob
u Y^ ' nattsa j1 airii ^ud flo8 ar!] ^o fautn nl ?nr ^o-fc si
,’n*)t'l?’fdn0 *i|VJ B h*^uhoaq rialriw pfin'^'-nTI f n'»a ai golfia^^l
Yo bnW fr amal Iqori aodlen 3>IJ»ii« '/ t’’i 1 >vlinl«‘ '*1 fblrS>/
,»Jn:y yfdbuTi oMl 1 l-aon ♦. *a»u»a ,l>e?ab => 1 ,-fo?rft/ Juri ; fin® Y*-lo
jt,cnp nl imna n-' Y»' Y’<‘'ul« *1^1 .sfiolihnBff ft '-HI Jawl«>
11 .
quantities in the tidal lagoons in the formation stage where it
is still white and free of vegetable matter.
Roughly the main soil divisions are:
A fairly fertile semi loam like soil. Found mostly about the
foot of the abrupt outcrops, or in pockets where it has been
trapped by the coral dykes. Generally speaking these areas grow
a fairly tall forest of teak, and other trees and form the true
forests of the island. These areas are very irregular in size
and distribution, but generally speaking, are small except for
a long thin more or less continuous strip along the western side
of the higher 60-100 ft. coral outcrops along the east coast and
an area immediately to the north and south of the higher central
connecting neck of the island. The area to the immediate south
of this outcrop being by far the most extensive and most fertile
on the whole island. Fair depths of soil 4 and 5 feet appear in
pockets in this area but most of it is not more than 1' to 18"
in depth. Coral rock outcrops appear everywhere irregularly in
it and I doubt one could find an area anyvjhere in it 100 yards
square without a pure stone outcrop appearing. As this area is
considered the only really worth while place to plant yams on the
whole island it is much worked for gardens, natives from the
N & S of the Island being granted small plots of land by the
owners of the land for annual yam gardens and paying fees in
cash or kind (taru, fish, coconuts, etc) for the use of the land.
A rather infertile shallow sandier loam type of soil.
These areas are fairly extensive all over the island in places
west of the other types. They form a type between the areas of
more fertile soil and swamps. Most of them are merely a thin 2
or 3 inch layer of soil over a soft white sand which is a soft
J! Brfl nl annop^r hMi e/b nl 2^l ‘1.riryp
^lvll»J■^^M^•/ "^O ifttiflw ffli^ al
:»T6 aooi??W1t tJoa ni*- * sr*l
.1 «c4|ui .vy,r«rfa,‘b^K? 1 "w <;unJa "^o iool
woi- vf Unrtft®.)
•uM ft.f{4 tno’i *a»^4 iisrlu hoc , %»* <
tJsTa rtl **alutymi 'f-^v tt*i«'. •»Q'jff‘T .1 ■^■Jal at-? zJirsiot
j.o'o'c** fiesta **Tts , pfi I »!<*,5pa y f loTfinifi' Ju<i , tv»I '"-'J'liBt •» **''•<■
•4>lz riH) pfiofii oiiie «yf>UMiin.»r* n a'tow nirfi oor i a
hna ta«o:> 4&AI* 9fl? pool* 2C»^;34u»* fwroa .j'i or*|-0^ aariplt* wjt '%5
Uiln»D inHb(f1 or?? ^o &iuot bnn atU M v I «? «!»><■.''• if «W
»tftl*.nnml *>rfJ -ol oonr. 9<n .hn< 1^3 t>*'i "fo .iTt taopnria
9Uj-»»^ i?h Wi6 9vfef»3/.» 4«*JT’ 9^4 n»-i onlo*i «pt>4po afrtl V)
nl ? M:. 4 If os >o a I i .1ln^f?i »'fwr%; atlt no
'i§l 03 'I oortJ »tam i >n el Jf la<m t-iul ao*t». ali’3 nl ? -toc^
nl on»fb/’n*v9 *ir,oQ<m aroTotoa 4<n of
ebi«»y i^^’l 3l nl 9’s<igii>yn . o« hni^ ’'Ipn? •yno ^diw.tS I t>,tir. Ji
• I bI'Ij eA .0^1 It^ooqr aooJa ' tiio/!-'i •
oH? »v» l(ti*Y ‘-f «o«la fijno/ Yff***J*’ K<n pfc I B/wd
•d? f*n^ »j»vl3»rt .anoS-icp no^ V>n.b/’V/ r! •im al li ' 'iaIb? ^IoHw
t*df ^ bfv-l ^<J *3oIm iMitsii Hnitf *1 tHt to ^ .' M
ni s»»> 5fil'f«<? bn*' .Tnol**jr,p nimy Iftmm . *rr> hnTl prii aiomto
,bm-I «r<i *sn sHt t:>i* ,2>U'**TJJiVa ,ri®f> bol.l -io rt»*o
. ' |oa to L I'^ J- ^ ^ LX^\l^, 'si' Vk Ji
soof-fo of *-f»«'Iai »>lt i»vo If* ylnl*} r*> . SAun.*
o/lt noowiod tiqy? ' *»*iO^* v^nlT .?9cvf -jod?.* ->di ico*.^
S nidi A yfansn •in «norti to 4a. . 9ta»it ‘oc lloa i»ninrt c-t»-
3toa n »l ttoa *>»•'«> Mftj*. to i ,'af rf;>fil f tp
type of sandstone which has not been subject to pressure and
has been semi bound by lime leached from the shells and so on
which compose the sand. In many places this chalky, soap sand
stone is deep where it has formed in pockets in the coral but
for the greater part it is only 2 feet or more deep and is super-
imposed on solid coral rock. In places the 2 or 3 inches of
vegetable loam soil has formed or solid coral rock without the
intermediate soft sandy stone layer. Throughout the whole of
the area pure coral outcrops and dykes are very prevalant and in
few places can one go far without encountering extensive coral
outcrop areas. Immediately adjacent to the swamps on their east
side these areas are subject to periodical inundation and are
really more or less swamps though they do dry out but the water
table is very high not more than 6 to 8 inches under the surface
at any time and generally only 1 or 2 inches if not actually under
water. Fortunately the soil itself generally only a thin layer
of a few inches is very porous as in the underlaying coral rock
stratum and a constant water movement slight but continuous keeps
the soil sufficiently sweet for coconuts and probably 95% of this
area is given over to that form of permanent cultivation. It is
noticeable the palms do not do as well there as on higher ground
and in places even show the effects by yellowing of their leaves
and so on. Coconut culture at least enables the soil to drain
out more rapidly and allows sunlight to reach the ground and
assist general improvement in the fertility of the area. The
natural vegetation of this type of land is a low thick tangled
scrub of 10 ft. and 15 ft. whip stick like casuarinas, shrubs etc.
with masses of rushes and cane vines. The areas behind these not
subject to flooding grow a stunted forest of 20 to 25 ft. trees
no O* *.m zffft:^ rv.n^ K.,*.aM »«^T « f<i
W q.03 ,Wfc.rf3 ^!rt5 V^-'*
iiMl k.*4ro *Ht nl 2>,03.-c ni jr-H tt >*»'»f^ c.«r.J. al tnol»
•vaqUZ «1 ^ri.. *i«*. I' tiu^ • ?'’^ »
’to f‘-<hol r 1^ ' iaofifl <tI .'brn UtOoM fo« «r h*3'>«r.|
w'i >ur«H]v. ^3«1 f.»'»03 l.no3 no b^'isA 80f4 I Tea n*^l
dfnrfv afft tutMlijo^/^ rlT .'M»vnf *0033 ^t'Osa ^1' lSwnri«inl
ni bn*^ JfW.I»v^no Yti"/ »•>!•. 2*Jvt-' ban 2C*.naJoo Ifi’loa *>nuci e«i*ir. <Mt1
fi^•J'0 oviaooJ'fa aninotnuojna lueuillw n»^ oc »«> «*» cionlq v»^
J«a» nl»H* no 20i«>wa »r!l Ol tn^'oni.btv ylalflb-avnl .an»nn «tn3J!«
bw. noilf,br»mi iroUwtTof. :0 »3^idu? nn* e<wn^
naiew aiii Ji»d /iK of» r^ifoih ccwjv« *2»f no snon YHaa-n
•o#>^ae nnhnu a»fL ni *. ?■ t ' ^0« 'Oo'^
lahnu ylfeu;Bft iOfl =tl aoitonl ^ n- / ’^fno -rffow’ Hn«- -mM yno i*
naynf nidi » ylfio yH "ifaeJi Ho* »Hi yl» 'aaunoH .iqJrw
•laro ftnoa iKiiyalnabno DfU '’I x« aiKnnnq ynuv «l esfioni wrsl •
9tt»o>> «%*o4tf»H»»o3 i*kiUz tn9mvon tain^y Jn.^Janon s bnn <r,u<enfa
aids ^o f^: vHiutknq bnn >7u.tc»j.o tol Jaswa yl J'loloi'Hua fioe
ai >i .noi i«ivi > I U3 nn> 1 I'.H' oj no'^) n*»vlc «i R*>no
hnwonr* 7*%M no a* i-Tf-dr ff»w c' ob ton OV c -lnq *-•? »ld .o3l».>n
#ovm*I I'ftii to eoirfpflsy ■•'' c1d^-H4» «di ■^Ha n-va- ao^nlo nl ^-nq
nii-*»b 0) Ho* oHt a-l t.i#i;* J i»iojf*o ntHtu'o;*- ,fv ■ > b*i<'
hmuyyq aril ftatoon ot trtr>ilnu!i ^ oil bn- vibio’ i -' ^ ’un
•rlT .---^■!n ’to - c.5j nl tn»* ovonc I !• .-.noc
Sal'tT*^ jloldt wi.i al boi f ’to oq-*f ^}rl1 fo or i • ••tat' .■ v f.-uiian
.aio a*i«nHa in iio-u»n ».IU sloiJ? <-1^.- .tn :;| Ur - Of ^o ffmn*
tc«n Vnlrtod aran-i' ad) n| ^ idon V»nn :-/>dr»in V* Htiw
ai-nni ?** ol 0^ a-1 iR'..nr^ bf*ffif<? i, wunr- |‘dibr.of^ '* '(rr 1 'fua
and shrubs much entangled with vines and creepers. Under these
a more or less dense lov/ brush grows and the broad leaved rock
fern (a birds nest fern type) covers much of the ground especially
in outcrop areas where it forms an almost complete 1 to 2 ft.
high ground cover and makes walking amongst the potholes in the
rock very difficult. This shallow less fertile area where
rock outcrops occur carry a great number of stunted small leaved
small fruited banyans which form much of the feeding areas for
b i rds.
Elsewhere in this dryer area where gardening operations
are carried on a low scrub grows up to 10 and 15 ft. in height,
mostly a species of quick growing hard wood and soft wood shrubs
and even grass areas. When these areas are used for gardening
they become exhausted in a single year and take a number of years,
10 at least to recover and consequently scrub is slow in returning
to such areas. This being the case much of the area is in a
stunted poorly scrubbed state. Much of these areas has been put
under permanent coconut cultivation also.
A sub area really belonging to the above area has been
formed in the swamp areas by the wet cultivation of taru and by
the permanent salt pan areas in the north and south, these pans
being more or less the extensions of the tidal lagoon arms which
are subject to periodical sea flooding. The pan areas grow a
stunted and sparse tussocky type of rush and stunted casuarina
trees 6 or 7 ft. in height mostly and very scattered, with one
or two poor 2 ft. speciments of the hardier shrubs here and there
with odd sinuous ropes of cane vine barely existing at wide intei —
vals. Towards the ends of these areas a slightly more robust
growth is found with a few pandanus palms at wide intervals.
This slowly merges with the areas keptunder taru cultivation.
'mft »nW rfilw ^ ^i'**^* ' '»•
40.-1 »>.v--l ^<n*>
yH l3^'<»*o faflU'rtr ^^•^^•: »<>*.'■> ^ aMH «
. ' 1 «l f l*0»nf. ,1* in-ml li »*:**»-
oiil nl «,p.rJ0<j »rt.l Jagnop* f r ■[ bon W-^:.
V.-HI ari:fna> »2f.l wofMa sI^T ..Iur»l%t5b yii>v 4o<n
♦»vxa» rie«« hetnura "Jo %a<J*un >.-->p « •.•‘»«3 ‘»«>30
•loT av»in C ilKnj'r 3H,1 rtaiip .•'t.%'^
?<*
anoi ;f**idt'( ' r n I f 1*0 oT *i«’V'iH ? nf >Mtf>Vir£l3
,^i1pj»tl n? .1^ ?r ^a.. Of o.< <;u ««r,. J*»i3a «l 4 fW b3fv»« *1*
a«;uiHa t>ocA>f im« '*<ioi» hiari ttfiMcn? jfrJgfi t- • yfisoi*
gn f *»,j>*i &P 1isau 'i-\ •. iA&itu ee«if| *^ot’ .ai^it, a-***ip nskVA b«»
,j^a.oy V. « swiirt bnc n -3'/^-elen»e •- nl K!p«ufri>a» r»F-«3fi >**41
0nlrt*«u3>i f»! ■o^^ «> rtu-ioa flimUpuinco ' nt ^cVv 'jbt cii Ja**l 1« Of
• ni el eeiG -iriJ '^o ArMmf >3^o tlri; .
li.u n£ii»«l enH a^an* aaartj 1o Kai»;. .rJaJa yffOno b»#nul»
.0«f* nrjf fuo J*iniW03 inrMI4-'*n>C T»bftU
tua*J »-<ri ♦♦s'Ta ©vudA !k1j of gnirn^fn'f yffMsn ««*’<» <^wa A
vi b«6 uiJjl ^o .w1 ir.vl * I u5 i tw iWtt Yd qe»»ws **U nl br«*i.it
ana© •«bHi ,fHut»e Vw rt.nt>n «4i ii eitaT*! lie* 3ntMi«#na<i mil
43?rfw »m» no«>f> 4 f*Ml »»1^ To xnoizt>oiH» afH biw»1 >*' Qolsd
• woHg. 2'»«Ta n»Bi ©rfl .nnibtJolT 4>aa fftolwcluxi *.J •*!•
©tiinlTuaivo l,n<. dauT tc^ a<i^i yiboaaiil Hn*; l^u'^Jnutt
#rtO-(l3l'< ,’ >*vf.»6'^=^ .*iav Kn« ?*lc !-'■»! nl .if ^ *»o d
»*«ortJ bn« a*i'»r' f hnd? ^^I^<■*»4r^ ••di T< at iswi 3.--oa ,>T r i^oq o*} io
-loJrtl 3» litalH* yl«*»6d •nlv£w»3» To 8 >«ioti auounia bho H3lv
Itodon »THn yflrtpHa « ©wdl To zUfm ofiJ al.*»rtW<.T .afflV
.alttvialrtl iblw t* 2Ptf<ui ?Jin'4'n*'q v«»> a rill / bniioT al rtlvioiij
.no! 3'«vl 1 f«3 tn<*3 aea^b ©d1 li'iiw aopnom y(»iol2 «Idl
14.
Much of all this areas is more or less bare and exposed ground
probably not much more than 40% actually having vegetation on
it, thus showing the sparseness of such vegetation as does manage
to survive the uncongenial conditions. The swamps under taru
cultivation need constant attention to keep them swampy enough
for the taru and to keep the soil sweet for the crop. Roughly
speaking these cultivation swamps lie at the extreme ends of the
arms which reach to South and North thus more or less being
towards the central part of the island though a small isolated
patches appear elsewhere especially in the northern half of the
island where the arm is not so definite or extensive. Natives
have to stop the swamps from building up to too great a level
to retain water and years of cultivation to a regular depth of
about 1 1/2 feet with a top layer of soft seuelchy semi liquid
mud. They annually cart in tons of vegetable matter and allow
this to rot and form a more or less fertile black mud of humus mould.
This prevents the soil becoming exhausted but even so a system of
rotation and fallow is necessary to keep the crops up to a sufficient
quantity to supply the food and to warrant sufficient return for
the great labor entailed. These taru swamps with their abundance
of rotting vegetation form ideal breeding grounds for many other
types of insects beside mosquitoes and water breeding insects and
molluscs, and consequently play a large part in the insectivorous
birds and others breeding on the island. Also different forms of
legumosa, the main one a flowering kind, which can stand swamp
conditions and improve soil have been introduced by the mission-
aries and the administration to try and combat the mosquitoes and
fallow parts of the swamp are always under this. These flowering
legumosa naturally play a part in the food of such flower feeding
n,', “V iW.f^ yf|r^>3r. -h "O'! t«- ’'’■•«
«^**i*^ •^' »yi*n**«^^v r' jH" ■*<> * t ^ iiJ
.»ro1 iKnoa Ufnn'W‘> ''’
ftewu.fu. */cmr.v2 cv. ' t‘W*fr «nl Iwa
wfr*,>.»r .q,n-, -m !»«..« i \ .■*»
iM.’t Hn sHn* f.*»*'Ty<* *.<<1 -«? » -Cipnaws ri«iil''>vi 1 i-eaflJ ynU^c*
-z°i *.*. d-i-1. ^1 bnft rtju«>2 «3 »«•
h»i.,tc?l fJpuna <. rir>uoHj hrtslyi off *?c. -Jf4.q fn^Jcwa ^H^ *Kor«.o1
*>|■.^ 1r. ^iftd rr»«flf» »n •'ft n1 yll^Ioattgo* l*«ca<.
.‘VlerMf'fXA io ♦#5nl^^l» <^b twt ?1 '"•»# #flf »nnii< h*n*l*l
f«vr.I « ravip 005 oi qo pnl»>(iu<> «oreowa *Hf qofe of
>o Hfo*I» *iafuoftO n of fnJiAviJiuD ^o bn* l»36W nf6f*T oj
*fop!f Ims? yHofaoo* ^o -*oy*l qof * rf3l«* i»a1 f fu<xl«
wrvn« s.ni& ooffaffl ftI<lt'J‘>C'»V anol ni fno S'e/H .bum
.h(*w «unu/< bUto >b6M *'<' •••‘O® •
»o Rm>»v«! * Of rtovt* 5ud Sc>f*»('4<x# pn1m«3aa»it Ho? ndf «fa«vpi«; elHT
fn6tai»i»# ft of qo aqoia oHf or^jJ of v-ofteesatin si >-onftf b«ft noll^jno
n-*uf«n inftv»iv,- o5 bar, Jkjo^ »rif vlqQus of yfiln^op
fian,:>bnuds fttfH.' ff 5w eonovs on of •psfT .hsltsfn# -u3<|o| f^»op efj
yqryn ?bnuoif enlh*e>*>il l^jKi frtof nolfafppav pniJfo*i
Hrti ?t3*sni qfilbaA-id -i^rr^ hn.i r** 7 i uf ?'•»•' **bli»d BlOftSnl MQVf
iticoavl 1 j* » ; ! fff > ni f’fta wifti f? v^Tn ylin»upftsni>3 bn* ,83Bwilor'
^0 «ar»'-'> oel.'^ .b<i’f!'^ »H no rnlVo-td en*H»o bn<s
UfirtP n*a f:>irtw ,'-ni>l pnlnowol^ » ^nO nifNn «?f5
-rtoi-tl* btWIlrtH'Tfni no?** 'Vnf (los •*vt'ieml bn« Bfwlf Ilwtoo
bn*"’ c»of lut-s^-n *ft fodnoo bnr, .nf oi nolfs-nfslnimb-^ fcf-* bn^ soIor
pnt’*'-.'on .?Iff aftbny 8-nwi- Mtf ^r, 2-ri#.q ••^llftl
pnJ1**»1 -yin^'n rfio? ^o b*of *rb> nt ^ne.0 • yy*** vliftnuf<'o ■«. 'OP'tOf « f
species of birds as appear on the island. These swamps are also
nowadays more or less communal, natives from dryer areas being
allowed small blocks for production of taru for themselves, though
considerable exchange in this food article Is still carried on
in the style of areas producing certain articles exchanging with
other areas lacking such articles but possessing other necessary
products or articles.
All these swamp areas are more or less long narrow strips
and are nowhere wide enough to have developed a type of bird i i f e
characteristic to the area of definitely swamp type birds though 1
species of rail is entirely confined to the swamps.
The third definite species of soil is the deposited sand
bank along the lagoon margin throughout the entire length of the
island (a distance of between 3 and k miles). This bank in
piaces shows 3 and 4 distinct waves or times of depositing, but
is generally just a single wide bank 4-5 hundred yeards in
width with a more or less gradual rise on the lagoon side and a
steep rapid drop of from near 40 ft., or even 10 ft. only on
places, to the swamp margins. This drop is steep and regular
throughout the entire length of the banks and seems to point to
the first hurricane having deposited a very large bank throughout
the entire length and to its having been an exceptionally severe
disturbance. Probably the whole bank at one time showed 3 and 4
regular waves of deposit but during the years the constant house
building and other activites of the natives, the bulk of whom
live on this ridge, has leveled out the undulations and densest
population are the ones where no separate waves are visable, but
areas where few villages or people are, show distinct waves up to
NW being the direction of the worst and most frequent blows. This
*«Te nAJj***’ ^ ''
jtI-.,' «a«.*m» --^Vj:*-.n J .^tr9^ ^ ^ -
‘ no ,.l-n-- im, .1 aM.1t.- --of fHt M r^- .;4:0» M. !....«•. U- wo
Mi vt.v. i-rtifct’O''^ **’
V..HO rrv^<‘^«. o til-' ari-.1l.« riOUS fMtl'*0«i '«>wlx»'
,»«TDlt‘v6 10 a l."►''^''*'<^
woiit* .^T*«i '‘ar t .o <%*iiTr< ac^.^ oaAil^t I f>-*
•fit t>-l<f T'' fcri •* tx-ooif'vf-.’' *»5uonti fblw siiiflwon »l* tsnf
I f-S^Uo/tJ zh.irf ''C-ift rjniw/a '|«‘f initfiK ^0 •».'’• at tal *t»t **»‘*'''ftr'
.^<•f .‘w,^ -fh o? t^nttroa ai n't. fo
Hn*a b^JJaoooh -»rft ?1 floa >o aalw {*ftnJ^£»i- W. Jrtt sHT
»ftj fd Hlptisf a.Itn^ ^iK»ffr».o«ull nipnrar* no( :• f groU
n\ dlifst’ aJHl .faeflr *' bn*, f o**4p*r»5KJ lo dai’Mefb fit i-r.fcf^J
juM ,r0it1aoc,/>b ffl 3!flrl> io :'^v^ ^ taollpib ^ *’06 £ anoila «• .•■>«
ni ?b.ft#rv t - i- ^nati e»^lw alprtla a Jiuj. YnB-ia-ntr. »i
• *bl» noopaf rxii no •»i'» i **'! -.{> aar*I <*.w» » Hliw flfbiw
m> ’/fno .if 01 HBV. .0 ,.1' "lo.^ ’>o <>«>*’-' V?<r'.
.nfiipa-T bna qaaia a1 qo.b alitl oiawe srii oJ ,2n3*fo
of tnioo OJ jwtt«>a bfl» e>tfi»*t vit fo dtpitijl ft.li' v -Mi t»K>fir i;o.Hl
.Mr.. I b[.bI P' V - 1| a« W' pnlwrf »nroi*».U<'‘ la* If «^J
(k->9Y«2 yi f'c M"* ■ i-rrtv* a-l I 'lti. rt'’*.'<.i ni*"«r>tt|M
ai bna f -/fli? »n,' }< in^» » i tc«f', ' yl4c'kj.'^ .'' ‘■x.-tn.'f alb
metiOH i'Vvi.’ '' p '’r:» a'lAs*,' -I'M (ii**ub H,*.t } I »*-.;' b ?*.v •
bikMw f*« Jfut'. «(rtJ ,MV1 "an •ntlvn^c .*.*t+o -.nq pnltHud
J?oant.b "^ntt aaot-t- f.ibt-y -i’' tl» • ’ M ,«<>' 5. alriJ pm" twI f
Jut ,*fdfcaiv ..*>16 jsowfwi art a.enb./ ?t.rio *>Hj <.*i m. I • lurt^q
aj i*i» rnvart 1:xilt^l! .'>« a , r l<i ’*r> »f » ■ ill'/ -a.f «*>''<’ rf.-f-*.--
aidT .»vofJ ttoi. ban ia.'.i># »f!l fo n/-1 * T - 'lii >•. i*-.'
/
sand shows no rock anywhere except what has been carried by
natives for house building. The sand is very deep but probably
rests on coral stone as in places where it is shallow neaf"
the lagoon edge rock is encountered at no great depth. The vege-
tation is mostly coconuts with grass in between, a great many
being self sown or natural planted, or coconuts with low scrubs
of mostly soft wood (pois noir, the french name of a very common
shrubby tree) casuarinas and beach type shrubs and in a few places
a low 10 ft. fairly dense ti tree and other beach scrubs are
found, but the bulk of the area probably 90% or more is under
coconuts. The vegetation has formed a thin layer of sandy loam
over the sand to a depth of a few inches but the line of de-
marcation is very distinct, one being pure sand and white and the
other a darker vegetable loam and sand mixture. This soil is
very poor and quickly exhausted and is used for no gardening
except for a few bananas and legumes such as beans (haricot and
Mauritious) climbing sword and punch beans). Coconuts apparently
do well in this soil and appear to suffer no ill effects. Along
the base of this bank near the swamp margin, where doubtless,
considerable water born soil has washed down, a few native fruit
trees are found, rose apple and bread fruit, but except in a few
cases these do very poorly.
A consideration of the vegetation of the whole island
falls into 2 main groups with numbers of sub groups. The first
natural forest is divisible into 2 main types and a sub type.
The second and by far the greater portion of the island falls under
this heading, is induced, introduced, or gardening and cultural
growths which fall under 2 main heads, permanent culture and garden
or rotation culture areas in their various phases.
1r-*«r** #Tf ^lwV<.«.
j-iOT ^--ft ?wti!e hr*'’ *
r, J. tvk^lAtni/o^nc *1
Hi aiA-M (^*1 .< «jMG®«o <Hao« •! r»of>«i
»w»Or, iu ,V,« '*"***' ■>•-
m»w03 y-'V .1 ■Vo umon ©Hi ,i5a« 3»n<j'; boOrf
W"^ *> nl lui<s aduiHs ,nqy^ ^t3i.*H hm 2ftoH4U»*.o -i#-*# vj/Unrt*
aduT3« Hsr.cd IS, 1:1a bn6 v It »ao«t* ^1 M«'f «
-j»b anil flffi »ud .-<bn1 wa"^ r> Vj rflAab • oi bfisi arft
21 floe J*IdT boH2 bn* nr'^f -»fHutarav i?./iah • 'loHf**
linlHfhTni^ an noTl bt«u ai b«& h*JaA>*il;*n ylyl^lup Uhc iooq yn«v
hne ioal3fcf|'' entscl eft rbuz eemuevf hnfi, efm< 'i»>^ 'a*'^ ® tq*>3Xo
y jiiinoo^' > . ^eT)*»af« HookKi Hw-r T'oldrnl lo (a<rf>ltlTU«H
pftoIA fU o« ik.i,cwfi bn^ Uc» alrlJ nl H**-' Ob
,2ftdl}daob «T»rfw; orw»vja ?rit iftsHl Vnf-J ?irfJ ’Vo aflV
llwn^ *vlJft<i wall « ,o«-'^h bof<?«w* ?''H fi02 mofl taJar’ r I H63«»bt an<S3
* nl rq»3X9 #i»d ,tliri^ bnx Y*oo« oecn ,Vot»o1 #3«
So»f2l *!o«lv» ariJ nf!U«tfip*vv aHt "Vo nol gm.a A
tt’il ' !»/1T .2*oo*tp 2no»^rn»M Iw a«juo^- ’I '*1 *C o4nt *11*'^
,*qy? ilijt 8 nlxw ‘ oir.l *rtf1aivlb 2! ‘2#n<*^ laiiiSc*’-,
nabmi all*3 bnclel o^3 lo ♦•oUT»>q tM-t ■la’V yH br«i. bocr*-** *rtT'
|ft*iwJlkO tHHi 5>nln*b'«^p nr ,li*5tr*>infnl ,b2»5wbfTl *} ,pnll.k.ft»1 »IH7
n»l>TiY •'>uilii3 t 'T*»»iM''tr.n ^ '»^''r»u II*} (itnf^l,.i wtti«-'i(^
»H4 hna etlHw hns brtH^ onua » rl > -10 ,i, nlfeJ*' r»av si nol?wi««
yI>oo<| Y’^av oH 2oe«3
.2*t«flc ei«'l''ftV tI'tH ol 2t»ri.. *iu3fu3 n»'
17.
(a glance at the map of vegetation below will show approximately
how these areas stand in relation to each other).
A separate type of vegetation which falls under natural
and Induced vegetation areas are the mangroves salt and pan areas
of the tidal arms and the artifical taru swamps.
NATURAL GROWTHS
NATURAL TALL FORESTS
These forests are found in soil pockets between coral
dykes, actually on coral dykes where small pockets occur and along
the immediate foots of the high abrupt 80-100 ft. coral outcrops.
They are mostly teak, island mahogany, banyans, and many large
soft wood trees, a few Fiji plums and so on. They range from the
larger trees which go to 50 ft. and over in height to a lower
type of tree which reaches a height of 30 ft. or so, thus making
a very uneven leaf canopy. Under these a fairly considerable
growth of lower 10 and 15 ft. shrubs and small trees appear but
except in pure rock areas where the sabre leaved birds nest
rock fern grows the soil is fairly bare and open. Owing to washed
and fallen trees from age and winds and hurricane there are many
small patches in these forests where a secondary very dense
growth of Penubre, brou (bastard cotton) and other secondary
growth have sprung up, half an acre or so in extent. Where such
occur on coral outcrop areas where ferns etc. appear an almost
impenetrable thicket occurs. There is intermingled with all this
forest a strong growth of creepers and vines and cane vines, many
of these as well as much of the lower tree and shrub growth bear-
ing seeds or berries. There is also a considerable amount of a
type of red flowering acacia (redwood) v^hich bears flowers and
seed and forms a food supply for birds of certain species.
|\-iM^«n •>***>«»> r1t»!ri
?*jrwif' i
* Sr-r^'t
»i tOft n<’a '■•‘1'^
Jl..? «*>Vr.M..,.^ n/!t »•.*
.?er.o..* tn«^ stif K^f*. '»'»
m ... tM jj/M
f&n. > n.^.vJwd 8li»/l3m, llof «i •*»* ?3-»*V-1 **3^
^noln Hna Tuaoo flr^"? »*i*« ./ ***'t‘'» no » f^Ujo*.
..t^on^nio raw Onr-f*A t,*tn-!. f» «di
t^-,«f Yf^wn Hrit ,^^l‘v^u. I ylJaon #t* V»<fT
»dJ mcn^ ofeneT /'sdT .nu o-z W »:ufo ii*'^ « ,>•••<# horn* <^< z
nswof * oj JdnioH ni i»'/o bns .d^ 02 oJ op rfoidw aopni 'iw_’i*l
ynt^*B« zoHd ,o*» iQ .-»^ ‘^5 ’^o •)dpl«d * 9#rl3»v»T s*cyj
• Yf-’i « **-dl . md flpvrnu vn,-»v e
lud *i**.j«# 3is»n^ n*m« Sns .•**» 21 hfi» Of nB*ic( I0 Him/Hj
iiun 4b*ild hflVns: I olda# -orff S'^'^dw ai^OI f**tU<) nl iP0SP-t
liAdMw o-» gnIwO .»ieno b<t* pipW yfiU^ ai fl^'» »dJ fnpl jfrxn
yncm •‘\* •'WDl'nud bnft tKni^ bn» ogti ^:nm
•*«nsb yn»v vinhnio'? <• »*»#dw ada*io*t ^asrid nl aarlDn^nn Horea
y»i!wio»aa Tod^o Hn* fr»olJno bnftjzMI uo’>d ,on«vn»^ >0 iffwit
Haua tnt>fiU .iit»l¥» n? oa ip anaa n». tl *d ,<ju onunqa avarl rtJwcnf
jaonlfc n* ^acppp ,7t# ?ma’i aa«na po'iafoo l<vno3 nc *»u^ao
If* rltlw hs<ftnl"ri»1n| »> .8'iuiw- ja^fr^ldl aldanisnaqitl
ynw** ,a*n?v «fter> ' nf «anlv hnc >0 d1*«o-\g gnonis a laatpl
-naad Hd .»nnf dunda bnrj n*nd •v«.'«if -(!♦ In i’dUki a*' I f •'.• a* '•a*Ht }o
» "^o tnjo*«a an»o n n?!* a? p-sadT .a«j‘,natl no ah-aa? p»iT
l<rw zif-vf^r^ an^rtf H:)Ir1w f’wxj- fvp-i 1 |i-;o% !»*’’ In poiyl
.aaH-'ca zi-.-iJd /If.oue * amno^ ' * '
Figs are represented only by the small fruited banyan
types of figs and a large fig like fruit, (which 1 do not think
is a fig at all) but on which the larger pigeons feed at certain
times though they do not seem to relish this food and are only
driven to it at times of shortage.
In these areas of taller forest and in these only,
signs appear of a larger taller forest of hardwood, teak and
casuarinas mostly the latter I believe, stumps and logs 10 and
12 ft. though are still to be found. These are probably the re-
mains of the first and original growths of vegetation on the
island and are the parents of the present forest of smaller
trees reaching to 6 ft. in diameter at the very most and most
of them only 2 and 3 ft. in diameter. There is one other large
type of durable tree whose stumps and even logs still exist
which I cannot place.
A minor feature of this forest is the presence of trees
which normally grow only along beaches and all water margins,
(species which depend on their seeds being water borne for
propagation). Though generally speaking these trees are doing
poorly and slowly vanishing their presence seems to show fairly
recent formation of the forest which seems in exact opposition
to the occasional large stumps. Actually the explanation is
probably that large old and isolated trees appeared on the reef
top and here and there long arms of tidal water remained along
which sea borne seeds were carried and established and. have
managed to remain long after the d i sappearance of these arms
because of the salinity of the water at no great depth. It is
noticable that all large stumps appear in rock outcrops a foot
or two above the general level of the surrounding terrain and
mmr ’ K' irv, *1^ '*» **‘*'^
„ ••: io«^ » .Mu- Ul» <n »»*' -•'
U*>'M '*^ **' ' **
Wt ,Mr.1 .:.n-n - ^
.otvi-»H,»# »^i » t- M «»vl-l|»
,yfno nS h/*- - ‘i- =t '
^m. Urv.J .HWi-ri t< ^ ®
bnr. C( .ypl sn. .r..ut. ,'.vM(* I >.-» t -. I •.Si .onlv'U.S.
»Hi y^^^.^'p^c ?»•»'• *«»'♦■ .b«u ‘^ -ri «• t^L*ntt) ,rt .f
%.|J PO ..Oit^i-c^vr -^O .o-^f ’ ul?5lO ♦-n- n-«n «nlr^
•»oriK<-;« ^o J**.-*.'"* !♦ "t'' '•‘^J ^*»«^
,*r^ Uu^ tso.« snvv «fii tii r.l . « ft |i» *'
-st*-»*( 'lodJ t>n ?i o-v^flT .-jaif'*- iS ul .tif I >nf^ fi
■»»lx» lH l9 f”’0> n«^v<> ’in. »*,-n«r«8 •. ? {= •* M mI #r*^ ^c, **pyl
2ittn^ ^o M/l»«»nQ 9tii »f ehO 'n v»w»:.r' vjoin
,«rtJenw»' ^!»Jt^w fr«6 bno cbts.!* yf-TO i-r« yH*fiofi <iairtw
•«r>v>d -ii>t%w etfl'jJ »^^^'.^ -‘liHt no hni>q»h f^^lf^w e»fa*«e>
nnlaAi (i->t« «<j'»'*t vfl<.- ->’'. i rts,aio<r . 'f»o1 uO*>tJ
wfH^e ■» pft!<?»lnttV ylwofa hnn yl^oCiy
Jpfctij ftJ =9'^'*c «blrtw Je^****?^ #HJ nol 9rt<o»i
«{ nnft»mil<Ji«» ,tqr'VSi l#nv*»U.oo irf^5 oi
*»f<l fW 5»o* J hi>4*fofi bnn M*’ rnul Jb/t? ylrfiwkn*
^no!'. bj».lftin<>*i n •.1^w l .Mi ‘o ainft ^pol «**i »U Mo »*»«*ri mot
•vuc^overi b‘-H«n bn» brl"n«p a*»w*i ?►*•»•. ? s'n.ul -la rblHw
«**la ^■ft^>n • ’ C^' •>•*1' •?'H V'.J"' ulrr^i aj ^n^anio9
*1 ‘ -hI') 1- ''.H'tMM ferfi
r ?*o<yin'*u*'» •* <ti * •' »xr»''ujl? I II* ta^* t •l<^'^'>l ?0f*
l.ru nlh*’no> i>fii5,nirin‘ ua / l7 "•’ f*'/vf I ft-: «. ft- f • i>»*{ •vt«{f “r le
these sea borne types appear in the more or less level areas
between these outcrop dykes.
Considerable enroachment on these forest areas is taking
place for gardening purposes because of the fertility of the soil.
In time these forests will be only strips of various widths form-
ing a network over the area these strips coinciding with the
coral outcrops which are too stony for cultivation purposes. Even
these may in time disappear because of drying out of surrounding
soil and a lower type of forest result or they may be planted up
in permanent coconut areas as the palms do reasonably well on
them. Also much of the area may have to be used for gardening
if the population increases much as between rocks etc. pockets
exist which can be cultivated in small 1 and 2 and 3 yard patches.
Natives to save long walking to and from gardens are already in
the lanimaha and V/adilla areas making gardens thus in close at
hand strips which had been previously left. A poor and bad type
of culture especially in dry times and the destruction of forest
in increasing the severity and likelihood of such occurring.
This is already noticeable.
A factor which may enable these forests to remain for
much longer periods than at present looks likely is the indolence
of the natives. Large forests take considerably more work to
clear and prepare for cultivation than smaller types of scrub.
This indolence is the reason for the above mentioned clearing of
close in rock dyke areas really of little use for cultivation.
Also as more areas of coconuts produce and general wealth is
increased natives will begin to depend less on their garden
produce and use rice and introduced foods in larger quantities.
A certain amount of this tall forest land is bound to disappear
but a more or less static stage will be reached which will not
a65To »TJ"I '»!
a»oV^ *»rnrd '**« «eni1i
0O*»>JiK> n*»wi^d
at «o‘ir. oz«Hi m* +rt#<rrta^^n<» -,|4t.nr.bl«^r.;
.(if 2 Vi /^II;^•l^^ Oft# 1o *“■*■*
-f:no> ziltM. wm?-,. V V f * fw 2?a^-no1 «-H n»
rJJiv/ pnihlanioo eotile *«''«’ • fftl
.W.V-- .anzr^-iMt n <.HAvHt>» WP3 2 P'JIS 2co*»J?ur. f*no>
prtlS/iMomu? 3ui> pnlytH V' -Mi^viunJ i .:>o«f.ai'- «t Y«« b«#HJ
c;u bf'Jri'ifQ »d V»wn Yfyaa-t ^ 't xvj(»4 * Me,*
no fist/ y (diiifK>a&3*» cb anf* - «rl3 as 8f-aiJv iwoaoo jn#nssi-»co ol
^tn«>b-tftp lol h*»2iJ C'd ni t»v&/t yr/' "'^3 Ic nst« o^f^ .tnsr'l
Zts^tsoo .p:«3 2^3«’*I ns-.vdsd e'* fl:»uc ?«*Ps-*>3nl not J'-lycvj bH» ^t
,2arb3<r.q btfiv ( but S bfv' I ff'^»«»/: ot beitivj3loo riot/W Itlxs
fit ytk&js'tl*' eoshiop wii >1, ot r»n5^ff.vw toof ovf<2 o3 zsviJoH
t-fr saols n? 2iJfl3 8nsb*icg pol/lvi st»a*;< bn'* oi4c(nifi6t *<13
aciyl bnr icpc »JYs( ylsHoi'^Tq ni*r/' >• dalA* tet*ti2 hood
3f»30> ^o iiolfainiasb ofH bni m»'m1 ytf* nl yllfela^czB stuiiua
.pnli*»ujso tbi'Z ’i- !>c?ri*li f-sJin b*ie v/tJ-itTv^z sd » - I •.*no»ll nl
.si ifr^>&l 3r.f| r’i'n»Tf? ft «l^n
fllsndi o? 83®m‘ ^ n(»*'.nsi y/vn (iolHt/ ^03^fc^ A
«9f?r.|oHni Sfl3 z! y(©>n I ^^oof JnoS'.nr t% nr.il 2i»elT?r| t^pnef d:.um
o1 >f*iow dicrt sfrlfT^bf ano3 a+-«**toT .aayJJttn «(*J
. 'iiTso zeqyi Tsdwnz noillivHlu'j si^-ontq bn». tssIs
pnfitof^ bsnoIliiBpi odj ooznoi -iHl et t^oslohnl zlHT
,Toi jftvH fii.i to^ '••(■’^ir '‘o ylf'^'j f»sM. .^soi nl tznta
zt A;MfiOis fstonnp ''0r> • i'lib/no zivncc>oo 1o zi )*n, n-iksn *«, zfA
<t*bTog *it»H3 no az»t( i.'iarjib <(^ oft'O (I i*-/ fi* vJ ffco J»»e»s>>nl
.?sf-<i3nBUp ‘ Ml Snoiil frt '<(] bnn bn#» * ^ybotp
li'-ec -cil o3 bnooi! si ho<.f >0 3niMwit nl .Tn'i A
• Uh' •■•» oH llivj •■*.0*1? 5ll*3« aaof to BTan « jui!
f
20.
alter till medicine can improve the health conditions and large
increases of population become fact. All birds appear in this
areas except 1 rail.
MEDIUM FORESTS
A subtype of this forest area with smaller trees of the
same variety is found in places of slightly less altitude a foot
or 2 lower and generally to the westward of the taller forest or
in the south and north of the island and on Moul 1 Island. These
are generally on very rock areas and have a dense ground cover
of ferns. All the lower types of scrub are proportionately stunted.
The higher trees reaching 20-30 ft., lesser ones 15 and smaller
only ^ to 5 ft. All are densely tangled with ropes and almost
impenetrable without knives. This area forms a greater part of
the island forest and is a large factor in the bird life such
species as prefer this type of habitat being predominant
(Pachycephal a My iagra. Gerygone. Myzomel a etc.) Much of the
vegetation produces seeds and berries and the ground with a heavy
leaf fall and rotten food forming a suitable breeding place for
insects and beetles. Stunted small leaved and fruiting banyans
also are plentiful in the area. This area has been subject to
much disease by cultivation for gardens and permanant coconut
culture. Being closer to the areas of habitation and easier
cleared than forest and promising a fair degree of fertility in
pockets and small areas natives have used it much for cultural
purposes. Here and there in the area in fairly extensive patches
a thin layer of 3 or 4 inch soil has formed over an almost level
unpotholed rock area of 3 and 4 acres and on this a low stunted
hardwood scrub tree (Mori, the same as Erromanga N.H.) growing
rarely above 10 ft. in height and very scattered, manages to exist.
4k»Val sov ..rf^ n<EO tUl i#jU
• l/i> ^1 «KtI < ff n*tf «#«*v,3nJ
.ll»i I e«M»’i«
•■ Tr ,‘ii 'L!^
ss^J 5' *v*i j T»(( •*!3 o-^« iaaTol elri"* ^c» A
JrjTi^ .. • V«4ji^ } ^ f ■t vJf/trM-: ^*-' 8i<'rif*Fo SiflU' ?l yli»ITfcV affcs
no l3-jno> flrJr lo In. wl? «» ylf»*w*f^t 1*v«>r S V>
t !uf*\ fft’ hn_. Vi ii *j!? Hi»* riJuo^s aril fli
\>»vo’* KfUiiin^ *.QM-i • '(art yv»v no yHatanaf
,S(*J»(U^s 'f5<-1r.n»'i5 t*ii ">i >^, ,<: “It- ^ *:t'* f f A 'Yrn
ban ■'f «-.»io nas**? M-Cc? ^*n as-t** » nsH^ f ! *H‘
3«o(nr« *rn.4 attcicn fbhj yl ->2oab ••»■> ffA < aj A yl«H>
V> tn«(0 n#1*,j»n9 « ’^-nl n o . 2r<7 5i»o/<3 i n?*»*taO"l
rlo-u? -5’fTI bniJ «rU nf nol.>d1 PijnAi b «T bn» Jfiana^ bnfi(*l ffh
inwsJi(V‘b»n<3 poiou *»• c>?i9<mr4
art} rtaw^i ^.oJa .r. {aws^yji .aO'iovng? . ^ a I yti clitrttajyrtnaS^
yvaort c djfv/ bnuong »rti bn* eiFimod Woe «h»*» csauhoiq nolJa^-^.av
no^ aoahi ^flFb*3*ul afdBilus a «>alwno^ I>oo1 ft»j}on bnc M*}
a«wivn*rt gniilunl Koe bavooF IFuna haJouJ? .«»(}9ad h<ia aj^ani
of l5a4<.lu« ft»*rt t*rt <«*na ilHT .fi«n« arti nl an* otia
}t«»50s tiTenimnM** bno notJaviJiKj yd a^aaatb rtotwi
j ?riart 1*'. 2*->*t*; art'* «t nopals pnlai] .»ov}fto
nl yjinj'fo’l >0 nU7 * nnlilf-^nq ti'v'o> nart» ba-iaaln
lanujfu^ noi fk>3« i? bsju nvnrt eoa^A Maine bn» eia’IafiOr
eerta^BQ ttviei^fn^ <IiIq} o1 A*n», urtt nJ neorti bfi#. onaif .toeo^noo
lf<y*l ao<nef. na tovo ba«no7 e*,H I in? rtgenl no £ 1o nay^ I nlrtJ «
b«}>Hii« vfpl A eirtf no l •« a*yi»* ♦» bos r Kn,|orti<H;nu
f^nf von^> - ,.,ij
,.i-el>» (>} ,|,.ir,»7T v>.,v bos r-lgi*H ni . di ©vckJo yl3.'ii
and a short grass covers the ground In between the trees. All
birds appear In this except 1 rail.
Within this area occur of course all the different
stages of garden rotation scrubs but owing to soil exhaustion
these range through 10 or more stages or periods of growth.
Many such areas have been put under coconuts and, though while
young, between 3 to 7 years scrub of a stunted nature grows
about them, shortly before they bear this is cleared away and
from then on becomes a permanent culture with grass and low
shrubs etc. which are generally cleared annually.
STUNTED GROWTHS
On the tops of the abrupt coral outcrops in the east and
all along their eastern sides, between them and the sea and in
portions of the north and south of the island and elsewhere
where a pure coral rock much broken (probably by earthquake, etc.)
and with little or no pockets and generally with a fall so that
such weathered rock as would form soil can be carried away to
lower levels, a stunted though often close growing 4 to 15 ft.
type of ti tree is found. Along the east coast this is much
twisted and gnarled and heavily wind blown, all have a lean away
from the S.E. quarter. This varies from a few inches in height
near the sea to 4 ft. further in and at most six feet in height
along the foot of the coral outcrops except where a deep sheltered
cavity or gully appears in the rock when height of 10 ft. and
occasionally 15 ft. are found. On top of the high abrupt out-
crops the sam conditions prevail, low in the south and east to
high on the west and north sides looking down on top of this scrub
an impression of great density and more or less even level is
conveyed, in fact the impression is given that it is almost a
Tf .at, ft arit rtl *«‘**‘'”
.f7,f r Sc9oyj» Jtfti «1 iMron Ph'ii<I
rpt^-i-^T^I'. Hf fla*tor»^ 103^0 «»f^- nlH-l'-'
-.' 1 ja..-M*v^ fJos p) pni JO Xu't vdinPP rK)I1»»na a*pF.l»r
./*i^p 'h} abcTnar f-J «o*;f »* fr*»c*T Cl ^ptnAl aenni
sfirlw fipuo/lt ,t>nf- atunoaof ifViO IWJ fimsd «Vc4 fnaH
snut vn Kt^tnu-^? . tft dpi.'’^ T cvt ' #»®»/l» l ,r
Snr ft«nr^ff «I ?IKa f'-W vadt ♦io^<kI yHff»d« .•'«'»<* »«<«*•
wol Ufit. 3««np dtlw -►r-.i/v'f-wi « ^t■^tu^a*^ w n«Ht •w.*>1
. y f I wjfiflfs y f Ftt**,''**P gduid#
lit nCf
It] <.,> ■•>i(‘t hfft. WtlH ^ fl'tit ^_'|X>I=-. fit.
f.->»rK««l3 Sn-. Kii< I2I i <i >t> iJlUra* b,i/. dn-M lo znw1l «oq
l.aJ* ,»d©ypr<Jf yd yldsinc' 4o^n ft,- ^ ,fi;q a ♦f&iiw
lp./fa *jt n« 7 ti Wii.v yl f Ini' at<»Vs3'ic on >; afltH di}«^ him
oi y«v»6 lie>IffiV3 sd iti,v IIoz fru>7 Mt»»'**‘ tv '^3Kn ’■ t'tBti’ssnn 43U«
i)l oi yfiiwDfp »2->fa futVj •» ,3lsv*‘( aaw«s(
H5u»»i ?1 clHi iEA«a lens #r?t r-r»ofM .Kiiwl «? *,,? l5 I0 -si^yj
ywMk niMlI ft •v*^H [(» ,nt,««l(t Mlvi yfWoJiH hnn hi Tf*-r[: 1'.*Jflwi
nl RfMlanI .-. noa-*> aaii^v 3?f?1 .*ic-7*iftup .?.?
n) *<t3 l3<r- iti Vin« *} .i' »‘ O’? ,ilt fiiaft
Mnotiftfie fy*,fc a ®f,rtw rqaax, «»>*(_. too I ton arts toot finofft
bil4* .Jt Cl to oai' / i. ‘I «rt‘ n? r?«aoq» yllu- -»o s'tlvea
“tuo touT'^A rtc lf' 'Hi ta pni ’ ,*:.riopt -•' . jt ,J V H .-. ?• I r^oao
f»J bnr .tiu02 •Hi ?(l »o( ,H*V9>< fti.jli IV. ti ;► ti»ve >,* » crOI,
dufa* tIHi to 001 no rtuob ^17<x| psjbJa Mi, iss^.< od** no Held
il Iftval rtiiV!' rwl f<J >fa- ',-11; YilZ'ioV JiVftfp >0 noie/,*iqft»l ,»
9 laewlr e! ^1 Ji,n'} o^vlp a? noize-ic^il, tiHt) Jo t nl .Sr.yovnco
22.
grassland only a foot or so high over level soil. This type
of scrub on the west side of the abrupt outcrops (in the few
areas it appears in) and in the north and south is more
irregular and without such a dense twig and leaf canopy. Even
so it is gnarled and close growing and often reaches a height of
15 ft. in individual trees but the great majority do not go
above 12 ft. or less in height. The lower dense scrubs of this
type all along the coast are much subject to salt spray burning
during hurricanes and even in high winds as enormous rollers
break from deep water on to a shallow ledge (dry or almost so at
low tide) and spray and spume are thrown to tremendous heights
and carried inland on the wind. Birds do not seem to favor this
vegetation to any large extent. A few Gerygones and My iaqra
being found. Halcyon is probably the commonest bird in the area.
Acc ipter spends considerable time playing on the updraft of wind
in the area and feeds on numbers of rats which inhabit the rocks
or cliff faces. Except where coconuts appear in the lee of the
outcrops honey feeders are entirely absent. Numbers of Pachyaphata
appear at one or two places in the lee of the outcrops.
CULTIVATION TYPES
These are the usual rotation types of secondary growth in
garden but have far more stages than usual because of longer
rotations practiced seldom less than 10 years and often longer.
All are very much less dense and luxuriant than usual for this
type of secondary growth and for the first 2 to 3 years are little
more than rather barren grasslands with a few weed shrubs in most
areas. In one or two of the more fertile spots lantana grows but
does not usually appear till well on in the rotation about the 7th
or 8th year. Zosterops and L i chmera are about the only birds
J- vM HcH -5 *■ >inn V
■*'^ ftl* ■i'«in4> s/4i To •Ms ■**•»« rt« In
••-«•> jI l*tv, “^'•''«fT ?t 2<'yn»
MkL' . >•> 1 -^f -I rJ -r-if*'* » ’***•
^o ff-’oiMl : f fiA »nUjmr ^ «l il '•a
op ) <n nh yll*>q{*«f>» f^i c»^**i# I UiliWIK^I
*5<*1 2iiuT3« <»2nwli ^:*,Hi\ •fH' . *fir. <il a< ’- f ‘*0 »vo<1a
en!n-^tt4 3 tU« '3 t3q{..^lt» (4oiwi s-ja ^iB^'*> t»»b ?W»{ f ««-Yl
5UK.»,Tf>n» as ibnlw 'nlrt ‘»» ^vy^^ *^no *a;i!v*fT'’UW
SA o* t8on(A 'if yvh.i moI -od'td
oj ri ,' *1^4 S0tncg tid* yfelCZ !.fl6 ) «<’[
tl«>J 'io*.<%^ f\ 1 tV4it3 i*vn f>^< fl?W JjtfiJ b£»I'.*sio bm>
f-.i*. Tfc' u'* • .ir\i^)f(a - '■»«»J "i .i«m
.*My« -( ‘'■>IJ 7 ^XK).'' f*rff yf' »I ,- '!»d
iwil ' lo f^e'.’ f)U *rii n^ iitJ .-M ' snU *f > 3*'' •' ’ VJ.*L*il2lt
tattc** w.J? ii’ yir*v# . "<n'Ufi ,>iv *f * ‘'no r'.i>'i-' i f ••)
•Kj t« •»!■» nf ijM ,. )r-/ tj^Iw no
. fi> ;', ,’5 lli.' ■^i:: yt'On'
.j^In^Jun r*»"*1 ‘lo j I 'rl-f ij >y^.v*.t«| O'JI no ?t nrn^M
nf ffji^rynp V hiio:3a« ’fn 'Wiy r -t^n-* i r«M*'/ Aft/ '•* *'7
a»u<.-5a<J ffcuav dfc/iJ «4«w««ti -I 1 - v'lH foa
.' ■. cJ boa fii‘>y (ff l•^(l? f 'f'T . U n1 l-^M■>t •nriTl^fon
?lrt n»-1’ I r»*ffl i lAinM/iif ha*, *' n.** y ,j / •»!*( llA
altflJ n'\ '. « ’ <»J •' 3r- i I •« j rti'^ bAA -^.j
n! ?v*u*i< » fWMi/ • <fii,w eV.ft« I f n«di«ri fiiftfjr ^nr»t
?ud L.oii?r»4 I 2Y«;r<)i! ♦*»♦>' rdl ouf it sii.^ i*l . aawi®
H3T <ifii 7U'fJ^ i4» . f ■' t. > ■■*. >'»f}'j “I I'l 1 1 III? “"-•vfjijn y*fl<4'ni) toifj aaoK
8%Sl'< yfnKt ofH tU't 'ii qni*. bOA 'T>^ SjU: .n- *y d>. TO
23.
which inhabit this type of area in the early stages and very few
of them. Later their numbers increase as 2 and 3 foot shrub
appear and they are then joined by Aplonis and at later stages
by most other kinds of birds present on the island, though a
number of species are rare and others not much more than visitors
or strays. If the bush is allowed to reach the small forest
stage, a period of 25 years at least, all types except the rail
appear. Vlhen clearing natives nearly always leave teak standing
or growing because of its size and hardness and the difficulty
of burning and the consequent encumbering of the ground with
extremely durable logs and consequently a nucleus of large trees
are left. If necessary to destroy the trees or if the teak are
too numerous to leave they scorch the bases of them and either
kill them or very nearly so and leave them standing. They stand
for years and are a good Indication as to what areas have been
cultivated and are left under fallow, and liable to cultivation
again. These dead trees or partially so, form hollows in forks
at broken off limbs and so on and play a large part in the nesting
life of Aplonis and Hal cyon especially the former which on Uvea
seldom use the usual Loyalty Aplonis nest site in a beheaded but
standing rotting coconut palm stump. The bulk of the area falls
under this category as it really belongs to the shorter forest
areas. Coconut cultivation is the usual type of native culture
of this sort though more regular in planting and of much greater
extent than on most islands of the same size and population.
Small scattered areas of this type of cultivation occur in all
the other types except the stunted low ti tree areas.
Taru cultivation is somehat different to most islands
where streams of running water are available and used. On Uvea
, .1^^ ^.1-4 mt ? J Hi il'ICiHfll HslHW
w%f v^r«v ^rw- a^pfcia vl*»4Mi ^fo fli ^*a>* to
HutHi ior.^ f ^rtc. 2 a« .aaoaoil TUrfi
««r^«l2 TAi^f It Mfc aify'trA Vi b®nJ<?i floHJ »Tf 'fvHi bn« Tt,/»oq*
*► iA(tMP#li t*’fw V3 inwauin<| abilH sbnJJ -winio li«j« y«l
5%oil«iv o^ut* ♦iauw ion a*t»dJo bnc i»<i«un
M<wna */li Ho^mt •■} f! Hrd4 «Hi ,ay**ii# •»
HftT orii jQr^oxo asoyi ^r^,4^^^-I '^O
4/-ai oVftol ayrvv/l. vfTc-?»n pf»OM»l> n»HW .tc^oq*
fl/lJ W. BaflttS-.aH hn* "»a ell v^Jwotd to
dJiw ItttUOTQ 9fli -.rtl I r*H(TU3nt» IruJ/fHJtmrs t/HJ •»«# gnlntud >o
iW't'i apTOf "lO aOdloUfl ■■» «i>ol •(H«*»Ot iltrTjlOl
anb 4»ml ftdj a- •»- * y> ’ t'fttivxm 11 .Jl*f n«
T<*H"iIw hO'" "to/'S 2»3i>d »’.♦ l0'*»n>4 v>Hi i^WOTiaiV'T ool
bn«ic y*HT ..filbn^ie »y* • f *’ Yl'><»«#a yr*v T'^ ' Hi IMH
njioS avert tAc>if> 3 -fb- oj 2o n«l3- slbni ' TT& ! to ?T«r#Y id
ACt1 1. V? • lUJi Of "f l-il br» ,-''l(' ( Tabftu t1»I »T' ' t HotAVTiluO
Ji'-.ol nl jr.'otlcH^ rmT ,oz t*' e^‘»Tj br»r»b tsaoHl
ft'f nl »pT&f a y*fc ^ -f no '>« bar »ibn|f "Ho rn*c4-nH !♦
«»vU nc fioIHw bfsmoil -Hi yltt. ijvsaw :</y [f»M to, 1o »1 M
*u>! IvHtarartod r nl aIIr l2_>n gi-y yil.Tyf J fanati »HJ oau m>bt«a
fflal Kt^f. t,Hj 1.1 jlftnl artT .tT4i3» iwfHKius {fnlllor grtlbnAlt
jr-j«o*. T-,nv<^a &rt ' ' 3 .■’^o l»* vK*-^* *! tlHi
fnUrlfUL*' 'Wi-’fia In lao*y (wTl a? *toir^vi>lwo luncooT .•«*!•
To|i*»n(> Ho»«i In I'Oi* ftnllnftlo nT **i»ft«.iiiT wto" Hpimrt-) i*to2 firij
,nr>i 3kI bo«i. oiJt: oiDw* ftHj 1<( abnelei iJ^nia no nwM Jn«j<9
ff^i ni TUaao turti v'l'firT In ••.'M «iH3 1 • a^knnn h«»ix<tiAOe tIcmS
^913 IJ k-n>l ! njn»i35 H-'T 3<jeov.9 t6i<rYi TtHIO #HJ
»*. ni l'll idofi ii tnSTal^ll- f . » >] >», l3*vf>fu:'> unrT
.1«it:>u iiin« sI(!/^‘li^v. t,* 4 1o a;> *TJa anprtw
MVll **
24.
low banks or dykes are used to drain water from one area to the
other pits and trenches dug and numerous other devices are used
to keep the soil sweet. The soil has been built up so as to
keep the soil sweet. The soil has been built up so as to keep a
water table just below the surface at a depth of 1 inch or so.
When the taru is to do its growing under water the top is taken
off and the under quagy mud beaten up with sticks, natives work-
ing in lines to do this, when well aireated surface water from
elsewhere is run on to a depth of an inch or two and the taru
planted, at a depth of about 12 to 18 inches under the surface of
the water in the more or less liquid mud. Coconut leaves are then
laid between rows and trodden in and allowed to rot. Later the
water is slowly allowed to lower its level and during such time
much vegetable matter, swamp grass or tussocks, leguminous
shrubs (a type of mimosa) coconut leaves etc., are placed as a
mulch and slowly rotted, thus forming fertilizer and building up
the soil till it becomes more or less a dry area. After some
years, all the crop is removed the plot returns to (a bog in wet
weather but a more or less firm bog in dry weather on which one
may walk without sinking) swamp grasses tussocks and small shrubs
and mimosa. Regular rotation being practiced in regulation up and
down the swamp according to the village divisions which passed
certain areas. These swamps abound in all types of insect life
molluses etc. and form ideal areas for Anas (which breed in them
in numbers, as well as elsewhere mostly in the areas under fallow).
Porphyrio (to a limited extent) three species of rail abound in
the swamp. Such birds as Lichmera. Lalage. Hal cyon. Zosterops.
Apl on is (to a very limited extent), two species of Col local ia.
H i rundo (feeding on winged insects) Gerygone (to a limited extent).
My iaqra (occasionally and more in the coconut margins), Pachycephala
o) u/vij» aflo i ^'oai» *^'trt a-frvt'i -r-I
b«BU ano fiqalv^’ - ™f!^f.i 5tM«‘i«riun jjub 4^rhn»~ff 8#!<j t»r1io
ao oa *|u jMJihI fi *s v<*T •
\ 2JDi !^a it* jiMu^ gf.fJ It <a »‘"IT
,oB >» fioni f ^0 rtSc.a!. .. 1«,
■
itsJr. ! 2? qcLJ *flJ T&KflUU t5.il «i*»y !>3 1 pi »i misT a/ti nf rIU
iflvil ,n ,a^rtite cL» nAir.aiJ Vus? ‘t^*up '^atixw ilp
<not^ T*tW *):ir.lnut f J*w nt/tlW ,?lfti oli O? *»4t f fit 5.11J
in<4 fcfii hfK» Oh''f to ifc>nt n.'t ^o i^Jcsif a oi fto nu"' al
to tili Tj»hno Bafiartl .^<f Dl Sf Jirtada to •* ,li»Jfia(f
norft »T6 2*vr,.'( funfKff)"' .huf** htupit to >*100 Oft'* ft? nai^.'f o<ll
arii 'isioJ .Jot oi ^aw-iflf* Hrtr nl l•/76 ayot (wa>.ftod btat
afltli rioua gnftph bff tovaf ail *1 »of oi t«^?to 't ^o3a•t
2iionlri.'(>»? , e'loo.”«i to ea**i^/ cm«w3 ,'u-ijr*n stdaiofeov ^m0i
» aa Soa.Jfl ate , .oJa aavojtf lunoooo (•.aamtrTT aqyi f' aifon/Hi
qu pnibtioil bti-i lo.tl H pnlMt4I t*- »3J<n Y*'"3t2 ttrio fiDluH
afm>« leitA .aaiis vnH ^ »?af *ic vtoff’ae!”';«ao‘'fi 'I ffii floe arti
Joiirf n1 pod t) oi arnffiot ielo '»ftJ b«v<»f'*a-i at qati srii tia .etaav
ono Holrlw no teit‘*aa»K yth nl pcf’ tt? f to ot *. ju<? t«Hi4iUM
bn« e^ijo«?u-* a»aa«>.tp qriEwa rr^’iJnt-i JUMrUtw dt.w V«HH
■mio qv toiifitopoT nt Setlij. tq pnli ' nofi iot lolur i> , > ’if«i l>oo
• bSMi*q ft;*i<lr.^ ’(loJ^lvib ' 'ti o! " t'tor';' <•'»'''. •* 'd? mirb
•t?l fPo?nl >t> a-ir\0 He nt ’Mixdi, ar* .V' nl.,n*o
atodi nl Itoaij Hilrtw) tot aem* lA*»bI #not . : ao^ultfo*
. e>fl>t tohtii oHi nl vtiBom «^tad\ft.*ln in ffow aa ,e-iaiJinun ni
ftl ' Mitrule f 1 *t TO Xoloaa^ Oi'tHi lfin'’» 'vii 'il x oi) utf/rictC^
?Pa .oovo I«.H .tp/Jf.j »tr<»f^fbU sii aJnJi Hooc .q»iiow' orfi
tJiUjSSlJxiil atl'tM'Di OWl « t In-^ixo liaJjtJlf ytOV * O'* alnotoA
ttaJInlf a oi ' *>fHpv»oTr (aitnan? b-opntw no p’ltt-oat ohnut U?
oIodtxjriYfbi *'■ iurtotot oili nl 'no(o hifK. YlUnolaupvto) rtfi»i<d><
25.
(very rarely), Accipter. commonly, Ci reus and Fal co rarely, Tyto
(at night rarely) all appear in the area at times. Nowhere is
the area wider than 400 yeards and though several miles in length
it is nowhere wide enough to form a fedinite zone of life of its
own, visitors appearing from the areas at the side and being found
all over it.
NATURAL SWAMP AREAS and SALTPAN AREAS
This area, as previously stated carries a scanty vegeta-
tion. Actually the previously described taru swamp areas belongs
to this area and was probably the same but not such a saline
soil before natives cultivated it. The salt pan area dries out
rapidly in the surface one or two inches because of the exposed
ground between such vegetation as does grow, but nowhere is the
water table less than 1 to 2 inches down and pools of surface
water are common all over it at even the driest times. It is more
or less under water during the rainy season. Sickly casuerinas
and rushes form the bulk of the vegetation on it. Bird life is
scanty mostly, except for swifts and swallows many of which hawk
over the area at most times. H i rundo is exceedingly common and
it is here (an in the tidal lagoon to a less extent) that they
get after rains the slurry or clay like soil with which to build
their nests. Halcyon is fairly numerous at times of wet v/eather
but not in dry times. A few Lai age appear irregularly in the
area. My iaqra appears about the margins and Zosterops appear in
and about it in irregular numbers. Gerygone is fairly common
along the marginal scrubs but also varies somewhat. A rare
Porphyrio visits the area I am told but I saw none. A few
Hypotaenidia appear at times, but appear to be rovers and do not
stay in the area. In a single small section of it at a slight
xtiyT j'/fo'to 0*7 t,p b<tp a»ry*< i -
el -.;aii»Kin .g^>n 1 "I ifi'XJo ’f* -Mr if* 7w
Iltertj.r M 3^n.* r» m>Jj afn* *-.v "WV Tf-yt-f n*Mv
j»l ??If acini' • «na7 «■» ^«o«» ♦*>' '
br»ifc.-l »ni-W t>h]^ n»H io i:r,n-<<y srif dflH'ViKWc litv ,r»yo
. * I it»yo f I •
-»JrH]frV vJn^'vpij f; 2'5i-’v.:- i ; 1? yi«iM»Iv^iw a«
jr,ifi*'f««i e-«T > rn-.^a UMi< Sc* Y* ^ Vlff-UiA .<vjU
•nilM ^ r^. -'j2 ■»«■♦ '-rkr^ t^J yidodonc aiiw lan* aaift elrt? <*t
Iw ealil> .31.* fiPC Jl.;j 1-.^ .>l VS viJiuo <«vTitn enol^d lln#
K3»iqjce ndJ aeuiorj^l eadan? fnrt 'ijo onn c*<f r*l
9fh fi •^‘>3ftwon 1ili' ,lr Ip 9^^ i«> t>)i^A; . f V i*3r3 Vnuo*iQ
o>c.^,Tye '^O slxiOQ li/»t. flW' I't ?■ fl^nj S I rnyf I St>Bl iai*w
?» Jl ,3£*"ii-’ JcT.I%S ar r n#'V9 i'\ i */t ( r^wif^o #"i^ **3Sw<
yfcnl *^3H? V? ''nlr.T *^;‘ r -Miu'. »aKn»J *?3f ^0
«T *STT KtIT .il no rK,UtJ^i*v vrt> lo yflirJ »&t iarlaui So*
•i>>*if\ ^o vn«p» eis-M .v> K/i6 '^'intoe
V#» nofw|0o yf;-n?Vso*3 al 19^ wnr* n«vn
yodJ l4i/}i Onpi'.i’ 3£?jf f rt fton ' I f»M"t •i-'j nl ni\J siwH el tl
' r.t Htlv; li e *S il » '.I •. . '.l7 Cft ? .1
*»;i‘^.’'30W t'.v. ^O ^'> €." * »1 .L*i ' vf‘>* > >? ii l.ftd 'tia.'?
'di I'l ylifi l»H*»ni I -M^nriK .1 / ,"T’l> yiK M u n Ju»
•tl Tr^-03' »'IJ , U "' . »i*
rKTr''*** vf -'?*.'> ii? !iup'^*" '■fl . •*? ■ ‘•’.•'M ’>1 ttii'r»>l ft( *1 inoryl * >,n .
«1»T .*^y‘VV,i* J-V^'- » !'•'»:)« f-vil T*-"" nilf pr-<«tf«
»•> ' .roo'i I ju*t Klr.i fi . I .9K %fli «j { ': i V ol
■too ol. hnt *1:>V-.1 -Ml OJ ir,!- r^^<^ ttui ,-»,.jH11 1,- itJ».BQr . |I-I 'f i;tjqvll
a i I 1l M'^1+311 fl’.- 3 I’Til* 11
111 , «-;f. aril '»? 'fale
elevation cane vines grow densely and here when these are in seed
(a large seed nearly as big as maize seed, indian corn) numbers
of Col umba are said to gather to feed on the red seeds of the
vine.
TIDAL LAGOONS and MANGROVE SWAMPS
These areas are long and thin but play a large part in
the bird life as a feeding ground not only for waders but others
also. Towards their sea ends where the rise and fall of tides
are still covering and uncovering areas of land or mud flats
they are typical tidal arms. More or less clear of bush inlets
near their entrances and slowly becoming dotted with mangrove the
further up one proceeds. A large bodyof water (and a big area of
land is covered) passes in and out and in the shallower upper
reaches deep channels like 2 and three ft. deep trenches spread
out like fingers. All wading birds and ducks frequent the margins
of these. In about the mangroves especially at low tide, Gerygone.
(common) Chaci ties (rare) Miagra (common) L ichme ra (fairly common)
Lalaqe (common) Halcyon (common) gather in numbers and feed a
great deal. Swifts and swallows are of course exceedingly common
these areas being close to their main breeding grounds.
Beyond the area of the usual tides rise and fall but still
more or less subject to sea water unundation areas of other types
of close growing mangroves. During the greater part of the time
these swamps are more or less fresh water swamps or brackish.
They are irregular, in occurrence and are often completely sur-
rounded by narrow strips or fairly wide areas of normal low type
forest of teak and other forest treea. Coral outscrops are common
in the area and it is on these that forest grow and in the hollows
between the mangrove (like a basket willow) grow in dense thickets.
I
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27.
Lakes brackish and almost fresh appear and are often fifty to
one hundred yards long and twenty to thirty yards wide, or where
occurring in outcrops these are generally roughly circular and
about thirty yards across. Nearly all types of birds appear in
this type of area and at times a B i ttern appears. Ducks are
numerous and nest there only one species. Anas . being present
to my knowledge.
ISLANDS TO THE WEST OF THE MAINLAND ON THE SAME CORAL CHAIN
All these islands are coral rock and only one, Theigh
Island, rises more than a few feet above sea level. Theigh
Island rises about forty to sixty ft. Ail are flat topped
coral stone with a scanty soil, mostly sea sand, and none of
them grow very large trees except to such water born species
as beach trees, (Barr i nqton ia etc.) which reach thirty feet or
so occasionally but even these are lower and smaller than usual
for their species. One island has a considerable growth of New
Caledonian pine and all have a fairly large percentage of their
vegetation composed of coconut palms. By far the greatest part
of the vegetation is the low type of ti tree and other shrub
types which grow to 10, 15, and 20 ft. occasionally in the center
of the larger islands. Some small ones are bare rock. All show
a stunted margin of shrub subject to salt spray burning. Almost
all the types of bird life found on the mainland exclusive of
ducks, raiis and parrots appear on these islands.
Pachycephala being common on the furthese west island
(Amata Is.). Zostcrops . Gerygone. Hyzomel a. Lichmera, Pachyaphala.
My iaqra are all common. The three kinds of pigeons and Aplon is
are rarer, Pt i 1 i nopus being the most common. Hawks especially
Palco are present though Accipi ter is a rather rare visitor.
Pandion is a visitor though I doubt it ever remains there any
length of time.
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• '7.1
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28.
Waders and shore birds are common.
Many sea birds frequent the area, Sterna bergl i and
sumatrana being very common and the latter I know nests and
the former probably does on the completely barren islands.
Anous I believe 2 species nest on these islands according to
natives in fair numbers. I saw none though I saw a few old
nests.
Natives speak of a booby (probably the fleshy footed)
which nests in trees in small numbers but is more or less entirely
absent during the remainder of the year. I doubt this after seeing
the islands. Petrels seem to be entirely unknown, even to roost
at night in the area. As the islands are unsuitable for burrows,
I doubt they would be attractive to this species.
Gyqis alba nest in numbers but I saw none.
Unfortunately during my time on Uvea, I could not get
across to these islands as I wished as there was only one small
fifteen foot sailing dinghy on the whole island which was even
partially sea worthy and this was constantly in requisition for
carrying copra etc. to trading stores. I doubt there is anything
present in that area outside the species listed hereunder but as
many birds keep well away from colonies except during the nesting
season which varies in different species unexpected species may
occur, but to prove such would mean a twelve months long sojourn
on the small islands and constant moving up and down them and I
doubt anthing there may be to reveal would warrant this expense.
Petrels can be ruled right out as can numbers of other species
because of the nature of the islands. Sterna's are the only
species probably in which any additions might be made and even
here these are probably casual visitors and not nesters, from
r
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Iw,r ri-K.^iaiv : I ^ -Ir^. -
1 1
nr.i
29.
areas and colonies to the west and N.W. of New Caledonia mainland
where large colonies exist.
THE BIRDS PRESENT
WADE.^S Demi qretta nest and present in numbers. Numerous and
various kinds of migrant waders are present. Pluvial is.
Arena ria^Numeni us. L imosa all seen by me, and others
are very probably present.
SEA BIRDS Sterna summatrana nests in great numbers and is
common. Sterna berqii very common and may nest (?)
Anous stol i dus and possibly A. minuta nest in numbers.
Sterna dougai i i . Sterna aneatheta. £. fuscata are
visitors and may nest rarely.
Gyqis alba is present and nest in numbers. Some species
of booby said to nest on the island. Very doubtful
but if so may be Sula sula. I saw none though present
in the probable nesting season. Larus novaehoi iandiae
appears very very rarely and generally only after very
rough weather from or toward the south.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF BIRD LIFE
Taking Uvea as a whole bird life is very plentiful, such
species as are present being in great numbers. Purely fruit
feeders such as pigeons are not really plentiful as a continuous
annual cycle of food for such species is lacking. Semi fruit
feeders which feed on insects at other seasons are plentiful,
insect feeds and honey feeders are very plentiful, in fact except
for a strange gap in Porphyr io during my presence on the island
and the pigeon gap which is somwhat remedied by Pt 1 i i nopus . the
whole of the island bird life is prolific and in a flourishing
condition and the status is most satisfactory. The observer
' f * 1 V t K ^
. j e iJ<!> c->
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■ (
■]S -..!i 1 -1.. : • Mr,.,.,
30.
ROUGH SKETCH MAP OF UVEA ISLAND (MAINLAND) SHOWING ZONES OF VEGETATION
NB Note garden areas appear sporadically in both coconut areas and
short forest areas and are eating into the original tall forest
areas. The custom is to plant coconuts after the garden crop
is harvested thus extending such areas. Roughly the lines of
demarcation shown are as near accurate as possible in such a
mixed and irregular vegetation as exists on the island.
(see below also NB)
EM =
Ml/// _
=
area of tall original forest
area of shorter original forest
includes about 10% garden area
area under more or less permanent
culture coconuts etc. contains
about 20% garden culture
swamp lands including areas where
basket mangrove appear shown by
black crosses and pencil shading
Taru cultivation covers all the
inland ends of these and most
isolated arms.
scanty swam vegetation on salt r =
pan lands
abrupt coral outcrops 40-100' A.S.L.
area of sea deposited sand banks
along lagoon side. Almost 100%
coconut vegetation with a little sand
hill shrubs etc. along sea margin, few
casuarinas etc. near water's edge mostly.
low wind blown ti tree
scrubs from
inches high
coast to 15
land and on
in ho 1 1 ows .
a few
near the
ft. in-
knolls and
NB Because in a map of this scale it is
impossible to show such one has to bear
in mind in looking at this sketch that
throughout the whole island especially
in the central part long thin arms of low
original forest and in a few cases tall
original forest growing on coral dykes etc.
have been left. (shown slightly in the latter
case) and these extend far into the coconut
planted areas. Often they are only 20 yds.
in width and seldom more than 50 yds. and
very often of considerable length (up to one
mile). These strips carry heavy population of
bird life. In many cases they completely
surround cultivations of varying sized areas.
In tall forest areas these are generally
considerably wider but not as long but in
short forest areas are long and narrow.
b™ .«•,. ,.nco« -.od d> ™
II.l r«.l8lK. «it «d! d-l - ^
..nil ndJ YfHsuo*
6 r»3U2 el<<ie20« ato*>U30* ^ kti. I.«xl(n
,bn.I.i no .».!«» .n noH.l.r.ov •,,.lot»nn. Vn l««lin
/aIJ JL^*V f >4 i*^ )
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il riMold bfliw
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*rij IMP rtjifi esHoni
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.8Wof loH ni
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IfiMfTfi'-nftt! 22ol o*’*’ lobrui oota * K#
enlulnoj ,5lo zJuno>o3 «nulfio
eiulFiiS r»bt»C JOod»
©•varSv eftOT* gniKul^n? ibitet ar»w* *•
Y<J owod;s nr.9q<rr* ovotprwi Ja>l»»d
gnibart^ Monaq bnc. ?&«20*«3 dosid
Ifs 810V03 ncilJftvlJlus vn*T
isfiffl bfi*. oa^rtj lo ibne bnsfnl
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abnfti n«q
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a.4n*d biwa bfc.1l?OQ*b s«a lo 6»*i» » ftHf
xrsoi 5?orlA .'>iz nooptT grtof*
br>a» sill? I dJiw nollfJogftv lunoDOO
.nlpiBH s«* pnolft ,'^i^ tdtnHa MIH
.yllaojn aghB a'n»1<“v i*»n . I® »j-n?-»fcut«.3
ei 1? »f»a* sIrtJ To otan t, fil •«ut3wfl 8M
■iMid ctJ aart *no dove joH? o5 •IdlecfK?"!
»«>H? rbla»?a cir!'» fr. QnI;4ool nl brim fil
YnBi?!**!?-# bnt.Ial tlCNbr adl
lo w»nri nlilJ gnnl Jnsq i«Ttm3 S.rh nl
116.1 e»? ■> -.asl c nl bna labnol larjlgHo
.aJs f'int'ia .I*-' gf'iwong Jamol f -nlglno
nn-*li I ?»b O' rMprfa) .^111 *vi»rl
■»t*no-iM'i '.ill oinl n.-.l bnotx* ' ,rt1 bnB (oe*3
,»bv C* vino «-n© \n*Hi oelto Kf»jn«lq
bn,^ .fbv findl *noM l>n» dlb!w n!
•no nn) «tdft*i»M2rtoo lo rurl’^o \fn»v
lo 'H \’Vft0f| v*»*»i*0 Bulnl* ».'»pft7
vlol 'In'W '►nafo nl .^l^ l>ilti
.aitf'nn bosla pni'p^v lo anolifrvHluo bniKjmiii
VlUnr-m,ig on® •*«di acBi6 lar-ml lUl^nl
nt »n4 vn*»I » ion lud n«»litw vldtioU anoD
. «omf.n b»w. gnol i>id» dmh© ia^nol Inoda
1
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1
32.
coming direct from Nare Island and its bad position was agreeably
surprised and very pleased to be in a so much more congenial and
pleasant condition as regards the bird life. Though it must be
born in mind that the more prolific bird life of the more fertile
volcanic tropical islands further north (in density of numbers
per square mile) is not present in the Loyalties one can definitely
say as regards Uvea the population is in accordance with the
surroundings and in fact seems to be slightly above what one
would expect from the infertile nature of the island. This is
probably accounted for by comparatively recent decreases of
natural habitat, irregular cultivation leaving long strips or
arms of natural habitat between garden land and cultivation etc.
which enable birds to slowly become used to change of habitat and
use marginal areas of unsuitable habitat as feeding grounds, and
to the number of species which though much of their habitat is
destroyed can still obtain their natural food in the new habitat.
A brief glance at the scale map of one small area hereunder will
reveal what is meant.
Except in the case of the pigeons and ducks, no enemies
outside of natural enemies have any influence on bird life. In
the case of the latter the birds' natural vigilance generally
protects it. Natives and French residents never shoot at birds
on the wing. Their way is hunting is to creep on a covey of
ducks on a small lake on the tidal mud flats and blaze into the
crowd with a single shot. Consequently one or two birds only are
obtained, though numbers may be wounded, but when at rest these
birds have become exceedingly shy and wary and a cracking twig
or slight movement is sufficient to put them on the wing. In
more open areas they never allow approach within gun shot range.
. . I . I : 1 , < t?l ••'I' }:>o^i*- ('''"-r.-j
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33.
The gun can be ignored as a menance to the bird, another more
serious menance (but which is really of little account) is that
nesting in swamps etc. and the returning there of adults for the
eclipse moult (when the birds are unable to fly) not proven
definitely but believe this is the case, natives with their dogs
catch young and even well grown and adult birds at certain
seasons. Even so I doubt the annual total mortality for ducks
on the whole island reaches much above 100 and that in such a
wide ranging species is negligible, natural enemies hawks
(especially Fal co and to a less degree Accip i ter'^ doubtless
accounting for as many or more.
In the case of the rarer pigeons especially Col umba
the only largish pigeon on the island, the case is different and
human persecution is a serious matter in this already naturally
rare bird though its position is somewhat difficult to under-
stand and numerical fluctuations seem to point to outside area
inf 1 uences .
The position of Porphy r io also seems to point to outside
influences and Increases from those areas, though this is very
open to doubt. This species has an eclipse moult and during such
and in the immature to adult phase is subject to capture by dogs
in the swamps to which it retires at such time.
In passing as regards dogs and their possible influence
on such birds as Anas and Porphyr io and rails it is worth men-
tioning that though there are no pigs on Uvea to hunt every
native has a tribe of dogs. The Uvean native is credited by
other natives with eating dogs and this is probably true though
"man Uvea" hotly denies such accusation. Such is quite undei —
standable on an island like Uvea where pigs and even domestic
<^' ""P
,1 '-nu»». cHJit V “M-*-. ^i *>1*- ’wti '<»'■”»
*1} -K)l itiul-* V r.r.|nMlJ’T «<1 ^'•0 •-1- «'»"• l’'tl>»»"
„,,v^,o ton 'til OJ Ot.lo.,0 oto jl-oM -rfl ' I*'™’ «Klt Wo
oocl. oi,nt <l1tw t»vtt..n ,ot.o «ft »l alilj -toiloP )o<l Viotinn.t
■.I|JU>7 Jo ■:!,->i'l ’ll*' t-of, roj.1t (low novo M* en>«>V rbJ«o
51<3UV n fti7o4
s ,bu^ f»i JoHl f>Cf .1'^' tfe t '’O
?• Iiwwis f 'nu:t «* ] I' -*n irf rriJonr-i *tlw
cefJ5.U)»-«V' iLl'liP-i un-roV ( 4 94 ; f f . I -.-5Q8#'
.-•nro -TO yrtiJ'’ s<r - mi f*u.it)50«
i.nimnf- yl {/. ix’C?^ f‘* '*' -
W 4n»-)^3H>I^ ?i y»aj ,n,i I.?i -ffil n ' rK»iJ<, .'^}n*» fTrtO aHj
YffA'iMiirt yS««iU sIfH nt . #ti Itir'.-.’iC n»KOrt
oi Mfit-vH-i; c* MoitfF *»q v-»..*.
.lOTft sJ'tisJtX? 09 1.ii</i. •' XT*? j-Jrt' HftUjaun I ri*^Wfi KftJ
, aoonf-u(’!/ii
*hla''W oJ 9o1ck» < 4 a»»o? oeI& oH *jfT
y: 4V ti »H/moH4 ,j? .»T6 »aort4 fiwi’t »*t?R'*nAni KfW a^a'ioul^nl
f):w2 jnfiv'' <?o« 4f«K«i <>s*onxr> nr. z> ti aalorocj.* e>nt .9<Jut!t o1 rf»^0
yl fTiVh-M oJ J3»Mu2 «i tur.iiq jfiih». si s*-i»i4rntr| *i\i -i| bO«
. yfii9 ii.')t»f I'll M I 9 Kp »ri9 t*l
►f .l«80<' '‘'Of. BMt'f 2l'*8^»‘i fiA )-nI?ei»q iil
-JV'rt *<■>*1 > j1 ?l aTT'.T 'ji'f ohixT^PT-'C g'. ■. - lA a!rnr?#^ H3U8 HO
toijH r.* .fliv'' no '•••i/ ->n 'V, >. f|(t|tnfi4 .i^tij v 'Soofl
y<i > ai ’.'/?'»c./i nr i'V'J -. a •>vl tt. n
i<|iU<.«<IJ Ain^ t1 .-If^' '.n» lii^w acvljf'i irfiJo
-laHmi Aihir al ibw2 ,n» Mm'ij-j'- ibua f^-Jnrb ytiarf ’>e«‘V<J tif*» *
iP^briit)- rtvv-' 'll', avlq *^<1? bn.'iff] ltd nn ’=!
animals are rare and the people live so largely on fish that a
meat hunger exists and is satisfied in this way. Circumstantial
evidence certainly points to such being the case as all have
tribes of dogs and careful inquiry to avoid arousing suspicion
as to the real reason on the questions pointed to each man's
number of dogs remaining more or less the same in numbers. As
these have to be fed occasionally if not regularly and they are
not as a race fond of animals, in fact are very cruel to them
like most natives, I cannot imagine the dogs being kept for no
useful purpose on an island like this where food is scarce at
many times of the year beside being difficult to produce and most
of the main crop, taru, unsuited for storage like yams. It is
noticeable also that the dogs are in better condition than is
usually the case with native owned dogs. Also rice along v-jith
fish is commonly fed to them and this rice must be paid for by
themselves and probably by the dog later in another way.
These dogs often without their masters join in packs
and hunt in the swamps and doubtless kill numbers of rails, though
for the energy and time wasted by the dogs in this pursuit the
number is exceeding small. Odd natives are said to have well
trained bird catching dogs which do not maul the birds but trap
them in their paws. This is mostly legend as I tried the owners
and their reputedly good dogs but not a single successful capture
was made though a few badly mauled flightless young were caught.
Probably in time past good dogs did exist but the forty pounds of
dog made more appeal to the owners than a half a pound of poultry,
and the bird in the hand seemed a better proposition all round.
I did see several instances of ducks being caught thus and one of
Porphyrio and doubtless numbers of unrecorded instances occur. It
< i^vH -»lf so rAi
f \}n I '*
■ f t< &<■
.y-w aiy.^ .nswrral ' a at
t.ii T nfN t>r'T*”» ^ c-'M' Q *on.y!.1v«»
fioJr.Ira{ia . mIzj.h •*•» Hlovtt cl v-?W«t (uv-*^€;^ 1.n» a&*.K ’>« k--.il*»l
aof.; " V5inlw3 ^tJa-UT **
c .’•is^jRun -I I -Mc-a 4t«^I ' ^*»"^ f hIaI 9^,«^^ wah l^^un
YI.H1 v*''->rir>?>-. irm *ii vfr-,rtoUr^a> h*^ ovRd »»Hj
nwrJj .1 Ia»na Y*u>v -‘t "to
cKf J<5s:t sniE.^Tii I laor
1*. •..ncae ?f ’ c*^»^ -n rf r aMt -'ftf hn^fal m», iV> r .
ho& aauKc-^o M it^pP^Ib c^ii^vi 4^ki*-' 'Tc e»':JJ
iJ nl .vj*y oiJIf fc3 ir>j8 no> ’ ,\r,^s ,-o-id «U^ >.U
♦*•*» tvs''-
ff^i ' i^fvfft lOit 4Joi .-.'Oh hcf.’Vb 'tifv» • '’i.i '^v;i yllfcOlii
- •.. ■ blue 94 Pi ;irJ- ’.. . '• '3 Va': •'Innarw') al '"fP
. If. ti mA> eM^ ^4 yl».J. So >wt-
»il 'll'’ ?*' - '•'■*. ■^t'»'..' I»^ ir'*i / '>o J' •■ »' '
*f'-*>ii{!/ jCflfc'T [•! i c if*' I ■* -^'KiS Sn? ■.<"'uj'i ’.• >>1 KOi*
lAi ili>«iU« nJHt oi iVvS .noj : Vm- y^;',*»na
f|«,.. sYCil I Ki..J 3*(S ti^-VilfM l>h'i ,tl ’• ••«♦{' '• *i<*» if TfrvWCT
Jitfl *Mf ' 9*1 1 ftit *' IfW 'K CMf.t f.Mirlott*' loN V^^oJaTl
«n#fTvi' nHt *'»hJ I vf^r w »f zl(*T rtf
"iM,‘ '*•^‘> fu^e?#s3ou« slf'il* ' ••■*'' ■lU‘'i Scm-: Tf«Ml Ivrm
i»ri>i''y taeftrik-'f » *.<fi.* •" .;i •■ <^U'.i*3 a*’«*
1" aSm"»«) vfMjl *fti ix*<t • ;* ?;.'H >ifv ' •' -c «il
,*p.’*lsK** ^<» Nmjiif? *• tf f’ '' *ttert«^ aAt j>4 I •««<-'« ori»? fch
.Np*n.T IT*. n*’1 4 ? f>.*<jnno I'i'TM’x! - ^ .-V' t Hri.k4 •iJI ^li Ht i :♦ *H3 bnfc
•o»' *'*i: ?Mf*t jfl|>M*r> ofip ' f^onMaol 1* P •
J» .nn ov osxjfVk-tani *'f ’>•» o*»-.ou s*«» Vvrt*»» l^/Titch T.pt*.
35.
is noticeable that Accipi ter is attracted by a dog pack and their
yelping and if the dogs are unacompanied by humans will perch on
a coconut near the swamp and watch. 1 never actually saw one
attack or strike but usually they depart on the first sign of
humans appear but they are exceedingly vigilant and wary. They
possibly gather, to strike unexpectedly at the rails occupied with
dodging the dogs but in observer's opinion it is not the rails
that are the quarry. Bold and excitable birds such as L i chmera
and Zosterops nearly always gather in excited mobs to swear at
the dogs from a safe distance and it is these which Accipi ter
hopes to surprise while their attention is concentrated on the
dogs. I once saw Falco at a great height watching a hunt but
this I think was accidental, the bird having merely noticed the
harried quarry moving from cover ahead of the dogs and this was
probably a duck or its young as one later broke cover but Falco
broke out of its swoop on sighting humans though I noted it kept
high but in the direction the duck took and quickly forced the duck
dov;n to cover again. I was rather surprised at this instance as
it was I believe the first time I noticed Falco shy off humans.
Generally speaking they are very bold and will take game from
the near presence of humans with great boldness. Possibly the
barking of the dogs unnerved it in this instance.
Severe hurricanes when they come, which generally is at
wide, eight to ten year intervals doubtless cause a high mortality
in birds especially in certain species (see NYMPHICUS Ibid) but
these are at such wide intervals that probably little effect is
made on the majority of the species if considered over a period
of years. Under natural conditions and ample food and few un-
usual or outside interference or influences to contend with, the
.'t . . '■ -t ■. •> .. ■’ '
^ ' f J - . , t> • [ ' I ■: -nti • . V -.f'.* 1 i ’ ) orilr f»»/
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36.
surviving population quickly reestablishes the old full status
of the species.
Taken all round Uvea bird life may safely be considered
in a very sound position as regards the status of all the species
except the few especially noted in these notes previously (i.e.,
pigeons, and those are sound in 1 species, Porphyr io and possi-
bly Tyto though I think It is really sound though unseen by me.)
Even Nymph icus which was said to have become extinct (??) is in
a very sound position and though below what it may once have been
is far from extinct and is definitely increasing. My opinion is
that actually the status over the whole island is above normal
and actually the island is so at this time, and has previously
carried considerably more bird life than its infertility warrants
especially in the face of the heavy attacks cultivation is making
on the natural habitat of many of the species. A definite colonial
expansion is shown in the population and repopulation of the
islands of the coral chain to the west, often though these appear
more or less unsuitable habitat. It is noticeable that the es-
pecially large number species (Pachyaphal a. Mzomela Lichmera
Geryqone. Zosterops) are the greatest colonisers and wide spread
and reach the furthest along these chains. Myiagra which is still
not as plentiful on the mainland as the other species is less so
though not very far behind. Pigeons are more or less absent and
probably only go there from the mainland in search of food during
non nesting seasons. (Natives say they are not always present
and do not stay long). Aplonis which is on a par with Myiagra
possibly visits the area only, and as nesting sites are not avail-
able it probably does not remain. These islands of the western
chain are most of them subject to almost complete vegetation de-
nudation and many of them to complete submergence at time of
r>i'7 ■ V ? J •*"
I 5r I IJCO«? r fit Vl VM>8
•v “IFf^
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a I
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p ti ;
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<■3 vi n "*
r .f.i iJvv- --- t ,^i vlUi^ocy^ rrfi
20C hii^. >f; y/’c->. ,ssi -s i <ii t.nuv^ *^Tft tieof.l .nr . *nr , K'
:ru.o;!t '....jo^r ^i M ' r^.i’tjor^i ^.1,
5jj A.^->:rri ■ -• -n' -7-. ft Ji ••t:-.r? 0. • rinlrV-f '• ' '
J , . , -I t f\.f ■ rit- ■ not ; 1 .•‘Cii-’ '■■•JOS /-«»V »
;. ,,, . ..I ;»i. J.' I> - »’
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, .'ir I ■; .; I i;.- < . I
I'l. :vi.’c ; i *■ •■ i' ’ ■■' ’■''• fsl r'fii ••It’or/ !■■■-■
'/i p; ,1 VI. it »*!' •;! denote I 3(103 li-i-ir.n
« ;:l rKi^vi toT /v'-- P v(': i ■-• 'oof.1 *>f'j 'it y f ' • • ■ ^
, ■ .?rlr--f:- ■■" ■:•■ V- iodt'Ox' I - o».J' '’^5 nf-
•■ , ft I’m, ,.■,’; '-T ;fp ■'■•' ■’ :•■" ' ■'■ ■ f«oi 5(T.iq>'J'
,'■!•' • n, ■*': , ,i'-f , ■■> *».■'■' »'j
. j^{. - .-f i 'l .iP 1I . .•' ?!-!,:■•:•'(:•: :-''»r ■» ■
, • • r- , f; ,'f 'i ■■ •■ ' .''■•■ 'I-. Ml r>( '1^ I yP'-f-'^sC
m' , . J’ •- ■’i.- l'
M i .*■•*>•.'■ "I-vm"' •' f 'iV^ '^■' ) Kr^.
j;, f a1 i •.,! - ' ,:t ■' f. • '■ p ; ■!• ( r- 'f-, J VI
- ! , • ( - ■ 1 r- ' ' '. ' . ■ ^ , t ' " ■ .' ' I \’ - ■/ ‘ / .• 1 1 1 H (
V. >■ i'^ t ■ I . ii ' r ■ f' i * ' 1* 1 i 1. ' ' ‘ I I "I , ••'. r: ' ■* T"' •,' I n ' y I ■>^■ "' ' 1C
•, ; ’■■ ' ■ >•! ■'•■ •-**>.'• •' ■ ■•■■*'■; ■■.:il2;,'^ 'V.jn
' . d;: r !• . ,I .'.i ,‘r>i?‘'j ~t '■f' ,►■'■■; "■ ' f CJ*'> hn*
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37.
hurricanes or when heavy N.W, swells or seas and the salt spray
completely kills off all the leaves and vegetation v/hich do not
recover for many months. At such times certain species of birds
most suffer almost if not 100 per cent mortality. The last
serious hurricane or rather sea from a hurricane further north
to completely destroy all green vegetation etc. of these islands
in the N.W. was in 1936 (Jan.) and normality vjas not reestablished
till 1937. During my stay there (May '38) most species were
established and reasonably plentiful possibly as plentiful as food
supplies warranted. In fact considering the comparative scarcity
of bird life in the eastern ti tree strip on the mainland one
would consider these islands in the west carried a population
above capacity. Water borne seed trees and so on and coconuts
which are almost entirely absent in the ti tree strip of the east
are probably responsible for the denser bird life of these islands.
It is very noticeable on these islands that Zosterops . V'/hich does
not visit coconuts on the mainland to any great extent to feed,
spends much of its time of the islands closely searching the
hessian like fibres of the coconut plam heads. Under this fibre
countless insects find shelter and doubtless Zosterops and
L i chmera and Pachycephai a also, all of v;hich I have seen feeding
thus, have long since discovered this fact. Also the eastern
mainland coastal strip is subject to salt burning at all seasons
of the year and much more frequently, whereas these northwest
islands are only subject to such during the hurricane season and
that at wider intervals and are more or less protected during the
nine months of the prevailing wind (S.E. and N.E. and E) . Such
N and N W to S V/ winds as do occur during this season are generally
of short duration and the former very light. Hurricane winds or
^ v-or. ..vn.f «r^1 H. aTfH yl.i-lqnoo
zbnid ^o Miatica n?f.t*»M aamii rtaua -*A ,»djn<n<) yrir^ »o^ 18W3*1
tacf .ySiJofnc^ imo “.oq COI Ion ^1 ^.«»'
lilion 8aooH->ur r> rto'-^ -83 ncrfcJ..- *nwH*»«rf auoHsi
ebr-lsl lo . nolJ*3»t»«v ffn v^-tJasb yIai#lqr*oo
trort »*iw yJlI-vion Hns ' .n^l. ( «J ««w «*
,t.4 eoia^ioa Jeo« ^8?' yoM' V*^^a entfifG .T^l'l lllJ
hoo^ ea lu'JHnuIn an /f<’l«»nq tn^ilnnfa tn« W.aU,J»J*o
Yllan^a T.viJoiAqrw3 t>t!i lanoa iaol nt >8}n»*n6w »«l fqqua
ano bn«rntVT no qIiJ? - :! m»>e68 ni »U I b*iI8 ^o
noi36fuc?oq 3 HoHi^r- J?Sv S-l; ni abnnfsl *ZoHiT ^94»^WCO bfuch/
2iuriooc3 i.nr no on bne aaoH t,mtsd .yilD*^«»ft3 ©vodfi
52',* 9^3 qinta on-^5 1 5 »i^3 ni 5nyf/tr, yl^-, Mtw Jacwfn 3T& HalrKr
SW.J3 o’^n b'i'* m?n>b aj':J -lO^ oJoianoqaaT yli*<<03q ®1»
WK* .tovtniaos larti abnufel no *t<5f*3l5<X' y>ov s« II
,W» oJ ?•'--)» ■''T ©J bnr.lnT-n no aJwmrxw 5 1 civ 5^
f.Ht nftlibar?a yf aoia $bn f?I ^-»5 ^n snt I e^I to rtoun abncqa
*v3ft cTrIt 3»brjl^ • .yJ'or? wfq Tuno'at,® 8(b5 f -«JJf
bn* aqoi^ln^jt a8?»fjr!urth Kn* n*5f**r?a l>«h ai '*anl ac#f5nua*>
fl*fta av/i/» I rl3h)- >■' ff‘ iiZgSiklJ
rnsJeny *»lj nal*' al'lJ «-'>nvv- .af • f^nl/ fnnf *>/ f| ,tufl5
ancan** iU ?« pnimul 3fn« ol z\ ql^Ja »'n*.|nia*n
leflNfUoon o»j*fl5 ar,83«rlw .yfln^’^r— ^'♦cfcn bo- i#»y #H» to
brt* -loaftoa tv-tar^Inuri •»rli pnT^^»b Hr«u> r.i Tjw[tiua ylrto aKnt'lal
ortt eniiu*- boJ^moto aa«f *t:* jnom •-•I'j Kns ai<V’*5ni Tob»M 3© 3*H5
rfso. .(J ‘-Mf, . .'I bflt Hot ' MollWv-mq o4i to a<l3m-i« *nln
ytlns.ji*? ■51^ rtoyroc t|.H jjniii^b n»> »3-fTlv W t n,i W W hn»> M
TO ?br'T / oItJUJI ,tfb*l( VT9V -»li«10t 0r*t l.Oi (»o»50llh J*)Of<» to
38.
seas, the latter the more frequent offenders, are of course a
different matter. Easterly and a point north of that being the
usual gal quarter in the Loyalties and are frequent in occurrence
and kick up big seas. Hurricanes vary in direction and severity.
Big seas produced by hurricanes elsewhere are mostly N E or
northerly swinging but decreasing through N W to W and south.
The Uvea atoll appears to me to have been populated by
its birds at a comparatively recent period compared to the rest
of the Loyalties. Possibly its vegetation is more recent and the
general age of the island much less than the more easterly Islands
of the group. I believe species are still just arriving and
establishing (Rhipidura) themselves on Uvea, Aplonis is probably
more or less recent arrival. Myiagra an arrival slightly before
that.
Aplonis with its large breeding (generaly 2 families of
^ in a year) should be considerably more numerous than it is,
considering the ample supply of nesting sites and food in the
form of small banyan figs and fruit (pawpaw etc.) and its habit
of living on snails of which there are ample supplies.
As I have no means at hand of comparing material from
other adjacent areas with Uvea specimens I have no means to tell-
ing from whence the different species are likely to have come to
Uvea. Though I have small grounds for saying so 1 have an idea the
bulk of Uvean birds did not come originally from the New Caledonian
mainland as this seems to be against prevailing hurrican winds and
few if any hurricanes would carry birds in that direction the ten-
dency being I should imagin in the other direction from Uvea to
N.C. It is possible it was populated from Lifu, or from the N.H.
either direct or via Lifu the latter seemingly the most likely.
W, «»!«< »' ■*’•'0'’ ‘ '>'■'>
ni "1' -'»■-• '-' •’'♦•*'•“' '•«
r- V »•<* abH bn»
.Yilt(»v-9a ooIloi*'sJ3
10 J M e-3t oia
2 ?in& y 03 w H ftct».r«nrf3 ©f>i acoicob tiM yl-iwtiion
n«»d f»v.H n:t «iA< «vU oi<T
t?r^3 u3
«at bn^ 1«»Don »-uro el ^ H t*. v eJi yHieear .e«TJI«>f<U
sboslel »*»«' '**'" ’*'* l*•'•^»C
V»» crtivino 3eoI. U\fx p*i- m./olls-^ » .qW>^S
Yfdtd<nc, ei no wvIdwHi ^AiyliillflL' :nlf!«! Id»3«*
mo >^np«bi^^ .fsviv,.- Im ^oot ««»I ^^o »%tm
I0 «oinCTO^ vfaiafw ' jjnTbfaif' eji'-I *il rf»l« SiT^lLS-:
fi nrf^'i a*) -I'^'U'i ’■'vopi /Idi’^aMafion a<# bluorfa ;*«'‘-9V • ^
»i!t fil bne aaJl’8 i;- l3»®rt i^lAs>bljf»a
3Hrrf »3T bn«. '.aj» wwnv/5«) JTu>> "n« 7 1’ rtOYninj ll^cie I0 rnicl
.aslfc‘<(we ^I*jir**‘- *>mwH Ht^irlv/ tillaoe no gnWII ^o
iacn\ t>. bnt»d 1'' on ov»ri I
*-JI‘’t '^3 ao^jfin ^ RV»»l1 1 !?('t«ir'i 30tJ? ^»vi> HJtw e».aTr* Jti^afci,b# *»#<130
o3 u<?X> '••■«irf <W vl*>FIF >f»ne'nU> j*i1 ^^luaW^ itxa^ Df»l
arf j *►-' i f»* 'NVid I oa 1 'iWfta s.'-nu'-np- 1 1 ^xle ^\•-.r* 1 rit>u»^IT .“•^W
n«lnQ+»*>l' 2 •fti ‘rt-n^ */l 9P'oo luo bib abTit* f**#vU *0 diuy
abfii/* fi'i-fl‘>'>ufF *>d f i nrryr-s «irtJr «»> ho«Ht«w
-rci nf<! r Urit ni 4>nT Y'T*^ OartiiP I >-lurf yfiO ! v<e^
OS • '!VVI .^nl 30i.'t?*»T I' ^0'i3■ arl3 il nip'^i b?*K«rta I fnlal ya<l*b
.!L * Mr'1 **p .iJ’il.) ;j<l a^’ i »l laaoo »l »l .'*.H
.v/*l"'if •>^.f ’ih vf inii‘*\; ? 'lit u>iJ «iv ^o >3mU''
39.
Australia may be contributed but if so probably via New Caledonia.
The most likely case is that different areas have all contributed
and probably Caledonian species are more numerous than others.
Any treatment of the subject of bird distribution by hurricanes
would necessarily be a great deal of surmise as so many factors
would have to be taken into consideration which could so easily
alter the completion of the whole subject. (The greatest factor
is of course the irregular behaviour of such storms themselves
that being the only really regular thing about them).
Actually the distance between land masses either from
the east (Lifu) or south (N.C.) is not too great for direct
flight migration to have taken place. This is especially true as
regards coming from Lifu, especially as birds would be flying
down wind on a calm or normal day of prevailing wind of steady
direction. Also they are close enough for this to be more or
less true for an average hurricane which in such a distance would
hardly be likely to curve enough to affect the general more or
less straight course between the islands and thus deflect birds
to mill the island altogether. The same might be said to be
true as regards the S E corner of the New Caledonia mainland as
from there the wind curve of a circular storm would tend towards
the Loyalties. It is probable the Loyalties have received birds
from both north (the N.H.) and south (N.C.) but until comparisons
of specimens can be made the amount each has contributed cannot
be gauged. Though I have no definite grounds for saying so I
believe the actual case is that most species or close species
common to all 3 areas have come with hurricanes from the New
Hebrides to New Caledonia, and developed their individual charac-
teristics in their new localities. Some species of course having
. cVj /Iclf - *»«, V toJodIninoa ^ ctfenJauA
b»3uc:h.irK» If- ■«-*« ir,,i«=l=i;h s. rli al
ioo-ifMmn »i«t. s-,‘ K»‘-.qa nfeIrtoh»fn:} yldiKJo-x^ bnA
aa<iwr-niiH ycJ n«IiudI-,l«lW bi h' =Io ^
vnan o« za ->3lmuz >o U^i. it^-m - «» yfitazeo^a bluow
ylizeo os Muor* ri:>IiP^ noi 1x>^<M shod o^nf ni^tl od oi *vart bluow
ngS:>*> 1enJ6«*jo .fofib'us <*foftw *fb r»oit*(<poo »rfJ i^Jf*
ovIoef'-^Hi am'ioiz rtouz ^d iiiniviir!^^ li-fufisvii dxb »«->u«j 1o zI
. 'mrff iuo<i*^ (pniflJ lAfugoT yffaei yino orlJ gnlad JgHj
‘xsfilis i-'ZBOra bnr.I nscux?At* a:>noJzIb pHJ yllRltfAr.
j;>tnlb '!«>=» Saa-ifi oo3 Ion zl (-3.H) fbuoa io (irMJ) Jms orfJ
»« su-iJ ylfstaoq.-w *I 2«rfT .•»3kI<j dd.^o^ »vw! oJ nolJcaelm sHclH
gnlyl’I od Hluf-w abnid zr yMttlj»<?io ,u^lJ Jco-j^ fcnlxnco
ybadJz Hnlw pnifiBVaiq yab famon to mf«o o no Imiw rMOb
no rtom ::wi ol zlril to'^ dpuon* ^zof:> <*ta yi?rtj o«fA .noH^dtlb
bfuuw sarisJzIb a <bue «I rfairfw eo^.'ittud t*{»<itAVP of to"» sutJ az*f
to at<j«n I&t&n'iq r»H4 ioal^a oJ dt^ono ovt'j^ oi yf»an f sd ylbtad
*btid curi-t hno zbrir.lel sdJ notwtod satuoo JdpietJt z»*I
n*l o^ Kl tB od idtMi* wi*2 AffT .‘ladiai^o^ la hnnfzl #dJ 1 1 Jib o1
SB Vixifnlwn tMrKditxfa:) woH sriJ To tsmon 3 t t»dj abts^Bt *n outJ
eb-woJ boo? hfuow mtoie taliotln s >o »vtua bnlw adi atadj motl
<i>tld bgiviaaot «>v*d zaltlcyo.l vfii • Id^votq el il .aaliUyoJ aril
ernB^ltaopw Mlnu iud f.D.'-O diuoz bnfi (.H.^ nil.tl rtltxirt died «ot3
l^judiTinot isd dtie>o Xnucpw odJ obem ad na:) enomlosps
I o* gfllyoz to^ ebrnrotp allrtno* on »vr.d I dpuodT .bapuBp od
ealtjwe to zplooqa fS'm i*rb ?i asBP fcnto* *rtl availed
»/oM odj «onr'4>l itud dJi\ vtmta avc-d luttft t I fa oJ nomnoo
*>at*Hr» f '.!*■ t vJ>’n1 tiortj hr-^io I •«v<?l' lnob»lj>t waM oi jahltdaH
(_nlvwii Ir. .iti.v'kC2 *)»'*v2 wari tJarti ol eoltaJtaJ
40.
spread the other way (Ph i 1 emon) though there may be doubts of
that species but others might possibly be quoted) possibly first
from Australia, but the greater number are from north to south
I bel ieve.
There is little of great note to be said as regards bird
life generally on Uvea, (though one or two individual species
are woth of note individually) beyond saying that generally speak-
ing the bird life on the island appears at the present time to
be in a flourishing and healthy condition and a great contrast
to the position on Mare and seems to show a very good chance of
survival and even improvement in spite of considerable habitat
encroachment and that position should not alter very much for
some considerable time or at least till human population greatly
increases, such should not be the case for some time to come as
humans do not appear in as healthy condition as the birds (intro-
duced diseases being rife amongst them particularly T.B. and
venereal according to mission report).
No introductions of birds have been attempted of Uvea.
There is no coconut pest and that crop is the only one of conse-
quence in the island.
One exportation of about fifty Nymph icus to Lifu was
attempted but all disappeared on that island. These probably
returned to Uvea. (For further see zone notes on this species)
SEE MAP IN ZONE AREA (leaf 60) FOR SMALL SCALE SURVEY
SHOWING TYPICAL AREA OF ISLAND MENTIONED IN THESE NOTES AS REGARDS
DIVISION AND IRREGULARITY OF HABITAT
ZONES OF BIRD LIFE
There are no true zones of bird life on Uvea and even
individual species do not confine themselves to any definite
tr*;I* ','f ‘^i ♦•"!> '»0 i’^
ti r, ■•> . 4*
i t/_^‘ *<U ^-><>1C8
y| 'M--..,,, >41w 1U^ ?:l3dC2
-,,,•.^.1 ••‘t f*-' »£n1
.-v'lHfld I
i.vP ^ »l -2 oH 1 itfon ’ -4-.C ’I® '*'*•'*'
a-la<»qa f oiMvl'-l O-rt *>' ofio
-4cm8 01/ 2 Uno‘"’< ’Jo fli<JW rti*
03 -Mi 1^ »•,' r.,> b.r-Jal no i*:i M ®|Jt pn5
ItnldOO IMTH - hn« nlflaltWRl> • nl ^
=^o »K»e yns'V 4, hn< i»*ir,*1 no nofi1«o# niH oi
imitilaii Ml02 n1 :*'i *9V r»vtf »>n* Itvlvnu#
•)<i^ (t.i>n n»ll9 ■>"'' rrrjltl»»o Kn>. 3o^ft->4W?i--in*
yr+ofinp wWibftwoq n s-uH I fJ? i > v> n«l3 ^ via «poa
« o**c*o tii emlJ nrti frd 3on Uluojia r!ou» .oeis^iaoJ
-oiioD ebaiH rHj e;, nol^ii-w’ yflj f *ji nJ icsn<!« Jon oH «n««ort
bn» ,:3.T yfioFualn^q r^rfl S9^f-^ef^ Sooub
, n»>i3s?« n3 pn1K*iix>n* l«m*n»v
.'-BvO no*- ' •vr,t< ihiii’ 'to efioTiau?»«"’inI oH
-s«n<» to i*nti yfm. r>rtt zi qcnra * iG lunavoD on <1 nn#<fT
,hn«(s{ ©Ht nl «3nou*>
MWi* J o1 ausi)»q«>r/'1 ■»iio+« >0 noHfldToqxo nnO
yf.'a^i^nq .Sn«f2l nn H»-»oi*qro*lb H<. 1»<I ba7n«#?J»
fclMMie alfJ't no *rj'*n >) inr . • -H-Jm’V ^o'^) .»kovi! o1 H«mu3m
YJVj:y^ ^JA')2 Jjy4i2 > Ci fi/i» Hsl^ <3/ 3H0* M« ^¥l 3H2
awAo^s ?. epoii .3H<m irtfi o+k 'Si 3c jADi«n 9H1Woh2
TMIl .5' Vj YTU».KJOiPil mJA 'UI2IV1Q
H'vLMUL-’?.
or.’'i' * n* OH ■''*»M 3o s*nr<T «in1 cti *n«» *>*-•. ifi
[1
' ‘ ]\r\, VI .* .‘!l Ian ob t ubivl^rtt
[5;..,
'h\t
41.
single habitat except one rail which confines itself strictly to
swamps. Two other species Nymph icus and Lichmera confine them-
selves to two only or a special type of habitat or close about
such specialized habitat. Almost all other species show a tend-
ency to range into unusuai or unnatural habitat. This tendency
has probably been increased for two reasons, a colonial or ex-
pansion or forcing out influence because of large population,
and the unusual form cultivation takes over much of the island.
This tendency v/ill be dealt with before dealing with the three
above mentioned species and a glance at the map on the follov/ing
page may help to a clearer picture of the conditions. This map
was made from an actual rough prismatic and chain survey made of
an area inland from the main north south lagoon side road (motor
road) at a point a little north of a half way point between
lahnimiha and V/ardilla in the south center of the island and is
roughly accurate and to scale. This area was chosen because here
abouts the swamp had petered out, the coconut area was narrower,
garden land was reasonably good and better than the rest of the
island, short forest and tall forest could all be got into an a
cross section survey of reasonable scale to show all types of
above mentioned area in reasonable and nearly equal proportion.
Also this was the best area for Nymph icus (and a further map deals
with this) and owing to its shape and general layout afforded
better chances of checking observations by myself and others.
Almost all species were found in the area. Owing to irregular
observation from weather, distance from camp and so on the
records were not as complete as one would wish but are fairly
reliable and constant. The sub maps give more details and dates.
It is observable birds venture further into foreign habitat early
_«4, -,»«p iiiJal: ' ” iiS.i^r';'
-,o .. «V. ^
. -ewi« a?iw2 wto rr.
,o.wJn' ' 5^'" f^iu-N.rtnu -m Uv vm »:;.il
„ t.I.alno , .an,«.-. -«) 1-^ ■««^»-'="'' -''
•'•■i ^ . ■(--»«’ ■•'''■■ ■“•>"'• ••“ '■"*
<;nUr,»>. •'-i ' •“ 'f'" •''‘"
,t,'t .a.noIt!l.n.:. «11 •<> «•»»-’'■• '='”' ''"" '***'
V. -I.rtp •>.». -.i ■->■'■• ”*'
■>i! noof I '•■»’--- '■•■-<•“'
toP.« r- ” 'I '• ••» '’^•' " ••" ■' ’"'™' ^
., V., b-vOi p' . *•- “'•
.,u.^ rw.,OP «- sift '" '**
.-•OPIP. 3~- WT •"'’■'3W «*' . "•'
«(, V) '"•- •>« nt>.lt •, .’tt-' <<n Vl '•■-'•» .BP >«*» ’'0»l npMe*
• n, .1.,) < v »■- It ''<'<••■■■ •'■■■"'* 1''’ '’"■
>• a«irr? Jf**
l.-up* yf-r.i.n ’mi- "1 |.-f»nl3nf«i «vck>*»
T‘H»-nrT r> <»m*' gf.! fLjTsll f »«**
fl 2,7 J «'* L
hn^ Ybl nM:,orS n*:m‘.rt3
ijnl ' 'i ' ‘ii'o' 2:tK>c,<;3 lln JeCf'H
*«'3 ro .V7 ^,<u. ^ .? -vr,l >3C. t3.P^ w ♦s.n’T rw>l .^ftV^!.•*do
t-ii. -'>'1 •'■‘^ -■*- «‘ ■*’-''7 4‘T="^ aiz-Mw#-*
.«•^4^ v,„ - •-. -»<r ’.m.
yj, , . t|.<..,| ,„ ^..•!^T •♦I'l '•tu’t*niV &tij5nev c: tU aM«vt**a^k «1
k2.
and late than at times nearer midday. This rule seems very general.
Only species which are inclined to be birds of territory and
habitat have been noted careful 1 which ranges from one small area
such as Aplonis, Pti 1 inopus. Zosterops have been ignored as these
cover all types of area more or less in varying degrees. For
practical purposes Pachycephala, Nymph icus. Myomel a . Gerygone will
be dealt with. Myiagra was done but v;as too indeterminate.
On Uvea the following are birds to territory strictly.
GERYGONE. L I CHMERA. MYZOMELA. These inhabit definite limited areas
and resent intrusion by other birds especially those of their own
species.
More or less strict but range slightly wider irregularly.
NYHPHICUS. MYI AGRA. PORZAf-IA tabuensis. CHALCOPHAPS with a wider
territory boundary but can be always found within certain bounds
and has favorite spots within its boundary.
More or less birds to territory and to be found generally
in a special territory though they range wider at certain seasons.
HYPOTAENIDA. PORPHYRIO. PACHYCEPHALA? These three really belong
to the above category but at one season ranges fairly widely
though at others have definite limited area and that not large.
PORZANA cinerea ranges wide except at nesting.
Wide rangers COLUMBA. CACOMANTIS. COLLOCALIA two spec.,
HIRUNDO. HALCYON. LALAGE. APLONIS. ZOSTEROPS lat varies at nesting
is limited, ANAS. ACCIPITER. CHALCITES. TYTO (?) CIRCUS. FALCO.
PT I L INOPUS. TRICHOGLOSSUS (?) DUCULA? accidental casual visitor.
ar-H *3r (
Krtf. a»nl«^ -1 MnHvnf .^oU^i a-J'^*9« rInO
ri^r*:! ?-m> FH.*»> 230'w.-* rf'>lrt^ II'J^•5^‘'') »x^'»oo rw?d f*v*4
92sri^ ?c Hsi^orwi 'wod »veH 30£m_1_3c^ ..i H:jua
■«,’ r^ni-n^v rtl aasf no .-io« -e.n'J Hb nsvoo
tfr. .£i2£r£: • fB3U:»#nq
not a«w Jud »fi' ! ap’^ .r<tW llnffb •«)
. /f# i-.>e P> gK-t|J
v^jirH sf5n?^«!' os*«fT *XIjSXLJ.
rwr> niarii ’t# yir'^.l;>Bca« ahnld nsHio vd n^Uun^nJ tf»®#n hne
.vt-,f.IiKH>-ril -i^hiw ^IiHaUa ytn».xJijfL±lV‘Ut «£li
>fc?1v/ . t i /Vl^i:S,r^. *1 » ^dg> W.(>
ri,ofv>d niir^'o niHili- !’«ti«t? a-r -f- »-» rw^ iod yn^Sniwu yn^ilnnal
.yiBWnuod 3^1 ildljw aJ«*<f3 *ilnov?^ bna
Vlfo-'nati biM»1 *i o^ '•«’• vnfitnv»a^} ib-M a?-?? no •noH
.tnue«»2 nl inao in-bN w^nan y^c:? !•!»?•?? a iii
Qfioird yirra*n f^nHi ewrf ^
vlilbi.i' yHi*^ aopn*n tiott»*aa ?w»o J* >od yncg^ii-a Byoda Mit o1
.tfnvl i«dn h«»B o#n* b#Jli«n •ilni'»'di »VfiH anafitc t* d^uorlt
.^Mi! *a^n <•> *>’tv ?r^n«.n *mn^nla
t« ayT-if.v taJ 2!WI?SI
jyym .iBL)Ji '•> .^1 ,'*iirii «i
.n«3laiv FAi raMn^a 1 .?in01H.lJTl
i
nADfiLA -^.
fjeAHi s 7
QrlfVMi^oS3H'‘&
^1 I ?■•■■• J ^
^Z' i*r.
APf^^ /wflRs/(v
fOREil
MA^Gir* TAi
i \ it>»
MAP EXPLANATION of map on preceding page.
hh.
As will be seen this map shows three main large divisions
and portion of a fourth (the lagoon side sea deposited sandbank).
Briefly these divisions are from left to right.
A. — Sandbank sharply defined margins, the vegetation
except immediately along the seashore (outside map)
is probably 50 or more years of age. Between the
palms except for a very rare patch and a fev;
isolated scattered shrubs which grow to two or
three feet only, is purely grassland growing
rather rank and tangled with log ground vines etc.
never more than 6" or 8" high. Coconuts are not
in rows, but very irregularly scattered.
B. — A low stunted scrub not growing above 15 feet in
height, rather dense and tangled but varies some-
what in density. Its average height would be 10
feet. Here and there in it taller 20 and 25 foot
teak trees appear, but are rare. This area is
mostly under coconut palms of varying ages, as
shown on map, and planted in regular lines.
C. — Short forests These average 25 feet in height and
have a much greater number of teak, banyan and
other trees rising slightly higher. The lower
types of trees are more polelike in growth and
there is considerable underbrush of low shrubs
etc. with a very prolific growth of vines and
creepers. This also has gardens and generally
speaking younger areas of coconuts generally with
a secondary scrub which, though fairly dense, is
young and sappy soft woods etc. which natives
slash down at irregular times to let the coco-
nuts have a chance. Generally speaking, coco-
nuts do not come into bearing till 10 or 12
years old and very short growing, but are planted
in regular rows 25-30 feet apart.
D. — Tall forests The forests are on, generally speak-
ing, more fertile soil a foot or two more above
seal level than the short forest, and appear con-
siderably older. Soil is generally less rocky,
though dykes are very frequent and irregular. The
large trees run up to 60 feet in height, teak and
other various underbrush except for ferns in
stone dykes, in areas is much scantier, many ropes
and vines run up into the canopy above, but gen-
erally speaking longer distances may be seen betv^een
the tree boles. A secondary forest of 15 to 20 foot
trees grow under taller trees in much of these areas.
.■r”'
r'*> I ~'t •-< • ’■> e-inr*;* c n atft ni^3
‘ Jl2 '<? ’’' -^'S ’'l3 'W'’’ i**»oq I
4*<i 1*1 ‘■'iT* I '*1 J ' If.l . I
ofi.| t^^^v m^y ,a"i ** ■^t > •
! >4 • '!o| '' 1 ' i9<d
me’y "Oe. ■ ^pr. • J r'.f-*' *-'i'r* ^ 'J
i'"tr i'*' ■'" ■*~^* ' j“ ’V ' *' ' ’* * '
*H o<r -^T|» "tty'll? ^ <*’■•’ S i.’ '<(■ "f
■- ilwonp .y! «i ^
M.-!|V *» f ’■'' r > n ,'Oii'»
yiwiv> .'•‘■‘5** ■•"’ *-' '■■ <V‘>' ! :’*l‘ ■' ••*■■'"'<’
yfMif'" ^*nl vi*»v <ii
nl t '«7 s!f ay'Ki* «‘dlvm- *o.i •'u*».*‘2 (tI
-• i2 *l»lTk»V tV’-f. •1"J *^•'7. «*3yV9l- ,t^r I*-''
*f klo^ ‘ ai--'V' ?-»» .’Jli-ni*' ni It '.--
’i-'^ «■'’ tl III ftW-» b;Mi ol 'I
gj V. -. sTlfT ' *.T* 3u»4,i«qa** . i-J
?T ^ir-. , / ^xy ^;*l“<s Iu^ jixjo *j:%h)t(f Rt
. -'•II '»-l'JHfc3*» nJ »-'i:vIq J n<* ,^'wfl rtO
'.fu f'»I 'M ;■» > <fS . ^ Wr
k,1.. '<■ ' * , ■• ) ^4- ** -3.».»‘4fJ
'T'y All ttfi r ft dgfl? *J>fif-_>
)«A> flil'4*^ '■'I ■ ‘fl'/f T **••■(; x~t(ft *;>■»*'• I '^o as»<5Y^
f r rin i-.'’-'»iU d I -’hn 5 t'd' " * aiarf '
lv«. ••‘dlv "^o t>l>IfOK \”u» / % . >!-•
vM ;.' i tc. I*if ••l'> f?'IT , a*ittr;>9-**»3
,* I • vf I '•<■-.>•.' ♦iri. *-*^; 1IK.’* , ''l jqj
*l * ’ ’•** fil'Uod'f *irin4 , »/a<ia ..
■^--iv] 1*ni riTli'l’ .''!<» Jil<i;' V +'* .•« /nQ» ? Snti oduny
•»-. C> !* ■*- Mil,’ 1*13 1 I'.t rr.'jti
-r,*>uai ,r Tl>«i<?tj ylf-ii;’ .»» n-ib ft i< t.’wn
21 *1 ' f fMi n’dl .VO 5iNi xA\ S-Kin
If »3. S-:V i f" <Alr-JV
♦ '3 il* 3a%1 Cf- V t'A’T Iftfin <>1 ni
•t
-3
. j
c
-V#.«q4 vnuAfwaC’ i:r -fn
*vy In iirWT’ flwt m f. ♦ .’i.^a nti *■• »' ,t’di
-p-o Tu^ijqp l-rtt , fnvs! I -.<4
.y-i.ri'j 4i'*f »*1 IT ■ • f-’o-i ' i?i
1’ ,•' .f'rf*t*'nl Vi.i.-, ->r|6nri.i- “Y **“131 "**1 ■)•• i»Cd*3
’■.ri<! -Aiit ,Tr't-»3 fl! »'■' "J nin 3*’ •** 5 . ' i.tf
ni np 1 '1* ( '• V.*** (J nm ’K I'xni 4Unil V ‘>fM’ t
g-if-r,- •'!. M ,*> '! Wk 1 ci ■•. ••» If 'IV
-p '>■,'■ , V' ' ' -'«s }i *< ' r’r oinl *■'•• »fin ai’ii •f ■’ii
>- 'n ‘ IN#-’ ->•*>('!••’'?!« 'i.’i .Tf. f yl('n*i
. ■'^'^ ^% '■’ 'I p ^»'K^.^ ■ ■* ,!ii.f<»..i '-O' .1 *iH
.■> - iH-'.iV' V il.*u»f( ni ^ 1. n V’ *i?.l.iUf 'll* ’ni'li
45.
all vegetation other than grass, coconuts, or secon-
dary growth of ex-garden areas or coconut cultivation
areas. Principally natural growth areas.
all lines thus on areas shovj that coconuts have been
planted in this area irrespective of angle of lines
which are only put in to show what different ages nuts
are planted. Age and what the nuts are in is shown in
each case by black ink.
1 YR. = 1 year and so on /coc. , co. , c. = coconuts/
sec.G and so on = secondary growth and height in
feet of such growth and often density by density,
etc.
slash = mean the secondary growth has been recent-
ly slashed and is lying dry on ground, this is
often shov^/n by pencil shading also.
current years gardens under yams, manioc etc. (except
in extreme south where areas appeared outside the area
of survey v;ere not carefully recorded).
native foot tracks to garden area these peter out very
quickly in the forest and beyond the gardens are only
used for getting a bundle of daily firv/ood before
women return home or for getting poles for house
building.
dead standing teak trees left in cultivations,
green standing teak trees left in cultivation.
,. ,I-PVir!l»i;> mrj IP ^p H>*Wie n«*h
,* :>*»» rfjvW.Tp l'>nU3-'(l ,aco**B
.' a-th<K.w» i*ilh
i»<»5f TP vl^a-«,j^ri1 •'*»■■ 2i»i^
aiiin WPT, worfz oJ nl ’wo yln'^ O't* rbl4w
rI mio<<a ai <^1 •»•»’ i*A» hn^- opA .fM»tnr fa *>nrt
. 'rii lodjfd /'J »e»:> rfc*0*
'2lwmj->or • .3 ..03* ,.3«oN ^ -^2 Tins - v/ f >
Ri IftelpH V-fift r1-wme yTsKn;.«^92 == mi Pf »'n^.
,YJ «?"=■' V^’ vTistiaH T'Ps rtivJf'>8 fl^ua ’fp
.3ir‘
nsvi'T lilwine 'pAbnoppa »-- Ij
a I sifli ,l>n«o‘’i5 nn inW ttnlyf 3 1 bitr S^r’aola
. al/ {loihoHa fonao Y"' mwfia
.5T“* 3p1 nrn n»T^.ii> a»K'UT?f> ^^op,5f Jn»‘Tt)3
*Att p/!^ wo*»'- rtJiK^a ni
.'V^!orvv.n I'Hw-i n J J<Hi o’UM Y.'vnua 1o
'~.<*V lito *fnlf-' >259W SP'»' v.g ol » '-im T > pyitfsn
YI.'W) •»v*U*»ir‘ mri:} S.inY'*^ hrt.^ »«kf ni -f htnp
^'lo’tod T^ocwnll yl?'i> >■' '>{bnui> •> wnJtiop -><'t l),«au
•.ctM-t.; n- ^ ^/>^c<^ DPiJt^g iC'l no at.uxi mu Jen »wf<w
. r«|»'Mi>d
.iWV I' -vi’fuo ni l^sT :*5»i}ni :4r,iiJ [tf)V:n\1c hr,'>t’
.•Mji ‘nvl5 |no nl 1 f x^>n*i ’ :ir^ « nc»?»-H.'
1
t
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SS^' ? fc. ^ i > u - -f tjS-
^ * |-<4 5 > V J * H
f
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I? s tteiPirff
IF-|^ I Ji L
r-ll 4'4,[.:|
\ Y-,1£! » i *
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-vM' jMl^n it l siS:
5$ ts 1 5 n-i-^i j-
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^ > s>.-5r-«
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wmm
3oT^NiT
hS.
SUMMAfW OF MAPS Observer obtained an impression on the
island that the whole of the birdlife which was reasonably numerous
showed a tidal or movement like a breathing body. On trying to
see whether any especial insects or fruit food or flowering was
responsible nothing conclusive could be seen and such foods ap-
peared to be influenced similarly In all areas. Nor could weather
conditions be taken as a guide, except in one species, (Nymphicus)
which showed a tendency to retire to deep forest in unsettled
weather, but even this was not invariable or regular. Nor did an
attempt to throv/ light on the subject by keeping records of a
flower insect, insect, insect mollusc, and fruit feeder and purely
insect (flight) feeder (My iaqra) reveal any further facts.
My first impression was that at certain times all re-
sponded to this outwards movement at the same time, but this did
not prove regular though at certain times all did move but at
others only one species or two showed movement.
INDIVIDUAL MAP NOTES PACHYCEPHALA Generally speaking
d* ad. showed in unusual habitat and numbered 10 to 1 and more of
9 or imm. but 9 increased greatly in numbers in the margins of the
forest lands. Though no decrease was noticeable in areas far in
in forest, no apparent alteration or increase was noticeable in
such areas, the population appearing more or less stationary. An
idea that a semi-nomadlc population frequented the more or less
marginal areas showed neither a positive or negative conclusion
from observations made elsewhere. The only real conclusion vias
that other areas also showed this movement and generally more or
less about the same times. It is Just possible a number of birds
of territory having been dispossesed by encroaching cultivation
have an urge to return to their territory and make a more or less
'» .*Oi »•: =* J >«l ,;o(lw<>rt/ 3oH:» _i.r !fl
,ijv' ■• .r'O' ^ .If‘ ')i^ • -'H ' ^iN«rla
5 . -., -ro ^*rH *>n a4t>^2.il f^l:>«^3.. .>nn •-«
-V- 2Y •'^t'* *"•• ’ 2 -'■’ <*Vi?3ff-)iK.l> dl/';a,y>c8#'l
-^f^4 • fuco n- aj .■ oi W->c5<,
.A- , •aioctf* &*‘o m> :>r«3JC9 ,r.Mup fJ i' j vmH?bfio3
»»3r^3sa,ii» nl <4 <>1 V3'i>bn*t r, .'dIHw
UV. -,054 .isri>p«^ 1 t ,1 ff'V: iixl
. -,#> •H-'W'J -<''1 3:.-. '>«2 na 5flrH * '.mtj » * JtjfcwJJo
yt.nw> ’’ifUi ' i’ . lD9a.it ,l--.isr*i .JD's.ent *i».«n
i-i ...1 •« iHTOl 'a* t *a ir‘-t '/i'h lo^afit
IT'' f i* • < "' it
» li ai .’*-' '*U' , - t »
fl| tiif. aV''' .' ' * ! ‘ t
» •(*■' i~> T If'
2' ! ' nl .♦*' o J
.*,J, ,
3 U9*.rKJ<2
(V 11 ,►!.? 1 -t* 9^ 9'^ Mi 4C’9
ln9>^f"'0’i<|inl ' '►•■) "ti ' i t dO-1 ?<!■■»
c'l' K^f 'H-> Ai'rn^-vntiA::.
f ti| 0{ |^T«iVii,n l.iT )•^Jl.^^' r^itiWnM fit .’ *• ^
fl4} 3fg jnii’T '• '»^t J'l !?D<Kjf«’4rt nl i.M.r •' '5 U*ti ,'"''=‘1 ‘'O V
• f ‘K*. .' n! •'f ^ ■oli-.n i<»w •«’•«*« D5»S on .f'lmtit li<*To1
q} «‘f*4' >( > (V* r>^^**iXiJ ■»*n i''. I ■>.»■( dt t ' On rt
<•■ *? .taif *t^‘ ti'*' • Hv i f iX)o<} wt’ ^ rfaua
-,.. ..,>>•. •'d+ ’.Ntn.;V»;'n';1 ,.r.p..;ur‘''ifi .1’ t^Hl .:>M
ftol • !*v! t .«nn 1^' ovJ I’t *' tti '• ■. Jl <• ./<= sftoDo
?.• .r1?t.l .» -• I . •'' .-^, ''l-’M e.'jpttsvn^ai.ii' *»o*itt
no r-T<i» vHv WH* <■■' ».1 •>•■“•• ’ ' ■ ’ ' 'J* naH^v J-<!1
a'*;l ' 'lit 'itUa? q 3?ii^ .1 t ,'^f‘t' “'na A?ll ’'..''Iq |»ol
r-.J vt'^fl'D -n ;.'3*.o-. .,t - < ' vs- ifnr .»?’ f«* 1 ' .lived /nollvtoj ti?
no tncr* » *'>ttv. Wv*,. ni iim ’ *ti'»<!^ *> .nii''4n ot ^nu m' lived
50.
floating or semi -nomadic population along these marginal areas
and these along with strak d* make up these tidal movements of
the species. Females being shyer or more retiring remain in
the margins of the more natural habitat. (it was definitely
noticeable that femals were often present in the strips of semi-
natural habitat left at times when males were in the unnatural
areas). If such v-^ere the case it would seem to be an indication
that the species is fairly long lived.
NYMPH I CUS This species shows a definite preference for
a certain type of habitat and seldom ventures beyond it. It shows
a definite daily early and late outwards movement for no known
reason as actually the tall dense forest where in it spends the
bulk of its time is where its main foods are most plentiful. I
came to the conclusion that this early and late movement was be-
cause the bird had a liking for paw paw seeds and fruit at cer-
tain times and it was at such times that this shy species visited
cleared areas as it is then that the fev>/est humans are about in
their gardens. Young birds definitely show a liking for paw paw
but older birds seem only to do so at certain times. This made
me wonder whether perhaps this species uses paw paw seeds as a
tonic or digestive or possibly they supply some food or property
connected with breeding. A similar thing is seen in most other
fruit eaters and insect fruit eaters in their feeding on chili
peppers at certain seasons. Though I never found chili peppers
in the stomach of Nymph icus shot, the bird oes eat them also
and I think it is for these mostly that the adult birds visit the
cultivation areas. This seemed to be borne out by observations
of the distribution of chili peppers and the frequency with which
birds were observed in certain areas. The paw paw control also
,«-r, p„,U -o «nl,«M
*„ ^ '.M , • «• " ■^•'»' '”'"
v-^-. -. -'-'■ •>'■ •>‘;''^ '"*’
1,.^1-r, ,v . .4 ^ *^<.1
., J .ri.t. -■■ •■■-' ■'— ’ .'•T-Mt.n
,...u,«m, ,.b -I .-.w »I--. '*-‘'»'’
„oil^|l-.l =■> ':> »-« *’
.K-vi f irtol e«1t>aof ar*i
,, .,1 .onuin^v bn4 nl-fno, •
on >o> bn. yl-,e -Hob s
tl n1
I .r,.=>iffUiU nwn» :.-i.
Jcf^v.o -inl ^nir. yl..^ ^T.*^ not«>l^noa o.t
-•.. - +T Jlin’f 'm 3^-c- ' w»q w.-v •««* niMH fr K«d M «<♦ «#'?
Vtt»?v .V^ ^I'«’ u rtao. ?. T*' n
.1 tuM. ’-I 3' »*
. «^-n no’i «,uil.:n -r-rte vl'>^ »■ >1^ .3fio\>n*t2
«lrtT .a-nnlJ tiJ t- >? oh r,i y - to «^iM >*blo iud
* tn ^’•^4 wvi '»<vo ».?|J ?HJ 'ir*wiow .«
V#*i..,.nq nn bo *mo« .'froufi ^ *^0 ^Jno^
•i<4.l3p t?.ni n1 080? H i>nirt1 iMllnU .-nl'^ftond <biv b«t3#nf»o?
tlMj nu onlbn-'T n'i ?im' i:*©?*! bn«i ?*loJ.» JtlP'
?n,-.nni>* ntHr SnU''> lo’/r-n I iIv'ksj?! .ar^' -h! nlf!n>85 1« tnoi.p^
a*f..'«*»»tli JrvT, apo 'fl3 .jOfis »rt1 f»t
Il*4»- 9»l1 1 ^fJ2C' ini' jjI 3l ^^nUlT I '*nr,
3,.pl -.-n j.h> V* tM. -M.) ».' r ’ ' 4«»»a c1»’i ,a« '*»' nt W'VlJfiw
if is ycv^ijpn^ ?f^' hii •’••oflinjorj Ulrb lo noJJiMHJrrlb 3 in
odf« fonimia w ,q '‘.q “It .'*»n n1 h ..*nc ' lo oi-.w abiM
51.
appeared to influence the bird to a very much less extent in adults
and a large extent in young. The above was true in all areas in
which I observed the bird.
MYZOHELA This species shows a definite outwards and back-
wards movement. Food may play some part though very little beyond
the fact that for short periods forest may lack nectar flowers,
whereas coconuts are always in flower. This species is harried
very much by L i chmera and generally driven away from coconuts and
confined to well in forest and scrub areas. In such areas it
stands up for itself and will attack Li chmera which in such appears
the more cowardly species. 1 have no doubt Myzomela would inhabit
coconut lands to a much larger extent if it were allowed to. Its
population in forests is very large and dense, possibly it being
one of the most numerous species on the island, if not the most
numerous. Adult males show the out thrusting tendency most,
females and immatures very little. No reason for these wavelike
movements were apparent to observer. Like Pachycephala forest
margins shov/ed a great increase of numbers at times when birds
extended beyond their normal habitat but forests deeper in seemed
to remain exactly the same as regards numbers, though at such
times birds seemed to be less strict territorily. One could not
as usual visit a small area of say 30 yards square and be sure of
seeing a bird seen before always in that small area. Disarrange-
ment appeared to last for only a few days, then normality was
restored and writer believes individual birds resumed their exact
small territory again. This conclusion was arrived at from the
results of shooting and keeping observation counts of birds in
small specialized areas.
GEuYGONE This species also showed this out thrust move-
ment to a marked degree, but at wider intervals than other species.
.1 — " TT
.VitI .' 3rl3 V»c>vT«ado I Hsirtw
h» ^-.-..u.. .3I.11V.' -. i^.i= •i‘i' ii35£rai
.».n V..V V-* v- "o-’’
>!*< y«* ’«■«' *'”
, • !- fil a‘/» 'f» ejgnoaw
KoI-nwJ al a*'!* «» ®‘
etum«o= r.r.1 i2*2^
J! ,«« "I .«»■>» '’"* *"•■'''’
„«.y. d3u. ni d,1d-i2jeSiU ■•=>'•’’■ "'• •'“ *^"‘”
M«« iL'-E«a »*"* *’* •"’
.0, M«.n- .i 11 in.J» . ,1 .bn.1 1»««»
eni.J .1 vHte«g =""'•1 '■'1« ooIJ»lu«»
Itm I'f >1 srU 10 ««o
t* «H W> I.I « *'ub.-
»dltw- -•••1 '>■■’ ’T**’'
nr'^ *‘4 «n*9.lwin •• **112 * b.' ">Ha
r.] f lU.lJ ho<3y(»A ‘..bx-ii**
d».»« ,rw«lRim » *i-«2 m! d
jon bliK j •' »biU
’lo t'nii -'J '.‘tr ^^AVnr ('* v*» M«r»* Malv f&u«u t»
-acn*m*«?i1 . *1 wa »*f1» u1 tv >\. Wt
am '•^TT -.'nan arvit ,aY«’i « v^'*" oi in*'"
•»^.jy - *,T. fi5 lrtt»tJvT1<il a^yvalfod lollnw bn*- b9*ioJs^‘T
<»,}^ t»> V^vln- '•i-w no i tn I r>dT**3 .nl^* ynolH*i»2 lf'»*t
ni aMj J aJMirro nr»l Nkv-MWdo «l hn* ffitJo-»rf» ^o iHutni
.ftr9”%A hnuMfilinqa H-mif
-®v-r» ilrJl ae-»o*'«y. iTriT
.asl3*<je niarl^ n*rtJ ilcvif^fnl t< tui ,*c*xiS bashaf • »J
52.
Also this species inhabits more or less all types of country
except current garden cultivation and old coconut cultivations
where only grass or few widely scattered low shrubs only are
found. When it does appear in such unusual areas Its presence
is quickly noticeable and it is very noticeable that at such
times as it appears in such unusual habitat it is to be found in
all other areas also in unusual habitat. Another noticeable thing
is that at such times when it is present in unsuitable habitat its
behavious is unusual. In forest to a small degree, in scrubs
more so and in unusual areas to a large or complete degree. The
birds appear in unusual habitat to have little or no interest in
normal ways of searching for food, but behaves in an excited and
agitated way, being very restless and flying in short quick dashes
here and there, calls much — not its v^arbling song but a low excited
"chip chip". Here and there it pauses to feed but never for long
and quickly returns to its restless behaviour. Early and late in
the day it appears calmer. V/hen first this behavious was noticed
observer noted birds v/ere hunting singly and having observed that
the species generally hunted in pairs or small parties up to six,
I thought the bird had only become separated from its mate or
party. But closer observation showed it was general in a greater
or less degree to the whole species at such times and could not
possibly mean that separation alone was responsible. Definitely
food could not be responsible for the out thrust in this species,
as in normal or forest habitat feed is shown to be plentiful,
because it is in such areas that more nearly normal feeding and
habits are maintained.
It is noticeable that in areas of densest numbers the
out thrust is most prevalent if unusual habitat is present. Gene-
rally speaking this species has a regular distribution throughout
iunox« Ut^ ’«« nr,|j-.vbl>.’ tw>»
..„ ,lnn »pl -I"* i ' •’<’ •“■'®
T. t! .H=u,p .1
„i ,c- oi il 11 I'll I-'' 1 •“OX''*' '■^"= ■"
„ni.U -•»^1«'- •■'-■•' ■'■•' ”*'* “'’■'*
,,| ,..il M ,l.lol!uj.»p nl «l It -I*"" *'
J4U-.JI ni ..-..il/'N -P '1 .r*i»xn" «»W-wl»d
. V-.P.I. .-.J<.t<r-:=> •><» Xf" ' '• « “*
, t IIP,-..)., I m V sIJlH ,'X,ll f lBli<l'-t 'iXf'.’X
1.™ !,•.■> !•» no ni in.’O.'o.t lu-' t*""
111". 1’ inWt’ '■'•■. ..•■Dw T.»V .yi*'
K«J| .n wil -..i' ', til'll' Jit K.B— Pto.n. «ll ' .'•■"‘11 t'"'' I'l't
(..ml nuT -.oy''' ixtl "’i"' It ’•'•'t-l '>™*
ni n-.-.I y... ■/I-,.;i .V. tv-rtn.'. M-IJW «it oi ••'■ulsi yl^'lw
h.,I)0>l «'• -'.t; 1--.iy "■'•-I'-' 11 '1'.l> »'t1
Vi: v-tvs-lc '' ’ ' • :-?nni2 'ilJfM'H fSild I '?0»i
,;.I? , . i;m Mittc I- f»J xn -5
MW- ’i; ®'’ ’
‘.-irc.Vi^y -1 r -H ' .*rlU/)*«/>34c ,
j ,, I, ..ipurti * i' m!- Jr» ©fo/Kv »r:j <Jl : *•'041*'
y(,. - tl J«*t5 1*^ vt<JI ?t'Xl
f 3 't* Js>nfb ■*uo D^lt to1 » 1 '•fl trtfsf; ta*i
.lir, ? ■'• t. '•.•%.! V.: avji'.-i -T ' o-i’V f t"! oo |#hnon <il 2i-
|j* V f m ■•0 '-■•ff* a#A0'. ni al
'•vm J3.- ?n4»h ■>'' nl i1 tl
. ! 4? Aii ftn^DrJ'i >l M*l -T''
53.
tall forest lands. A pair every 50 to 100 yards, in short forest
the population is much denser and more irregular and does not ap-
pear to be so strict in territory; or rather, territories overlap
to a great degree. Lower scrubs carry a scattered, scantier
population generally very regular in their territory and in margins
of even lower scrubs, old coconuts etc, the population is even more
scanty, though wider in area shows definite boundaries to its
territory or area which it usually inhabits. In real forest at
times of excitement a slight tendence to gathering in small parties
is shown, in low forest this is even more apparent and mobs of up
to a dozen or more become common except in gardens occurring on
such areas, where visitors are generally single or rarely 2 to-
gether but in the margins about the gardens numbers increase
enormously and much excitement, fluttering and excited calling
is noticeable. In other scarcely populated areas birds appear
to become more widely scattered and seldom are two seen together
even in small patches of scrub where for days past one has ob-
served a pair feeding together within the territory and close
about one spot always, and resenting intrusion of other birds in
the territory they have established as their own. After normal-
ity is restored birds apparently settle down to the old routine
and the same pair return to their territory and remain there
till the next period of excitement, in a month or so, occurs.
Observer by shooting and observation tried to establish
the fact that identical pairs returned to identical areas and
though without rining this could not be definitel proved in every
test, both in controls at time of normality and in times of
excitement, the evidence seemed to definitely point to such being
the case individual birds I believe ^ return to individual areas
and resume normal relations.
tno/<2 nt Of)| <'? \ .»hn« I Hoj
-Q*. 700 fvnr tr Fi/p3,n I i«ion Hna rtaum al noItiklucoQ erlJ
2oi>, M+i'iinf ,*io<?lrT -,y> „j t5|Tj, O, ^ q,
1 1* J J n<“*3« ,'':*T'»77o72 f \p'(i'.T a«;u^•*^ 13wr>j .Jt«'|09h a (>-J
aoIs“*i vr ri 1*1*7 ii*<d7 (t 1 iftfiiQsiH \»7wV vf(eT»nag riel7«fuQCi^
#i»n o<»vr aJ ^*r^*^fuqoc| .3;j adloooooo bin ,s6'in92 fi*v*i "^o
«jl *rt ar*lTf l.nuo*J i- lnr"' ?wr.r!a tk©ii». ni ‘i«blw
(rasi ,£ti '>ifnf yff»U£U ij rfaJdw e.-r^a io
rUm> of pnt^#.*J4r> ni oiv^Knai « iasitt&iJsxM Moilf
oi* adow l.n« ifwn^nr. -^lon nwvo k! afHj vyol of »f
Of* v''^***'*>*'>^ amd^itig rti to** thtpitjoj arviad -»<> * ol
“OJ t yf»i6-! T, (sTpofa yffois.nst;' ^,1* 2to?T21y »iidy.' .ees't* riaur
■I
fta/wa-.-.fil fi9tk.-in ?«v>V n<?7 tufrflo 2f|i icaw »rii of jiid
..inin .*-. KoJl;j»<«i •;««!* + f-j^o r<ou>n bm. yfeurvnooa
. j'lld ^-/.iMaoc ,'l&.iE.oe i‘.ffio oi .» irf *?:»fton iJ
ooi'-* HJ07 (‘l•*ae on-* •'H'j-I.fr b.m ,3? yf. ■ !„> ..nc^ *vrvo;DiHl oj
-do 2f*f1 fto., t? .c syrh no> foorlw ■ ^32 csf -j .rt Hare ol nsva
*aof:. '.n^ p*>7hn^3 Ad! ni.fflv ii-*dda(;o7 , M?bivr> iI-*<, « b»yia«
ni -t-oli -.adlv, =»o Orljl.-tMl ’.r. ,ay. .1 )0Qi -.no iVOila
-famf-n 1-^7’^ .rt'^ olod- »(. brriaildu7£& ©varl yofft yioilnaJ ertJ
»nl*»Kn bf., oJ ^ffr»g sbild bii^'io^aoi *i yil
o? ,m»i t.fi oiyjeT *nne *«t bn*
.p-uo.o ,oa rft*Tcr» *. n! , Jnwmsi >0 W.-I-*'h> Jkoo aHI Iff I
dfl'T'.iao r* f-.Aloi OM?jovT*aii<j fm#. Krtlioof!* yt/ i/avisedO
Kff. ,.t ’-Hmun**) eilae Isolj.wbl joib 734^ wfi
*Or,vft ol Srv, 10 Tvilon^h vd 7un bfuoa afrtj {.nfnli Tiitvl^rw rtBuodj
^.. a*r-?t „T Knr y7ll*«i£»ri w» mti Ifl ??.mnoo nl thorj ,ut.i
40la«! d5itr Yl-Jlnl'l©! ol b.^a*.** o^oohlv^ ,H- ,7n«B*Sl3xa
8ft4*J- l«**-lvlbril (W .nuioo ^ o.,?.ifAj 1 ituMvlKol acraa »fif
,»noi7 fin fctxnriM »t'ri>ae>i bm
54.
Observer could see no reasons such as mating or selection
of mates going on, or driving away of last year's young and so on
to account for the periodical movements. In fact no reason for
the movements could be arrived at and the only conclusion was that
such periodical movements were fairly regular and arose from some
unknown cause.
SUMMARY OF TIDE LIKE MOVEMENTS OF BIRDS
Beyond establishing the fact that tide like movements of
birds did take place on Uvea at regular and irregular intervals in
many species present on the island, the shortness of my stay pre-
vented me going more deeply into the causes of this movement, and
no real proofs were obtained, but observers believe the causes are
probably due to two factors.
1 . Overpopulation of bird life on the island (and en-
roachment of natural habitat by cultivation to a limited extent).
This seemed to be pointed to by the fact that the commonest species
showed the movement most clearly. This has caused a tendency for
strictly regular habitat species to try and adapt themselves to
unusual habitat and possibly partially succeeding. Uvea being a
rather infertile island shows a definite lack in most fruit eating
species, a good supply of fruit and insect eaters, and a good
supply of flower, nectar-insect eaters and a fair percentage of
purely insectivorous birds. The latter probably having arrived
at a later date than the other. Pachycepha 1 a being a mollusc
eater and also possibly the earliest arrival has increased even
more rapidly. My iaqra possibly arrived somewhat later and is not
yet as well established as the other species (Pacy. and Gerygone) .
Rh ipidura has only just arrived and is not yet established and
still exceedingly rare. Aplonis a fruit-snail and insect eater
has progressed better than the purely fruit eating pigeons.
fio|-t?©f-vz no *'■ on no? ^^Fuc? -^\no«<10
nc ax bn?. f»niK>y «'n-aiV '{r-^ polvHI no ,no pnJo«? *»»«r ’Fo
nr.^ nca<^v»i on nl .iin^^tovoci l»o5HoIn*o "<o> truKon* o^
lorft ztA'f noizuF:>no3 yino »rfi bn#i Sa b»vF-'n^ o-: blim:. «jn©r*v<«» »dl
aino* F^nr. n-fuco-t «if«.M©v-in r«lSofi«j Houf
.♦auto fiwoAJinu
?,Ofia (^' 3-Ft.F y^AffUjZ
>o «5nsfi»vow •Jin obH t«rt5 »«l:f r bfiT-yatl
nJ ifovTlnl nofupanni bm- n^lur*- * .jo S36f(< tib »bnld
-*m«) yr^a '^r- ^^aontncwfa oHJ .hn^.laJ no Jnsani?? aolooo* yn»
Kn* .Jf»*m*vow cIH3 zaxxkbo o/tl ojnl yfijesb o*»OH» (>nIop tm b*Jnav
*n» eij*u©0 avallat- anovn!»«vo .b^nluj'^o ensv/ a^oonq I**! on
.2'io»^1 ewi o1 •o^ yldtdonq
-ne bn©' nHl no a^ft hnid lo rwi JftIuqpqiovQ - 1
: taaim • oJ nofi«v!'Hu3 y^ 7«3l<l«-r’ f*ni»5nn inwnrfooon
»l>n<»e Je avmoo »H< yd '. f oi Ka«»* »ldT
n»y /onohfoiJ 0 hfixuso xati zlriT .ylnualn )xot> beworit
vJ ?av(*2it»ri‘* bn& ynj '1 1* nfrlur#n
A !>nl *vl' . .nib'^ony? yll I ,'f»Jt *avH? bna Uu<wm»
pnif'rf. ilunl 3»«n "T '^^1 .. avtoHa n®Hi*n
’ .JO? « bna ,«nB<tr» l3* ml bn* Jlinl yyfou.i b»uv «* .wlooqa
^o so» »no.^n-»n nl*l » Hno an»j6»t ,n**von %o ylcqua
h-vT->n«. pnlvfiri yidadonq nt»jj«l •ifT .sbnld aumwlJOoanl yUnuq
neun^^i G (jnn.d ofari<tf>?v»b‘n^ .nr.rfjo sHj n*Hj •5»h n®J«I • }•
nnvi» Nr>?/tnn3nl a*H Invlnn* lesU'T'-® yldla»Ofj 0«l« bn*
Ion rI bnr n®j*l }*f*viorw>e hovHn* yIdUaoq tenptiyh ,yIHqf-n 9icp#
. bno n*Hto n<ii *9 flow «• IpV
*.r>n boftal l*ifci?4» J*y ->«n al bne bovlnn* 3*ul yfno aert
n®3»ii. hii« n«.nv3lin1 o jijasJii.; ‘^^n ylgqlb*onK® IllJa
.8norf*fln ijnllno Jim’) yl&nnq ©rtJ n»H) toji®*! bo*a®nr.ono a*rf
55.
2. An as yet unbalanced bird status on the Island and,
possibly because of comparatively recent arrival, a still strong
population increase tendency to fill the available food supplies,
which has lately reached a full but unbalanced "between species
ration." This is showing a throv'/ing off or balancing tendency
by causing a new colonial or spreading tendency along the island
chain to the westv^ard of the mainland, an unconscious colonising
tendency. This tendency has been enouraged by the form of culti-
vation in many parts of the island helping the birds to slowly
adopt unnatural habitats by causing expansion into them for
short periods, because of their irregularity and strip form more
or less encouraging birds along narrow lines of natural or semi
natural habitat in irregular directions, and later when the urge
to return to natural habitat is strong, birds probably make a
straight direction for their normal area or small territory of
habitation. Thus crossing unnatural habitats and feeding en
route they become more or less used to feeding in such unnatural
areas. I believe definitely lack of food does not cause the
outward movement, but some kind of inner or outside unknown
impulse induces them to wander wider.
UNCOLLECTED RAIL In the taru swamps of Uvea a small black rail
is present, called by the local natives OIH-NEI-DU, which I can
only place as PORZANA tabuensis. It is exceedingly shy and though
not rare in the limited area of these swamps is most difficult to
to collect and only very fleeting glimpses are ever obtained of
it. It is just possible it is a new species or subspecies as it
does not appear from descriptions to tally very closely with £.
tabuensis though actually native descriptions of it are unreliable
as they seldom catch more than a glimpse of it and to many it is
bnivfal Ntl.J K«na- #oy
t*n<m« 11115! c ,Uvl «-a dap6:>«»(i ytdl«eon
,*:t![<»cu2 hod^ «Iite(lov« orti fir* oJ vnnaKnot nolulwjo^
l K«»5rtrf'./inu rlud lfu^< * itel/lw
vsnaJinpl io '''*1 * .nol5«a
«x11 ^oiiohnoi cnil’*'''''ce *»o f*»JiTol«o wori «i
^I*ioofo3 euofaancwnw n» ,'*n^Inl *i fHJ hT«vrta?<w #rfJ of t\\%A>
-!itu:> tmo^ srtJ yd Krto/i'iuom* fv/ad ?6H aldT .y^nabnal
ylMofa ''i ’^rlt jjniqfsd 5><' l«* yn^*!' nl nofi^v
'>(y^ ' ,»>1 oJni nol ?fi' c/9 5^^i^u^^ yd d l**uiJ4rtmi }qt^«
Mi.i..' teruit 'il-iia b’*n y3 ii.j (ilf»<n*il *o »ju*5r i .slx^Wao Inod*
j ,» no It'wOjj'i ix> cz^riF f v<yvi 'Vi t’fwii''* 8l'*'i'J a**f "'®
•*ir*>(r rrdj '*#tsf 'n*i ,>'lolJ. *tl- al (>k*iulftn
A. ^ilfvi Yfdrr.ioiq ^biJd .pflci i ii Ip ' 1 i. ri l«nuiE i o3 nyuleT o.i
=Jo vno3H*»-tl Her*? to «»®*»r f wion tl- rf*! 'xoif iwlltmfb irigUtf*
n» pnlbi'w'1 bfi*. ^TAlldnH I ^n1*nn<* eolp^on «uffT .fwlJ»3ld*H
Utu)n«un djua n! tnlfvie’l ' » bt>au to f*'ior •wrrJwl v«rir #11101
#?F1 "‘iu-'t Jf»fi • k> K Mit\ ylA-*f •?!■!">' •«vftff'>d • .*Mt^
fiw»>o»J'iu »! i.-tMo to tAiHil V ».nP , i'ipu!»*v.*' bt«w3uo
flit Id fl rjD? jm\t \o a<T».1* *2 yir. f «ffl ft! ^{j;. I T3.YJJPJKW
I |( FfS-.v , -i[ ‘l-;*|» . vilOA In-vil 5*»bt y^i h'*\\ms< YJO'-aset# al
''T# «jl 't . *l as ?-•' lo ylr'O
>i !?np< ?T pwrti "lo :-tt #rtj rtf ot^t Ion
^ fi; ■lUtHfi tr.'i» -.-'" ,’_'.amin<^k (.nl)c>L>l^ vtev ylno bno 3-v»ffo3 ot
•’! ai •>'1 7c<i?: to ?pi. - i m •*1 ‘i »J nafH«| iru^ al *1 .if
V -.•If. Vi o' ad»'l loitoe!’!' t«o<si^*. inn .tar’.*
* ti'^ IlttTsu *n,» 3f -tlib ®vf >4rt UOffI 8f»nflttd’‘.l
ef 1? foirtu 03 In* if lio v*«.*'tl{> ti ot.m rtoiio ««obte» v«fti *>■
i *
56.
unknown except by heresay. Only one or two remarked on its very
red eye and none remarked on the rusty plumage of the back. From
glimpses I caught of it myself, I believe it is P. tabuensis or
closely allied but it appears to me to be darker, smaller, and
shorter in the body than that bird. It favours the parts of the
swamp which are in fallow, i.e., a dense 2-3 ft. growth of
tussocky swamp grass with a cutting edged leaf (sword grass).
I made very strenuous attempts to collect it and failed with dogs,
snares and lines of native beaters, and beaters and dogs. Lanes
were cut in swamps in places but the birds refused to cross even
long after the lanes had been cut and birds had become used to
tliem. Being very small birds they could easily hid in tussocks
(a habit of P. tabuensis especially in event of fire) and be
passed over. Had I had good dogs I would probably have been
successful but the local dogs were useless mad headed brutes
and by rushing ahead likely as not turned birds back past beaters.
Had I been allowed to use fire in the swamp over a small safe area
I might have been successful but the local natives would not
agree to this even with twenty yards fire breaks out. They con-
tended that this surface growth represented many tons of valuable
rubbish for rotting in their cultivations elsewhere and if burnt
would necessitate their carrying other material long distances
and that meant too much WORK.
The bird was often heard calling early and very late
(almost dark) a thin weak little call and could be called closer
and to within a few feet of the observer but never left the
densest cover and was never actually seen at such times. I never
once saw one fly or in an open place of any sort, the bird evi-
dently prefering to keep some vegetation between it and the sky.
a^t iy> jvrt no Yfnl) . ''•-aonar^ \H Jcwona r^^P^}^n^J
ri rj' . api'.pttJ f o yiain "'ri-* i1» K-t/n'-mn aron b«« aya Kan
no^gi->K l .*! 3' :?» -'Van'-.l I 3rH“>'-' »
hn' «nt»fl fiz ,n«^*inh su! o^ -l’ enn'Kri "* J '*'** KniM * yfoaofs
Mflj %o ain'iQ ant**^’/^^ f j .’•■>1'^ ?«id^ nut^'f yKo»1 w*fc? ol na^noH*
f^l'‘>f‘ny i”5 aeouK ,.-;.J < ^oIIb^ hI ana rfslilw caia>>a
.(zavnp Know?) KonK^ .Hi^ua i fttiw «aa--v q^'**'-** yj<3o««ul
rtjia# b*>ri«1 Kna tl 1aafF<io 01 tiffnn'iiti 2ta>u.'^»nl3 vnav abun I
fmrt*. . . -i,-’^' bn& an«l»>ad Kns * I "^o son! J Koa aanana
/t»v» iBono o? hoauTan ai<l iu*» eaaulQ nl nl Juo ani>w
ol Kt>dU t-VHi i.~'?*'^ ^'Cff aKnIili ^ns It/y rtaa-tl b* aril niJ^a ^noi
c^iaocaL*} nl yl I ?.>y ' Fu* > yn»i ? .•••nii; liuMa y*t*v pnla3 .ataj'J
«J K/ii: ^o >ft» n-- rti Y> t ->S'‘l ,*l ^o Jl lAri a)
rh»r»tF ovarl yl-.iiidontj bfuow I 2®o»' K«»l I .n/'vr' battaq
^^.Ju•^t) WrK 'wl Kaar caalaan on»w ^(yjh fnof’f li»d (i»ttaa3ou«
.enalJHHf? itj.q *Knl«j Kaoiul loo yj0i>Fi ( Ka-ruv polritun yd boa
#aif alaa llaaia * navro qtaawa ndi tiT -»nn oaii oJ hawnlff. n>»*d t biM
ton Kt*»oh» t9v}j.,n FiOiOf oHJ iwd lu'^e^aaoua itao . avoH F
-noa yoHT .Imo aJaand Dnf*F aKn .y vloowt liJiw aav» »iHt nt ^nt:*»
mldauFav ^o anol yo.jw Kalnaasnasn Hj*/onp r»’«>n*i2 eldt laHj fcabn^l
Iwntid Kofl anarlwnafa an* Fl >vJ r In-. nliflTl o? pnllJ'in no^ rl2ld«lm
taaniipiib ttonl Ifcln-ntnrr loHjn niarfj »'tatl -^z^nan Kluotv
. fKiy ooi lfiii*<n t»Ht hm
*lcf ‘o-jV t oe- yfno* po?n o Knii*d -nat^o 4M/ bold offT
naaoTn lK.|lf,p o<i Kt<M>3 Knn flo ’•fTtU olKi « '’^nob lacwla)
»Hl non/.»fi lu J navnr>:?<jci «>rtl tao’l wa*} a oIHflw of boo
npv-.Ki t donz nao8 y|Ki>3.^»’. nav2>.i anw »-n* navoa taaanab
-Iva Knit.i aril ,lno« yoa ^ «>oal<( oaflo <3<- ol no yl’^ ono >*»a aooo
.V?l« odt Knr. il 030’''l'>d noMoia^av ainioa 000.4 of polna'lanq ylJnob
57.
Rare glimpses of it were caught agains the bases of turrocks
in patchy spots and by lying down amongst tussocks with a very
limited range close about some occasional glimpses of the bird
were obtained. It has exceedingly sharp eyesight and at the
least movement it simple vanishes.
I placed a big price on the bird if any native v/ould
bring me one and for many days packs of school children and dogs
hunted the swamps unsuccessfully. Many young Hypotaen id ia
(black fluff ball stage) were brought me as OIH-N'EI-DU and called
such by many children and natives, but older natives were emphatic
that they were not tru OIH-NEI-DU. The older men admitted that
only latterly the name was being often used wrongly for the young
of Hypotaenidia. and a local missionary verified this for me.
The same missionary years ago saw one and remembered the very
red eye but was sure the back was not rufous tinged. As well as
he could remember "the whole bird was more of a blue black with
pale pink legs, rather short legs and a short bill, and a very
very red eye." (his own words)
Hence I place the bird as P. tabuensis or a very close
relative. in view of the fact that I definitely know P. tabuensis
is present on Mare Island and Lifu it is more than likely it is
the same on Uvea, but make the observation that the Uvea bird
might be a variant, because of descriptive differences and mainly
because of very different habits to those known by me elsewhere
for this species.
rt1 Urapm - •*»• ••"’ ‘
vni 1 •rf^ 1G inac^Mv f*rwl:i%.>- f»» 1 m I I
ofti < ^•nv= c*it Hs* 'r(i?rtnHf':^»t»» «-'♦ *• •' -' "fo
^-.f.i V ■»? t(N^I
-.vIlAfl vn^ tl 'i!.' .-kl-ifl olj - t
^.4, tvnr rtsi» fM? f--a.bi! lo .-.Ir -vo r/, '• v>^ fc »♦-««& *P
t.rt.,»o' Y«- ,.'Mi.tas->r.:*»>smi *vjrJ»/a crf-» WnUf<
v^r|.^> h»j.’, 'A -» * i-^'P »| •«* 5fi-j4i.r>-; i^-‘ ^ ^7uff
.>f?«.r'«^ 7.' f« *M<* ,‘?vM *.n S,tr vnt* yd
Mlif Kvltlnh*. .!#«!- 7-’ fo ,’T .••■'-•'^)ir!2 inf V->
v(^(W!>*:w h-i iU a -' •*> ' yl^ujjal yjfio
' jl,i, ivs,ii?7^y '■'’' 1 *1 I * «^U'A'
nr-v -irtr Ua-ia-k' <49^ bn/. ;uia tsj- ?7--" *r**»»cl a*J*-i »>»« *»<T
es II .Src'ii-^ >*Jo^u*t t*m a^ f .1 -.d •'♦ua i»6'' fv I *V«
K-^fw jl»*.l‘< syH •* ^.' n'lOW ;»<*V bi P “'' ■ 5»df‘ i tlun^ »d
V»«v » lull. ,nifJ iT/da 5 l.'tr •'; il I-."!? 7n<<7*n ,at*l
< ^,Mi n|H \7y4 ^"7 -n^v
yiov 70 a lentil.*-: r - ’^•i’ ”'■ ^ *7««H
>5 »^’^ ' vI.*trnjH!. I 'Wt'*
al ff fl'''T I '■•*; 7 w »' *ir*< t8!f •7<nW nv lrwfcr»<j »l
* *!ld * ■•v'"' ' *l‘ rH'I J .^v7y?!5o Mi tJ'jtn *•'■) ,.»».V( n/> .jn* 1 MJ
ylnltftft b,i^ -oo"' -.'>‘t^n ..v,f3,.t-,-,j»«.v i /.au< ^p.-* -« M Irts-IeB
o? I j> e»' /d ^ny.>nd ...7i)fl1 of ? I‘i*4 ina*»#mh y^V >» ‘*W%0«d
,»®1 f l»h 70^
58.
ZONES OF BIRDLIFE
SPECIAL INDIV. BIRD SPECIES
Lichmera: Notes made on this exceed! ing common species.
This species is very common and plentiful anywhere on
the island where coconuts are and except in mangrove swamps is
never found far from coconuts. I found nowhere in forest lands
did the bird penetrate more than 150 yds. and generally it was a
rare visitor as much as 50 yds. in, only a very few getting much
beyond that distance. Up to 50 yds in is fairly plentiful,
especially 9 and imm. which greatly outnumber cT in this areas,
d" outnumber 9 in coconut areas by about 20 to 1 but in forest
and scrub margins 9 outnumber d* considerably. The exact ratio
is rather hard to judge because of immatures but I believe is
about 4 to 1 approximately. 9 are definitely very much more
plentiful than on Mare Is. and the over all ratio of d* to 9 would
probably be about 10 or a little more to one 9. The greatest
numbers of 9 are found in the first few coconuts or lines of
coconuts near scrub and for 10 or 15 and decreasing up to 25
yds. into forest or low scrubs. Almost invariably if a female
is found well out amongst coconuts, low brush or shrubs or a
single large dark fol iaged tree will be found within 25 or 50
yards at the most. At times when in forest I thought I had found
L i chmera well in and far from coconuts but invariably found a
small isolated patch of coconuts on going a little further, some-
times no more than half a dozen palms with perhaps only 2 or 3
Lichmera inhabitants or larger numbers of palms and L i chmeras .
In such small patches 9 almost invariably outnumbered.
An interesting fact is that though Lichmera is almost
a purely coconut living and feeding bird, probably 90 per cent
ST I nr n lo
'1^18 .VI mi
/*iBFW »nl Ih-*s^x9 a?H5 no ^Kiuj
no IiiSItnAlo Hnn mrrvso ’p«>v ai «*i
el eisrr'wa 9vn*»smr nl f<^7K»x» I't*. •'1« e^mioon^
eK/i«l JeeioT ni ^*V"flMon Hnunl I .eJUnO-'Oa ry.i^S hnonS *inv»n
• a#iv it vfUnan&e H.m .aby 0?l nr.rlf ottm •HJ htK
rt>U(*J ws>^ yiAv e yfno ,ni .eby 0? «f Haun as ^o^l8lv •n»n
.lu^lJnslq yfnlsl at fit tJ2 <j’J ."s^rw - t<xrlj bnoyed
.e),-T eIrtJ nl ' nedtro/iiuo ‘1^*'^'^ •'Jnl tine ^ Y(f#.l>oq2»
4e->tcrt nt md I «i Oi juoHe yd et^evt nl natlrwfUuo t
eiisn 9flT .yldoBM #iko * lad^ntiniuo 9 enltnwn dunae Imi»
el '-d.-lloii I iiid e;nuJ«if*r*l Ho saueaad »p*>u|, oi bn«d nortJen al
enOH rioiw ynov ylailnlHol’ btb . /Ib" «nlx*^ncqf t o'W luods
Moc»' 9 qJ '' Ho oHfti lie levo bn* .al «0 n^»dl InHItnelq
Te'^^WTS oftT .V 9#K) crj Bitiw if*?! I ft n<< Of tiwd* »•!
V> >*ntT lo aHunnXia ‘•»n »^n «*d1 fit bnuo1 »ne ^ 1« ■•l•drtIU^
uj cfii pnl ?>.*i ’ fv cl It' f' f noH bn., .lin^e Tfi«n »»wc^oo
• !(yiv«H « Hi vf ' .In vnt «*^"l in oJfll ,?by
w *) i ? 'ir r!? *in •’»nnL' --d ,*lM/tcos>j .Mfo tfq*. bnooH il
n," in fiHit" il in / stfni lvat*UoS r'.Tr- f algnl?
. «.
hniKiS ixftrt I 1.l( uqit.’ 1 liin.t'i nl ws^lJ iA .tawia aHS le lbn»y
•* bnuoH s'l'*' Ins^vnt in<* a tnfr-a«..5 wonH neS bn« fl? f l**f i J
-sw'u? .ncdJt'T ftl+itl . |.(ili.ii i>q »Sw/ioo» Ho iio1*q boisioal n«n>
" no S. yf'^o vqniJnno tltlv. er^lMq nosob & HUd niwli •ion cn eomti
. •‘inotifbU bn Hn ?n..-%wn ni?{rnul no «?n6it .ImIoI eiawH; t J
.', nd»tun'»ii*n '.ml ieo«tu 9 todoiiwi flM-ie doo* nl
'Je.HTlft si ;Vj'fLd9L.U dcnifl* a**'H si ^nUaonoinl nA
i<n»s nnq 'T.Wvdonn ,lnt«' nntbodH hn* pnlvll lunoooo ylo*uiq ft
>dnt J
i»CS «IHT
pi
59.
of Its time being spent in and about palms (10 per cent in bushes
and shrubs growing between palms and near trees) it does not
roost for the night in palms. At dusk one may observe birds in
purely coconut and grass areas making all hast for the nearest
large dense tree or patch of tall scrub, often at considerable
distances. It is an early and late caller and leaves in the
first grey dawn for areas again well within purely coconut
cultivation. I made many efforts to find birds in palms at night
even in low dense coconuts a few years old but all showed negative
results. The only reasons I could see for this was that palms
did not offer sufficient cover from natural enemies, owls and
snakes to a small degree. By the excited behaviour of this brid
when they see a rat I believe these also possibly are natural
enemies, certainly to eggs and young but possibly also to adults
at night. Rats frequent the palm tops at night, not to feed on
green nuts as do ships' rats, but to feed on flowers and very
young nuts and obtain water in some dry areas. Merely their
presence would be frightening to birds.
Movement : - It is noticeable that this species also shows
a tidelike movement in the other direction (i.e., from coconuts
into fores^ but to a very sharp boundary line only a short dis-
tance within forest areas, but within such areas numbers Increase
enormously for a day or two. These waves did not coincide with
waves of other birds, though occasionally they did so. They
definitely did not coincide with Myzomelas outwards movements in
a single instance.
When returning across the lagoon from one of the out-
lying Islands on the western reef on which we had to land and
shelter from bad weather, in a small 15 ft. sailing dinghy, I
saw an example of the exploring and inquisitive and spreading
*it 'f***-' **<*'• J e >u«Wt. '•fff. ol 'hi -id 9«Jj ail
.1 t'sc'f' bnfi irf r rt#«*yi«K* iduirta bft«
rsf af''i?*‘ (lisn 10 ir .awltip nl id*>1n »f?i lol Jaocn
*rtt ici )a(H f f‘ p»»l 3Ufe**iA aai»*>B boo luoooo®
B f don »bi anti j noi^o ,d«ri3if f f .? '^o rioioo no •»nJ *annb •gnoF
B’jln nl aa»VAof bn*i n**lfro 9if-F hns /fioo o* a1 il .aopnoJzlb
IkdopOo '/I'M'iq nlft*Iw Ifw i'5 ■ «:<tBn« nol imn
T ft actlKo ni boF^ oi aino^lp yn*vn nbi%ii I ..lol 1 >vF 3 F i>o
BviJogato Ho.«da ff-' ill'! bio «n«»p'< o atumou^ ^anob w>F ol o»vo
a^nlop iorti a^w aJHi noi »«»* bfuon I anoe^^on yl *0 ?»rfT .zifua^n
kn« elwo ,> Ir^fio fAnoi’^o 9r»n^ nsivon in^FnlUu^ ns'^lo ion bib
Mni zuli ’to nuoTv**rif'‘- bn»l3>n prti .onngob ff«i>a e oi e»>Ufta
roto+iJi on.. yIdln-irK| ..»F« • /pUb.I I ion b ooa yorli oorfw
2tl«b-. <»1 ozl ' /Ft^Je.nnti r»'^ ROUf' j' ' o? '.'Fnluinoo ,t«lnn»n*
rro boon o3 fid', Fo (*0'‘'i r.* Fi..n nfiJ inpufi'an’t sii’.JI .id|,'in 3*
ynov hrt/i j*nO'of’t <o oi 1 i'< .ar n ‘zolil/* a* ciun ini#n^^
nl'wFi yf^i -f ,z»Mnfe y*»i' n? oBfww *ift3'*o ''Oi. a’'»n j?n'»<>y
. •b-ild oi frriF rw^ifjn’i •<! Mfo<-' opnnaonQ
ri*iri? oalfc jPon al 3l
zti*fTOo^.'n <'ic‘i^ .."••IF fto|i>jpn?s noflin MfVt ni fiwiiwvam o^FIlabli •
»•..,f*^ f, 'f'tn i»n?F ^'n.'bnuoit Vt#v b o3 ijtd ^aono’t OJnl
,.a»-. fii c”* sc>ne fhu!> nldliw l»<d ,5..<n,^ ntdilv B^nei
(tilw .%1’jpoFo.n »on M*- anvs,-; no YOfci - n*Jl yl*Uo*noo*
Yod*: .(j? !’!’• VorFi ytt'tu l.n. -oo tfi^vcifH ,nLnN n^rfJn »#v»w
ni z’v.Tovoin ''b-i*.»i1u.' j^F 'iji'd »>'1'Ml )n itvi Ub ylwJ lai
.^SrOfcltf’i *lQois *
- 'i> ?^»fl7 ’to *'io fion> o»nO(^ol aili aaonao enlmoiBn n»tiW
Vnr. bnuF .,i ' . f1 ' '^oi'<W no msiaow orfi .w aF.noFal uolyf
I Qnili. a .It t l ? F««!? It. nl .norii^nw bw! iwint nB|l»fl«
e»ilb*®npt; ’'or, riv?M?}iir^ii Fsrtik^ <^nlnolajo» nrti to aFfifsiK# ms woa
60.
propensities of this species. V/hen 2 miles across vjind and 3
miles to leev/ard and 15 miles from the mainland (up wind) from
the nearest land and that only 2 small islands at the distances
stated, a L i chmera came flying strongly across v;ind (nearest land
2 miles) cicled the boat, and returned across wind tov/ards the
land 2 miles away. It circled the boat and did not appear dis-
tressed or tired and returned landwards flying strongly at about
15 fee above the sea, and to as great a distance as it was visible
was flaying strongly and losing no altitude. The sea was fairly
calm 3 or 4 foot waves, with a moderate S.E. wind (scale no. 4)
weather sunny and showerly, but generally fairly fine, visibility
fair to good. In the direction which the bird was traveling v;hen
it approached the boat the nearest land would have been a small
island 8 to 10 miles further on than the boat, and from the deck
of the boat it was still below the horizon though it may have
been visible to a bird at 15 feet. I believe it was the sail
which attracted the bird, it possibly mistaking it for a tree or
vegetation. The bird easily overtook the boat which was making
4-1/2 to 5 knots on the starboard tack at the time though gaining
very little to windward.
NYMPH I CUS : - This species Is far from extinct and the
status of the species has improved greatly over the past few years.
Before the last big hurricane during 1932-3 hot season (and a less
severe one a year later) (N.B.; (Whites say 1932-3 natives 1933-4
but no one locally had a diary record, natives are probably correct)
the bird v/as very plentiful and must have been exceedingly so for
poor observers and bushmen like the Uvean natives are to say such
was the case. At those times the birds suffered somewhat from
persecution as live bird fanciers in Noumea took large numbers of
them for local captivity, (they were and still are a favorite cage
«• uttf. 220*43st &al\n ^ a»l5l*ftoqcnq
'v.nf qw hW, Ifiicrt ry.n^ 7-*nm .M V.<7f. b-»fA^w»r oj Mllm
^6^^r^ai^ -Jf»J aKm'JzI Ucn? ' '/»no '-n'. bncl *ri^
Kn^t latf^tind; Hni./ aaonac 'l«no*i>i noWfi
eth giii^*oJ szt^oa KartnuJ-#'! Kno ,lfeo<J wW Kof->1» ^b<sM» S
-2r-> ■ir.*K;qr. **1^ Hnr. H .«^ftvjf. *i.ri*Ti : H««l
)utid4 Si ^^Ie.lC.■>^^ 3\.'tf..’bn I boo'y^Si--! '>tl* b*->l3 >0 V>»«e»nJ
»f i|«W 3«W 5l > ^r.3^^. «« 21
zrAJ &»a »*1T .oJ^wlliIo or erilcol bn-. yftnmJa [nWof> saw
V .on aliwa) *3*2 a rtJi'v ,*«vw»# iwl ♦* lo E mlao
Yimdlaiv ,ann ^i» : ,\'f*«^VKx!5 ynnui
7iftIli»v«T^ !f;w bild »ils (Liiriw rt'.'I > •’*!■» ->iii ni oi ila^
n*;.i A di»d -^v ,fl bfuo^*' hw! ->fi *<l? ^5od ^.Vfl3*..-nqc« 5l
J-Mn’ inC-il h4i- ,s-nl %f<j nniit r»o ar-Hfi r,S ^ bn»ltl
•ViM^ Y"*'’ n»»stiofl ''^-i '•«-tl«»t< ffl}?. 3»v# Jl ■* ■•* mfiS
MftZ aril li I bt?u .^ oi nfriltlv maad
lo aaij r, To^ ?! ;'nl;Uialm vfriiazoq ll »btld firij rtairiw
OnUrj.1 RSV4 riolri^ ?'>od sHj ^ootn >vo yI'?*»o b?!'* a^ ,fioUAloc»v
p*iin!s^ rit'wori? »nl7 '»ffi ?a ilaa? biKOd^Ata orH ^ 2 oi S\ht^
.h*i w-jlniw <>1 slJJll >nav
aib bnc ?onI?K» /tfoi^ m'i a! >iti3s- a zlrfT -• i
.a";»»Y laoq t»rti ir>vo Y!d»«Tij !i^vo*<qn! **ri •(*? to cu?a?a
ef«( « Kn-/ (fOit.*R ?ori i*oHub glJ ?«*! art? •lo’toi
*'-£?: ! envitr.n ! yaP ;.3.H) 'la?®! laay a a«u anavse
f?ootT<ir» y!-*'' )<r»q <n*s ? >vl t t .bnooi*'* vi'.js yH oof ano '<••1 lud
yo> 04 YTynl'-'^vo^q* ntori ovv< ?*i* b'** Iu^!?n«lo /t<»v bnirt aril
rfo’j* oi 5'^» s^vltrn orjivU atO " Ml nK*«ri3i»d bon srevnando -»ooq
wm^ ?. ,+«* ^*4 b«7a1^iia irb-tld «rt? a«nl ? ^acnrt-? 1. .»«*3 aifct i*w
’Hj »-i»<#3uo ‘f- ^ «1 4*ib1'>oo^ MIt *>vU «& iio!iuooa*ia#
0^49 -A 'Hi in?* boA »nakJ yorl?ir ,y-MYHr«9 laao? 'varlJ
61.
bird with local French because able to talk) and for re-export
overseas. There actually was and still is a law prohibiting
the live export of the bird from Uvea but this was not enforced
and at the present date even the local resident (resident gen-
darme) does not know there is such a law in existence and even
government officials in Noumea knew nothing of such a law. On
my arrival and request for special permits to shoot a series,
officials were amazed on looking up the ordinances to find such
a law had been enacted. In the face of the known numbers in
captivity in Noumea, some even in the aviaries of prominent
officials, authority quickly re-interred the knowledge and to
the best of my knowledge nothing further has been done about the
law. During my stay on Uvea I knew of 5 young live birds going
to Noumea but I know positively these are the first which have
left the island since the big hurricane early in the 1930's.
I knew of k specimens in captivity on Uvea, all having been in
captivity all having been long in captivity, and during my year
in the Loyalties 4 of these died. Before the big hurricane
natives on Uvea were paid 5 and 10 francs and up to 25 francos
for each bird which survived a week after arrival in Noumea.
The franc was then worth about 4 cents, American). I was told
on first arriving in Noumea that prices then offering to natives
for a single bird alive ranged from 150 francs to 250 francs and
even more (franc worth about between 10 and 12 cents American)
but birds were absolutely unobtainable. I was advised that it was
probable I wouldn't find the bird, as all Uvean natives declared
it was extinct. On arrival in Uvea, passing through that island
enroute to Mare, inquiries from white residents and natives seemed
to bear this out. On arrival 4 months later to work on the island
jTocxer">-T rbnoiT fWlw WtJ«<
pnisi 'U^'no waI « 2l W »-.•-/ \'H
alHt iu.! '.^v' •-Kn’) H*,|.' «rtl liooxr. evil .Hj
-r«P Inool ..rft riove ei-*b ineae'io «rb *e bne
rt.va Sn6 «nn.nlK^ nl -el Hou.r al *^Oii a-^ob (e^ieS
...,r .-, rf^oa -1o pnlrflon ^/■.^:t A.«iuoH ni af^lomo ImimrtieVoe
,B«in»e We o1 --tl«-.oq lrH*os ’-''* l»vl*.’’» yn
fl^oa hr.n li ^oT’A^,n^^>^o 3f*l CJ1J .vaHooI a*> I’*/-- A', •n'-' elt^lal^^o
nl a'3*-tu.-i ru^M erb fo .' ic, . :. <u* ^.I *
Jn->nl«nip aoHaive ^rii «1 ,oef>uoM fit vj1v5»q«
Ol Koc «H2 b^nnolnl-av \'l bi'*P v:»Ho^-*o« .slilamo
•rfjr tuode onob «ie^H ear’ -..rlrljon W eHl
gqlOB cHtUI -vU eniK'Y ? I AevU no y.i* t* cn^irt .w«l
-.v'.d rteifWr 13-1 n r>Hl .•3-1-. yl'V/ijlaoq >k,oI I lud «.%«uoM Qi
.e'0;i'l 3di ol yI*.- * ••»»=• 1-«'»u/I l?i ' 'dr a:;'il» bntl?! *rfl I’^el
n! peJv.fl Us -rrt ‘.-flvi.^qAo nl fin.*>l:»«c2 |i >q .nknU I
Tkiay yn enlTMb V*oa ,vH'/lJrin3 ft! (.no! neivH oiWrrl Ha vjJvljqM
snu:>lTU'H rH i'1 *’ r-rlJ nl
9T£>r>»-^ I'' oi cu l.MA 3r»mn1 n| bn- c bl-.. ov>w *«vU w> a^vUen
.ifceMWt'H ni 1 iVl-n* nft1n r. Wvlvnii? fblrf-' b'tM ft -a no1
MoJ e«*w I .'nr.Dimn ,)»ln*o “ ^uiub rl^nriw fdt f*a »rfT
*evltA<i nt t,t'b nn»H r'-o?*,*} b.ftl nwuo*l nl yiiivlvto l?nH rio
K*>c •t-wi-'i'l "“1 <»' Q'nt -i : 0?f **W^ l.*L*n-n wil-. bniii -»|y»n1a «
■oftnrnvi v' I '-0‘ ''! f’-nvlia %kki4^ finoM 3ftn-,V enon nevn
-*TV *1 " .i-r ) .A|-Sfl-i4onu yI#1"I«'s^1* ^bnid 4i.^
'^n. r-.v. 4:,vH.n rh'#V»> n.. a.. ,MT ’ n^i '-nl^ l yfdadono
f.tJ? .?t.t>-nrb tnl«n,r ,n>xyti nl I ^vHnq r^' ' .>.mliv.e it
5iyP»-« li<WL 2jn"M»n*i '^■tlrtw ''in> a/*Htupnl •' » ''.uoYn»
bn 1^31 ,rn No^atJ-j 1).-1»1 ^ r-rl^nv n .T^k ?lf^i oi
.. «■
r
I quickly got in touch with natives who admitted its existence
in certain areas, but all said it was extremely rare and doubted
I could get one, and certainly not a series. On my first real
day's shooting I saw one and actually because of close range
used a 32 caliber cartridge on it, but failed to kill the bird.
It was certainly a good augury for the status of the species and
later investigations bore it out fully. Unfortunately my work
on the island has reawakened the natives to its increasing
numbers and it may suffer some persecution from now on. A
factor in its favour is that it is not easily collected and,
numbers being not as plentiful as before the cyclone, natives
may get discouraged after 1 or 2 attempts proving fruitless. Also
a further factor in its favour is that in the area where it is
most plentiful the natives have now more money than heretofore,
as further areas of coconuts have come into bearing, and their
money needs are better supplied. In the northern area there is
still considerable poverty, amongst the catholic natives princi-
pally, because of lack of coconuts and other causes and doubtless
these natives will persecute the species somewhat in their own
area. Actually the five specimens sent off Uvea during my stay
there all came from that district. Fortunately I was able to
get an oar in in both cases of birds (young birds) for sale (3
in one case and 2 in another) and persuade local whites to pay
no more than 10 francs (40 cents American) for them. This
naturally suited whites as profits were larger for them and both
missed seeing my object which was to discourage native catchers
by the low figure and as both were native lads of 14 years or so
of age neither voiced any protest but doubtless on returning home
would air disappointed feelings in their villages sufficient to
oriw 2&vUr.n rbuni nl iOR yl^sluf* 1
Ws^cliJob bn& '.'ifti vIsf'ie'Ttxs snw i\ biiia Ho ■tcK* ,8»keic nift^taa rtl
r-i rt‘> .zni-taa « #oti Yr^l«♦^o^ bor ,»no lap bfuoa I
ijQrjrT “^o /ff*sulDn hna 9/10 vM2 1 poi to<>'^2 t'^fub
.StlH -*^1 IfH ot b^flii^ lud ,1I rto ft ba«u
bao Z?l5-«}a 9/iJ fo aulela «*fii 10^ yiueU'v Hoop ii *ew II
JnriM vfslartuno^n'J .ytlu^ llio It 9‘iod artoJlopl5<f&vnt i*J«I
pnl2j.*»T3fli 2l1 nl aavllnn artt bsooMcvoai ?«H Hnct?1 *H? nO
A .no won f'vjl noIluos*iT3tj af«oz VRW Hn« z*»9d«iun
,bfi6 HaJ^ttoD YHiRS JOft at It Jw(l at -u*ov6=^ ail nl
8»vilRfT ,»ftoIoY3 aHl o^o'^et^ a& fu^lin*f<j *6 ion pnisd enst^iufi
o*!A .eznliiu^r prtfvoic aJ«i»llP ^ '’o f lol^® Hogoiuoaatb lap
zl li oi»Hw 6016 ni IrHi e> I'Jove't all nl lolas^ isrinu^ a
.uio^olsiad oftdl Y^oom aiOM won svsri aovt Icn »fll tu'iflnalq l*«n
iia<<l bna ,pnn6od olni aetcn awri alunoaoa anei* iwiJm’l Z6
kI aiarfl «ne maHlion »dl nl .H^ITqqoa 9*^a «H»*n yeno**
-l^niiq zovllGH alforiliva orfl lapnom- ,Y1-u>\W'jq aldftioblanoo till*
Hn« aocim"' latiJtr Hn-v atonopol ^o Joal ’to aatM»^atl ,vll«q
rrwo iTarfl ni icrtwonna aolooqe sdi rluooaiao 1 1 iw eavllnn aMrtl
yala ym pnliuH &ovU inaa anantowqe »vi> aHl yffaolDA .sai*
01 otdr, a;.w I yf 5»lfenolio-l .lotilaiH Sr-ril moi^ waao He e*>*ril
t) »u? 10I princy) zHiid "to aoeo3 Hiod nl ni i»o nc top
y&q 01 aotirHi ttaol Qlouaiao Hnft ^ifwllona nl 9 Hna isbo aoo nl
aiflT .Mor’t lO'l ainao t>M) 2^'nafi*> Ot nerfl anew* on
d?o.» Hnf. m&rJ? 10^ -’«r' f aiHoiq »» aallfHi MJlu* yltniulnri
*vtion aPftitiOoalH oi 3*>v* looldo ym pni'n* Hejaiii*
os 10 aifO'' At to J^Hnl ov?l*fi tn«w Mldd *• Hna oiobII vnl aril yd
5v-tutl pninioiai no ja^tHdtioH tint la^Joiq yrtc. Uioiov indi?«n apa
OS loaloniu® a»p«Mlv il ^ll nl ainll.^l hAtnioqtjoKlH i?r, bti»ow
63.
discourage others from attempted captures. Unfortunately the
method they use to capture them is very wasteful of life unless
snares are watched carefully. They merely set a noose in the
entrance of an already holed ripe paw paw (papaya) and young
birds on thrusting the head into the ripe fruit become snared,
generally flutter and hang at the noose and quickly choke. To
avoid this natives generally drive a number of short sticks at
right angles into the soft trunk of the paw paw (main stem)
immediately below the fruit for the bird to settle on to com-
mence feeding and others at lower levels. Even so this is of
little value as to prevent birds escaping they are placed at
more or less extreme levels and by becoming entangled with the
coconut string or vine snare, shorten this and cause choking
even more quickly as aften as not. A few natives use a leg
snare I bel ieve that they have learnt from Lifu, but they seem
to think it not as successful in making captures, as the neck
noose. The birds are exceedingly shy and very frightened of
humans and are very wide awake and avoid humans as much as
possible. They have evidently suffered much persecution from
them and look on them as great if not their greatest enemies.
As far as I could find out from old natives and whites of long
residence (and half castes) on the island the bird has never
suffered from persecution for its feathers alone, for dancing
purposes etc. and only to a very small and limited extent for
food purposes, and then only when it was exceedingly common.
By all accounts, it suffered little or no persecution from
natives themselves in early times. The persecution which it
has suffered has been almost 100 per cent due to European bird
fanciers resident in New Caledonia mostly and who supply to
others overseas. At their instigation natives have attacked
. -Willi *. ' '■? i.'^-**>iiO»? 1^»
> ( Ml <MI ^ fo'J v*#’ ?r m*. • ' ' -I ^’U
..j .1 - ■> tii t
Y< >! 1 . .* 1 lla
^ :• in*
Vil' f ' • ‘
‘ 1. r
-.0 • J*» V. I*v'
Y'n.'fl' '1 .
-.1 j ■•>».
‘ 1 , Jir 1 *>
'•* .l.'I ’v r ‘
• 4 .1 • t'nii/ t'j
<bn t '1
dte ,fl#>IHT I , 1 3f *■■ PimI '-■l/ Y/ f^ '
I. 1 - -i. ',11. ^v{-.’ 'ITpi M 1 -Ii' Mv”/«
#«*».; '* *3 <f !■ "! ' ' •* ':<'■■ »■ f' I ■'r , J '•
-►••i^ ni no pH’ f 41# 'J**''’' — jJn‘ v(.i«|'-
>■ «I «» m .•l'‘••' .iT '{’»■*» f '.
j_ ’•*., ff -. ' f 'd: I ., *vfio tt ! I tl
mi f4-‘jv " 0 *'«« p^i-*:. •, «s»l n© •'imi
^ I ' ifH-o *'^>' »J''1 HP •• " :! • ««iv >*• fill •’* l«m; t
1^1 »«"! «i«^ . ■ 'p f M *^cin
IPI4, V f’ ll*.l f • * '»T*1l * ■
.^'i r o-|i fPfl*
<••11 1
! n-f
1 - n'ne
"I
as:%
*•■1
,u
'•.* I'lj
^r, V- 14,’ : Jn’r /I V 1 fi n ? V
1 ' A I'irt aril '•
-t '■
, X^l
;•' talM »* «rt • ■ •' ' 1-
r Hi V % Ivf
n'^ .
^n
.11.1 Ml iirn*^ 1- *
Y 1 1 1 I V: '
A»/ 1
«
i 1 -Ji«:
. 1 , tl l|* I » I •* (10 >S*»I ♦‘f** <1 *1 •
' 7l;‘ J"-*- # ''1j I ' •■’ -s*n ’^T"' *■ t P*i *1^
IB'fpn y- ■* V-- J i ■*' *jit *♦ , ■a*'* *»--■’ *'l '.*i t>M».
9nl • ’'■ *' ,r. Mil ■ *-*-N »-:l i< ’ o t ‘I/- '-vnY
». ’1' u • n» n» ! /n»v . aj yloo I, •»Pr5* • •
.• rw« .’lii. r '• t-a»(v2 '.«. ,^'»roou«
■o--'* ii -J'Uitip*:' '!i >3 (‘-II ’ -•,»V*** 'I , '.'nil. -f . f f* yl
i4> V T'"> -'‘•X r It. ''I\4* 'i '.'J <i»vHwi
'.- } , .4 f ?i .J iiS -'»«• ®C'I *■*>'*‘1 Hi .*i <i'^ iT'^nr^yu*
-J nrUm hn /T*»» n>vM nl
V'.»4'..M. cv '* ipvl ' '• H>il1 ♦ . nn>vo r^r*"o
64.
the species and persecuted it and been a considerabie factor
in its decrease. Even so the decrease they caused might not
have assumed a serious menance to the status of the species
but the heavy persecution foi lowed by the great mortality from
natural sources, hurricanes mostly, was too much for the race
and placed it almost on the border line of complete extinction.
Natural causes have always been present and the species managed
to not only exist in fair numbers but thrive and rapidly in-
crease between seasons of heavy mortality. Thus, in spite of
local Uvean and New Caledonia opinion that other causes are
to blame, there can be no doubt the major cause and the root
of the danger to the species lies entirely at the door of the
live bird fanciers. These are loudest in excuses and reasons
for the bad position of the species saying that the few birds
they got made little or no difference and either ignored or
were ignorant of the fact that very live bird they received
probably represented one live one only in 8 or 9 captures and
even greater numbers and mortality when young were collected in
the nest as natives are careless and bad animal or bird atten-
dants and rearers. From what I could gather, the first reason
given was that natives persecuted the bird for feathers for
dancing masks etc. This was, I believe, entirely a fabrication
or shield for their own guilt. Numerous other reasons were
added, snakes and rats attacking nests being 2 of the favourites.
Even before the cyclone in the early thirties numbers had been
greatly decreased and the difficulty of capture was keeping
supplies far below the Noumean demand. The advent of the
cyclone, which undoubtedly did sadly diminish numbers was hailed
as a godsend and now is given 100 per cent of the blame for the
t ‘ .lr» 3 t
ntj» i '• I -' >1 '‘f ''Iff
»v ;,U'. ' .-^ V 4- . ,|>.V .• »’!
^,lv^r- *.i'J ’'M '' *« In'* v*H
/ II * ,.-.« Mil M- I -f /V *<» Uf'
.' *,:j -c^.' ,<! • :*•' ••► -«*n-vy<< ,»t- iii .
lt> - nf f 1 *r»':
» < 1
jaor'f* 't
U
Mf) .OMI 'Ai
uifl Jn» - -<| '■« !
( » ,' '1
,</* • a/ ,|4'. ‘ 1
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til Mf
3ii * » !• : 1 > , !i*i'T
,V»I I V;
• » ‘ 1 rt •
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«»*»•. L ft 'li TT 't<
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f- J
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, Ir '
' ••/’ (
»*-l .
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'•t Y-
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• ‘•»ii» 1 * --/I 1
‘‘ ./r: 10
1^ ( M M ' ' f . 1 » *-
v*«fi 'll. tvM Y'*ov •*
t , , I 1 ■ ’ t< i<*5
! -
^W«* 4 ■I't » "V' I ‘ffW • *' J • .• 3- ) '■•» *'*■
r| »^3-»r<f 1 ?),u. V ,•./> v'llM-- I. i'^r Tr^f'S'.
- ■ ' < t t ■» f rill - ‘'i
,r‘ t 1, ' •
,1 ^ - >*v!'*
n • * r • ' “M l
— 1 3 . ' • , “.'••I h
S<U •
>• V «r«i i'- ♦ k’ •
. »*1 ' ' ‘
'■*1 •
■1^, r-rt,* n* /! ' <1
it.l,' :* »*/v1y
t:> ? • 3' . ^ 1 t 1- .
. li-i' , >’ ■
n> ■ ■ .■’i»< !• ^
'W*r'' "
. »f«mp r ' ■ ii — '
1 » ’ 'O
'•/' ^ il't ^«t . 1 i.i.
t.-- :3-.n M*
4^ , Vvst>i<.
.. I V ,► - •'•I ^t>»1 f»v?
H. r - ^ -S«* c«»!j Uu, t> -••’-»■
•r 1m I >T ‘- i’K.ct wb Wpl'OM V>
t. fi J.-1 •*■ HI ,'13 • 3> f ,>noloy^
*?
»
65.
decrease of the species. Actually I do not believe the hurri-
cane decreased the numbers on the island below one to two
hundred, if as low as that, but such low numbers undoubtedly
made capture by natives such a difficult task that they con-
sidered the attendant effort too much for the resultant reward.
This has caused the idea prevalent in Noumea that the bird was
extinct and efforts to get specimens had ceased and this has
allowed the bird to build up its numbers again in six years or
so to its present status on the island. A brief but close
summary of which along with habits and behaviour is given in
the following pages.
• I w i j ' '
•tjkt >• i.
. If fc * ' I 'n'lwt"
’ twi ■.(> ! J ‘’»'1 y'-^iun ’> f '.a
-'■..V nu of ■*»' ' , * 'Vf f ^ **
^ Ij : 2 , 5 j( S .'3*'' > *.4i #*
~ • ■>' ' ' Uf'* O ' I' :^'IT
^*51 ■'? ' i'^ I f*I 1 1 '/J *;<J •'■ f « '' '9iH-.'' *^rt «lf<T
Zi/i *h.^ Is««c s,-. ^ 'm j !k« ! Mf)» }«'IV; 0>- if'm ‘ r,' lllx^
v3, .-I . - it; -u U’f K-tf* !-*4o-iu
V T-i'* .' ■ f*l wifi r-'i *«'+«•*» • i "> ■-»
nl .;vl 1 ‘ ' •' e^i ■ 1+ y’r r 4»,fA. ^roy*»»«fny#
. ' ^‘lUj { •’ ’ MT< ( lo^ 0*^^
a
SKETCH mP OF UVEA IS. SHOWING HABITAT AND DENSITY
OF POPULATION OF NYHPHICUS COi^NUTUS UVEAENSIS
From notes made between Feb. 8th and June 24th, 1938 status
and distribution of Nymphlcus on Uvea Is., Loyalty Is., W.
Pacific (sub-species confined to the area shown)
Approx. Estimate: Pxeasbnably accurate but subject to some
or - of 10-15% error
Natural habitat entirely suitable for the species and
inhabited at present date by the species. (Numbers given
are approx, and Include the birds of surrounding areas of
shorter forest.) These areas may be considered as areas
of dense population for the species and are areas not
1 ikely to be great encroached on or diminished to any
great extent for many years to come under present condi-
tions on the island. Only exceptional unforseen or un-
usual happenings are likely to alienate any extent of the
area to the birds or decrease their numbers providing
adequate protection from live bird fancier and native
catcher persecution is granted to the species.
Areas of shorter forest at present inhabited by small
numbers of the species (sparse bird population) but
capable of carrying a very much larger population as
numbers increase. This area Is at present much visi-
ted by birds from more densely populated tall forest
areas and carry a fair number of permanent birds which
nest in the area. This area is subject to gradual
diminition by increase of cultivation but only to a
small extent unless the native population makes a very
large and sudden increase; a more or less static
position or saturation point having already been
reached as regards cultivation and native ratio with
the present population.
Areas which are at present under cultivation but are
still being visited by the species (heavy shading much,
light shading, occas ional 1 y) but which will in time
become entirely alienated to the species probably,
unless it can adapt itself to the altered habitat.
These areas may in course of time disappear and be
quite unsuited to the species.
II
' I »M . . I'H I
•J
• !
■ *ii »»’ f5 C
• A r* *
f 1 , -t. 1'.; K 1
. • ■;
■1 . r 1
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.'-f-A.* ,. ' 'f'
If' 2i^ ”** '
i.J-
V WnA
i» .'ll i •*. •• ■ ' '
V* Vi t •:•
• 1,'}'
, J 1
P-* . l»» Ml/’ *1 '{«'
•n '
1 • ; ■ . *. • >■
'. ) >'■ - \ 4
i ’ » t - ■ I I ' ' f 1 * ' I ■ i . 'ill ’ ' 4
• •4mtt/i . ■ ' "*t ;» ’ V -I-' iJf,|
?■ ■ -' •• I ■ rT
■f/' '1 .1 * PI' I
V ; ,t- liMt 5 ? I 1 i’^ ■»• fin ^ ^ r4 , -
«. j I • ' •* V ~ I
' .np».v ,Mi-.
1 . t »1 *
-PM •• »• '*1 ; » I''
■*nt;
^ tl' '• .
1 teT . '
j > M
a*iu *-w’j i 1 ■ • ' -■ ' •
t f
V I ' F# ’■ t 1 "I-
1 ' 1^'
I "J
' t t f ' -.^ ■'- « m. i»
-,’^i
»-■ .->'.'■--4' ■**
,1-- f oi
•■T 1
,../j » . , Lyi— _.ff <•''11 p 1 1 j >t iof.'i
.• 1 -g -r’- v-'int.-'it #;}
!’’u4t «/’’■» l * ’• ' *»wj 5* -•■ - •'*</ ' n « n*
♦ •• ' j I : f tt *-e^1 I ;i I 1 <
• ' • **; t t* ** ymv • *»
-p{ I'/ f ic ‘ •» ;S na ;! . •M‘P
' . V* .> f I«i 'i yfp'a,*-.!. «'vi«in nvn^ Ani-i ^
? ■ 1. ,r. ~ 1- 1?5^ t ’ *1 *‘■#■'1
I *■> ^ •' I »?/T . • ijJ ‘ '
I ,‘t w) M* ' -itlTVlUn' •* <“
-„V . f ;f* *vT tTMl imj f i
1’.*’ («•*! 1’ •ll** "I V*ii
„■ ,r , •pic* u'j f ’ 1 ! *»r ."“til'T-n
; . . ; T *, 1 ^ -vj f fi- I't- -, *'•( Hi Ijffi' iSP*(
. ] • . fi< . iP '
f"- fiwj fifti V UrtM "*■ •-' ■
,i^M •iF'- *v wF ' V’ IUJi
>1* ’! !ftv in^ .• '*’ •<’‘3
, •' ' * o1 bp>e’M»1U vt*r»l2M*
, . 5 ' V. ^ J? I/I JV' ’ Pf ■' 1 »--aFpi»
*i* \ <H *» '1’? I *•11'-'’' 1)1 V‘ •
,»i 1 vA(jf n) StfiliMi'iy n#lk'‘>
Areas which are at present alienated but which a
few of the species might inhabit if its numbers
greatly increased but such areas in course of
time may disappear.
Areas at present uninhabited by the species but
capable of carrying a considerable number of the
species. These areas for various reasons are not
liable to be decreased to any great extent and
will probably remain as permanent areas of possi-
ble habitat to the species as numbers increase.
Areas entirely and permanently alienated from the
species and never likely to be inhabited by the
race because of lack of food and cover and too
wide a difference to enable the species to adapt
itself to such unsuitable surroundings.
Areas in red: Even should the species so increase
in numbers as to be forced out into such areas I
doubt the few birds which could find food in the
area would long survive natural enemies (hawks,
etc.) because of lack of cover, etc. in which to
escape as it is a slow flying rather clumsy
species in the open and appears very unhappy in
such surroundings.
tl* ''^u.
, • I , - ' -• ft* I fjk.-/ -lA
"t ♦ !■ ••>' ' ' > *1
-f'.l ^ r. ' ‘ '■•••-}
i-
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S ' V* - *!»'*; - ji ]•’ *»i». »-* ' '•'
1 : • ■ -■y V . O? >v!»a, • - ' • ■
„| . . li 1 i',. ‘ aMlr ! nl«^ '►'( ,'f'-
•' : .^T fc.fl «l '
yrinn* ^ -H f lO r
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r\*«*n
p ' i
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t . . -i - V • ■'•
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4
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' rt
HAB ITS OF NYMPH I CUS : - This exceedingly shy and rather silent
species is difficult to observe and is very easily overlooked
or missed until one has had some acquaintance with the bird
and knows something of its peculiarities. Numbers may be
heard in forests when a sudden noise such as a gun shot is
made, but such birds will never be seen or heard after their
alarm calls given immediately after the noise, and though
present will elude all attempts to sight them and will not
call again. Once they have seen humans or know of observers'
presence or the presence of danger (hawks, etc.) they become
very shy and wary and it becomes impossible to do any further
watching of those birds as they avoid danger in a rather un-
usual manner. They seldom if ever fly more than 40 to 50
yards and generally only 20 yards from the danger and hide
by freezing in a well hidden spot, among leaves behind a
large tree hole or such and from safety one or more keep
watch on the observer with their exceedingly keen eyesight,
and at his least attempt at closer approach silently move
further off, generally keeping some screen (leaves to tree
trunks) between observer and themselves, seldom giving ob-
server more than a very fleeting glimpse of them and gen-
erally observer only hears a faint "feathei — on-air" noise
or no more than feels a sense of movement (almost shadow-
like). The coloration of the species, an admixture of blue
and deep green, blends perfectly with the somewhat sombre
gloomy surroundings they generally frequent in the dense
forest and their skill in picking the even darker shades in
those deep, dull green surroundings shows an exceedingly
acute sense of colour protection. An observer may be
n
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69.
within a very few feet of a bird and fail to pick it out un-
less it moves and generally speaking, they are somevjhat
slow movers and spend much of their time perfectly motionless.
The small red poll or crest is more or less invisible in
life at all times and is purely a mating colouration, I
believe. This appears to be borne out in the birds' habits
of bowing to each other in play or courtship, bending the
head and plainly showing the patch to the other watching
bird, and at such times were the only occasions when this
touch of red in the plumage v/as noticed by me in live birds
and one almost gained an impression that the bird actually
enlarged the area. The whole top of the head certainly made
a pretty contrasting red and black rosette and though the
long crest feathers appeared to be incapable of much move-
ment they are so thin and delicate that they nod and tremble
and arch over forwards almost like the anthers (?central
pollen rods) of a flower, in fact the whole effect is not
unlike a flower when thus seen. The birds' habit of remain-
ing stationary and silent for long periods and the fact that
even its very loudest calls are low pitched and not at all
loud, gives one an impression that the bird is much rarer
than it actually Is. This along with the fact that Uvean
natives are poor bushmen and seldom visit forest areas, ex-
cept the margins close to gardens to collect small bundles of
fire wood or poles for house building and there being no wild
pigs on the island to hunt or any forest game other than a few
pigeons and flying foxes v;hich can be and usually are collected
in other more accessible areas which they visit and the abso-
lute lack of bush tracks (other than main coast to coast or
-no ^jfo •♦I i-il ' 1'' '■^-'^ " *'* 'IrJll '
t ■ t?' .•, 1 -,• ' ' * *• f * ■ '* ', *••*' *1 # f\ f
vf^ri.i'far- Ji '.1/ 'i * » j‘ ■ ‘ n»a * ^rt- ?nov< • I •■
■I * Mvnl «i I -i-x J » *1^ •«'’ ♦rif
! ,/'■ la •♦iK>fti3 : V v'f in.u® jrl * •'■* j'.i, ■ W* .*» ••Ill
^i| ‘ it ' ’ • r.((i fiT tij’ •r.^'t •'->’> -■ i t •'a «s'/«"ll' •
^('1 i'" I' I ,«lrt?lMK.o '-•■•fg '• Ta 'i" • *• t-'J p."'l
V'il ! j«- « i »' t ‘'’fnl^fw ' ■ ! •?avl
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» i)p*» * ') ■" ? I 1 ' * I ^ * iio 1' i t « "i . 1 . f y 1 , ' . ' I' ’• r
’ *J< lift •> e • I . ' *' (!*•'* ■ 't . ’ 'f'1 ' i*>,',.-i >1
• •'jy ' '} 'I'# • .'- f< / 'll. 11 rUl ' •■ * ji' -’ 1
* • 1‘iiftrK'’' n t ***n - ^ o, '<• - ■ >1 ftfii.-i.w )‘n'
n- rt ' ' - ilr f <!.' ' ! ■' . -wr ',t.Ti» '•1?'
L*,, . ' »t -J ^ "-i *■ '>>■ K ' U'T ^..!‘ .at r'*lt-
: ' /M .ji-ini ^yii0 9J^ IT - ft -V • 1 -f* 1 ••/•.-. )i*.
- j * t- * V. •{^'^* .i’llfr' i 1. OXK' ivuM-.i ill
i»M» -af r*'--’ rtUir' •ft-i*'!' "V I i<a*-*»t Hciwl ' .a I
70.
village to village or direct to garden routes) on the whole
island and the fact that they look more to the lagoon for
food than to the forest has created the impression that the
bird has long been extinct or almost so. Such is not the
case and actually with no heavy mortality from hurricanes
and a freedom from live bird fancier cum native persecution
within a year or two the bird will become very plentiful
again and re-occupy areas where it only at present visits.
This it is already commencing to do and very soon it will
begin by its more frequent appearance in such areas to at-
tract the unwelcome notice of natives and whites.
When observing this species one needs to use great
caution and as the bulk of observation has to be done in dense
tall forests it is difficult to move silently in such sur-
roundings and a good plan whenever making any movements is
to imitate the calls of some noisy species of bird. Pachyaphal a
or Aplonis being easy and inclined to be noisy are probably
the best ones to imitate. Observer's success after adopting
this plan and his comparative failure before seem to point
to the efficiency of such a ruse. After adopting this plan
my results were good and I several times had birds under
observation for an hour and even up to four hours at a stretch
and was able to follow them if they moved from one small area,
providing I took care and they did not move too far. To re-
establish contact at such times was slow as once lost sight
of it is advisable to wait for calls and move only Immediately
after or during them so that one does not stumble on them
unawares v/hen they will Invariably see observer first, give
an alarm or silently disappear and successfully avoid any
f , > . 1* I 1 1< I k "■ * ( f ty '< • ■' • ( f 1 V
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l„.T I ... >♦* 3»- -V', .> ■ . fril .•.» im^st 3«jT 'V*
•.;T 1 •» .» •.-»*n . B-vt f*'.» ' »)»1 \i|WV /M 3<1 lift?
T.. .* :• 5.1; * >., •>■ . ,* -s-’-jIO# im|j o>
•■ i’ H) •' *• ‘ - ^ f .Twv«’ ! *■ - ' 1.'. i ' '
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:• , I .f • J. 'sn ■*! K i ' *^1 ' . ! • f >1 ^ - *1 M
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71.
further efforts at observation as regards those particular
birds. Any other efforts within 100 or 150 yards and some-
times 200 yards of such birds will prove futile and as they
observe the observer and follow him and warn other birds in
some unknov'/n but silent way. The best plan is to move
rapidly for a quarter of a mile then recommence moving
carefully between long still pauses of listening till an-
other bird or birds are located by their rare calls.
The birds are generally seen in pairs, occasionally
three or four and sometimes larger numbers appear to flock
together to feed or rather feed close together, as on alarm
these larger parties invariably break up Into twos and go
off in different directions. Parties or three or four in-
variably are family parties, some being juveniles, and such
parties are usually composed of 2 adults and 2 juveniles,
but in one case I saw 3 adults and 1 juvenile but believe
the presence of 1 adult was accidental, and it is uncommon
to see 2 adults and 1 juvenile or 1 adult and 2 juveniles.
Though I have no actual grounds for saying so I believe this
species does not breed till the end of its second year. The
immatures after being driven away by the parents, probably
shortly before the following mating season, stay together for
a time, but later split up and live singly. These single
silent birds are often seen and appear absolutely silent and
keep strictly to themselves, apparently taking no interest
beyond feeding in the v/orld around them, actually appearing
to avoid their own species. They spend the greater part of
their time perced motionless in a clump or immediately below
a thick clump of leaves high (40-60 ft.) in the top of a teak
V ••.'I > .„.H ' •f- . ?■• *••: ■-)»
//•*•♦ -S’ sfl *>/ .'**’ <fl ( ■' » rt**( . • '• •■•1'
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72.
tree, or in a dense clump of leaves, creepers or thicket
within 15 feet of the ground in the tall dense forests.
Their behaviour is in wide contrast with that of a pair of
birds, either juveniles or adults. Juvenile pairs play a
great deal in various levels in the forests but generally
low down, but when in the teak tops will hop and play along
the bare limbs of the teak, a thing adults seldom do. An
adult pair (see field notes, dated 31/3/38) and family parties
also behave differently to the above. All birds have the
tall forest where they roost in a dark clump of leaves high
in a teak (by bent tails observed in early morning) for the
feeding places before daylight, actually at the first signs
of dawn. They are exceedingly early movers and callers and
call occasionally at night, (very softly, not much more than
a chuckle) but an hour or so before the first faint streaks
of dawn begin to appear, calls become more frequent and birds
become restless. Generally while it is still actually dark,
the first few stray calls of Lichmera beginning to sound here
and there, Nymphius commences to move and flies a short dis-
tance 20 yards or so and generally downwards to about the
15 or 20 ft. levels of the forest. Often one bird flies first,
arrives and perches, gives a low call but more often is silent,
then the second bird flies and perches near it and when perched
generally gives a very low call, the first bird then flies on
20 yards or so and perches again and very often this mode of
progression is continued till the feeding ground is reached
at this early hour as often as not in the native garden areas.
Often birds in pairs do not wait for the first one to settle
but fly 5 to 10 feet behind the first bird but as far as I
could see it v;as invariably the one bird flew first from each
ti '* 'Tt t ’liO ,J|' V#rlf 4'^ 4^fl' ^ ' '? (tnmJ
(I •( llAy f lij ‘‘:f ' ‘f"! J-4'^' f1 1 ftt I iV
\o nl * JivH HJJw - ♦'» t nj„n
h I f» ..n.iiVif’ yi f^HnAVPi -M.fi iT** . V
</fr I--- ■JK*' »»**-* '^ •] f*«l»
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yirt ■ 'fi ■ :; fM> '^1 * .• ^ ' i »*
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-».v» ^Dfi?iv-'»* •! ‘ —r' . ' ■'*nc» t»»vi Y^' *'?' ** •»!
-f ijl ‘. vM •♦v 0f^.»ri »/>;k (fl
b'» .t-'Ho U»*. .•;i - '’! »•'• » •'U, -t.r to
^T*i ’■»«* (“'ftlsiij r V ,♦»<!■]•* ' '••> M<*0
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,5 Y*' ? '+ _ ' ’ f ^ In n»" < ' . ? X, •' . '-. ^ f • - « f . * ' ( • liS
«l ' n— #1 ‘ mvJe M* ' vl-4-*-
b«4>* - •** 4.^' *v*f t1 T-. *41 kn» •*llt ^ 1- '#irta®» ■< 'iMlJ
— ■ »» I pT •.*5 ' >!'*?') *<lt 4 M s »*>l •' fV n *'*V|( '?!-
>., •* ( («t'i I »t* m{ ^ ’ << na -lO G>
•i '■/I I "*1 ' il*‘«n^ f»f1t (f lu -f ,>t( -x«-» oy^^
. '-kJ.T* '•ivff i.'l ^#(f -'t '-4*t *-* -■*1! I v'l ■♦ >•
•# ■ o* ^ti'» t'»n vV ?-5l*r <']
_ .. -J *1 i >1 ff* ’ T 1 ■ i 1 ' 1 1 ♦ ' fwjA • ( At >' V f T A OV
• ..-i^ ‘t*»t> '•■'.1 ' w 5f^J >4(4 ?-i.t'*'»i1 >1 r- ’ l li»rta
73.
new perch. This mode of progression was much more rapid than
the other and was generally used when returning to forest
areas from garden lands, such return generally commencing very
soon after sunrise. In the case of families of 4, one bird
went first almost invariably and the 3 others came in a
bunch after the first had perched. Single birds often flew
high and direct or nearly so to feeding grounds, but also
often flew in 30 yds, short flights, flights generally of
longer distances than a pair or more birds. Single birds
generally fed later in wider field areas than pairs and
parties and almost invariably returned high and direct to
forest from half to 1 hour after sunrise (very rarely later
than that) and generally flew well into the forest 100 to
150 yards from the margins. They then perced high or low in
forests, more often high and appeared to regurgate seeds
and shell them, ejecting the husk or shell as a faint patter
could be heard on the leaves immediately below the birds.
These single birds generally an hour or so later fly down
into the lower forest levels 15 ft. or 20 from the ground,
(in the secondary forest trees and shrubs under the taller
forest trees) invariably keeping a leaf canopy between them-
selves and the sky and commence to feed again in these lov^er
leveis, very silent and invariably alone never calling unless
a single alarm call on being disturbed on sighting danger or
a human. They occasionally remain motionless in some secluded
spot in such places but more often return to a high position
in a teak and remain motionless there, well hidden till about
4 o'clock in the afternoon when they return to the lower
forest levels to feed, and occasionally from there return to
f '•? * -^>.rv J- k' "
/*.*- 1 n-t»f(r»1 - T' *1 .Mr.v-J »l» '>f I '.Hi
'pw r«nl .K .T .»Mi.'»-i Hnua .#..i 1 cvr-’^
•.* ! A.-.0 V. a I n.n.(|. ulj ni .>»2i’4 lujr «n©i
,'.I • r ■ » ‘t ’'fra. vTcl^l'. .v > I -
,^.(. „t*'n v'.'.l'* *1 5 - ^ *2-»n 'Hj IjAa d^fiur^
.1»I I'.t . ^1.' .»■>■’»•»' a- i - '3* v/t" ■« "W •
<fr -i.-p -■».!-_• r. .-fi^.iri , ’•/ ni «©n
i{--I l,.rr' .->'! 1 '-o '• w-:.I i
i^««% »*r;n fl'lH’* %•*■ J.V ,.} nj/l'f S..*, »<f
*■«» c'eic /fi*l •f'i vn*
1 >f>yyA ♦•I*.*’.” J ' t H .'•*'1 I .
ta 061 • ' • 0’> •.-'■• ' I ('?•'■' f*' 'If. .-./tnav ■
3l . -f < , • .1 • . Ik t*rff P‘:l
oi * * t ' ' *. * «n**l « *1*41 '7
V..: ( « »v If*' ■» -nv,* ■' 'I 'r ; ■» ,1 *nf
•«i!' ♦ ?4 ’I. ! M ■'. i ' . *■' •
l^pl^ Vl1 ■* *( .= ' i -'-.v:. ♦’•‘I {»•>}€ »«»rfT
/ ‘ i!xr'”^ •" - i , ’ ■ *
-*«»t f ■ *■ '«H ' *' '• .! »<•?♦.• 'r b'V. .'*-♦*1 *• ■ '•'"V f r i>«4> rft jslf
• ' >» i3M»H ■> ' f . v'*l *■ ' * '** ' .- ■' t ffjk'K.l
*tf*^ I •.!•(■' 'll rf 'i •'* '*■* 'i ■(«.'"»' ■-» '• ’ ' ■*■ ‘ ^
fe»r ;i. (■ '?-■ -s-v ' f wf4 1' ^nt -IrtiiMj p-v^/* ,
> ^ , f, ? . |!.*. ;» ).i **.i'l'>.? >r> f I-a.i rr . *; >tf "Iv *,
• >i'.f'. ' ♦ ,r. I * . I-, -I i^n ,1 .? .r .. hit! »
— (I M dl >'»«*
. ■•)'» ♦. r ■ ?<* ff'%1' a^4.T.-n.»l‘ltrn * fif
*V#»J f *f4'J '1 <1*« • I**' .•'■ ‘•1 f'\ • .I'lft'O 1^
_. fTtMl' •• '*■**'1 r I "* * **.1
74.
garden areas just before dusk to feed for a short while,
then return direct to their forest roost, flying high and
direct when it is almost completely dark. They appear to
shell seeds after dark as the patter on leaves is audible for
10 minutes or so after they perch. During the day when
perched high in a teak (observe believes they perch in a
teak for colour protection as such foliage suits admirably
to blend into) they generally have a fairly wide field of
vision and if a hawk passes over sometimes give an alarm
call or if another Nymph icus they make a low chattering
call. They often carry on this low chattering on sighting
any bird in flight or for no apparent reason, but more often
than not remain perfectly silent, and in all cases only low
calls are made except an occasionally loud alarm call on
seeing a human or hawk, or immediately before flying if
frightened by a person below them. At such times they dive
into the forest at some distance from the tree and apparently
down to lower levels and are never seen again or heard.
Generally speaking these birds are rather silent and very
wary. Pair of birds and family parties behave entirely
differently to these lone birds, but except for minor diffei —
ences family parties and pairs behave in the same v-zay as each
other such differences as do exist being much as one would
expect the birds to adopt with young birds except that they
make considerably more noise and call more frequently than
do pairs v/hich is hardly what one would expect from such a
shy and wary species at a time when they are most vulnerable
to attack. Generally speaking the behaviour of pairs is as
follows. Very early they leave for wider field areas.
, )]** -t- I ^ ' •! •'H » - -1 l1 ^ ’ ♦ •'!! « *»'1
V.. .t 1 J ,0*1 1 -Mrif*. • -ll' 1-tU^*'
f. ♦ ». V-* . -‘ -I '*l-.«.{ft . f'v il MiidM r***(!'
f3* i''u ; 'j > w 1 ''wi'ffc u\t&tr * r
fj .rl»,l V. *. *#<* ! *>•■-<’.» “'• ?'f
»I tlvv*r *J yaV-Jif •^v-i n -’i
yfi'i'i;. ’ TT- l'5U* f« »H U-'*JWV • <: 1'^’ •' *
> vj r * f- «. av> '.*11' Ml-' f !• ofd Vi
tr .f "% #v1^ f-,* 1 ■ ?• ' »l .-i nC'litv
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Hp1^> )■' ^rw.'S '* 1 r -1 * *!■' )'-* T I > nf '*» I ^ I'-t*
,*,( I; -« . i* 'f. ,'< ♦.■! •O'l I*W»
»> # n J f „ * •» f i' & * . 1 %i O' • ■ ' ipww fitaipf < ^ I
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**'•>. - ?■: *1' fit dl »• 1 ♦ ^ -w M- M4t%i
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V,4-* tvHI > * «• i*-(f H kf/ rV’i r u+ a’.r ? i »A$ iAmC>-‘9
:i,’M ’f .. 1'^ < . ‘ * •■■ ff- *"< ■"-'la’ c*w &x^fcn
.'-••I * t <*"■. 'if.! iNKf ' yl*'~ -il i1 ’ftl'f *' *■"'1- '*
|.,| 1,-j .r. Jltv t MK ’ f l>f'1 < ’* ?'»l '■*• • n* ■» b^'-- yf* "
?* ■*? V)((' . ^lit t*. ^ '>■'.' '> - t
’1-1*1 'nU'lw •< y yT*!. » 4*"^*
gardens, etc., or in forest areas (familes' gardens almost
invariably to feed on paw paws generally) and commence
feeding, during feeding, occasional rare loud calls are
given, but more frequently a low murmur or chatter is made
for 5 or 10 seconds at wide intervals. Shortly after sun-
rise all these birds return to the forest margins rapidly as
previously described and almost always low down 15 or 20
feet up at most. If a pair are alarmed they will fly high
and rapidly to well within the forest margin and plunge
steeply into the forest, probably to lower levels if seri-
ously alarmed. But if not seriously alarmed they occasion-
ally perch high but well screened in a teak well within the
forest and keep a careful watch all around for danger. Later
they dive into the forest and commence feeding there at
lower levels. If not disturbed, they return to the forest
margin and half an hour or so after sunrise, numbers are
often to be found in such areas. A good deal of low talking
or chattering and occasional loud excited cachinnation es-
pecially on sighting another bird or pair of birds. If one
of a pair fly a short distance 4 or 5 feet, other birds in
sight seem to invariably call, seldom very loudly but with
a subdued but rather excited or almost pleased and surprised
cachinnation. Often others out of sight answering such calls.
After a fev; minutes birds move off separately, deeper into
the forest, some remaining low but the majority going high
into a teak or other tree occasionally (families with juveniles
generally stay within 20 feet of the ground). They then
perch and apparently shell the seeds in the crop as do single
specimens but a lov-; murmuring barely audible at the foot of
•.* >ii ■ "7:j y I {•i.nufisig iV^c ''•• '.''*•'1 r.M 'I '* \'ta'jn\
*-it. ill..> Vi'it'l jT'1 (*./»?«<' i'v
< • jT nt#;!.* (b i*j :<if . ■/! ,<t«v1 ^
*nue ..f •/• >;^)n ' 1w j ■ •'■ ■ .' ^ 'ml
«r yff.i'* -» »-\3 . j'ntJ o-spiH' tl‘
i> <• I nw<*‘ -*'f '» *J‘ h ‘ ■ J •'•'l! vr*'*;
iH yfl fli.^ •••»'.•* n U "i* -.1 . ' 3c it 1
• •■air. r.^*v. '» If'rl U J I M •'+v*
-|-»f > ‘I-.V' I •■‘1 ,>•«'.•■' *’b .'•-•I
V,»n,.i.. i fi‘- I'm* ’! <H .’• * ' f ■
W'< ’*^►t fW' |f«i- rv i‘ ii ,fij
‘lo '' -'i! Hft I*' ’■ * ^•iTT'^
I •"'.Mf’ I t> I' ’ I '>» * -- -t ) 03^} 'vP Y*Mji
^1^,,. ■•** * -,H '.'")l'‘:'* \V I* ' I . ' liR *l
(r'l^ f r*u:« ,j •! fha.» 't- *' vl vs ">>*^1' ' I ' U *»•
i -*‘1 '<** !■=-**► * .• ’-I - '•! ' •>< •’* *’■•* '
«d|f»li.t» * ■I’" '-<*'<^1 I«ir:T(«»-iiiJ Kft 'Tn«nt '■-
II . • 1 1 s , ft ^ - 1 ' ‘ ■ n 'I b i-)»a
]4 - ^ ..« . • ♦ iV 1-1 •('. .. ^f'4! »♦.
,} . . .I ‘P > ? - ’* » J • > , 'l 1 «< |f«Ml4 ‘*‘1#
. .iin \ , .7 .’a? v-r'‘' 1
. t •>. *.-■ b 'r I »jjfj t •ni4'> - it»fi . •.•!
t1 ■!-•• ' * I ■ •■■ VAer' I ’ '»♦ lb
’ . ; : .M. 0I' .' < ». ! M. r I tf ifiil «♦?
- If .•»(p .1)1 1 4<^}f ;M '» at'iii ‘•■5’ V'-‘n %■■ . r».i|
,v*'* ■• itT +*^'njviv mH . • 'UrSl I.*'' 'l.Mw v * ■ ir yf
■ ■: n<t ♦'"fta 0(1^ ’I *' •-'< ,■■
•‘■Vil v‘ ■ ' ( 1* l'«n'ir I*'! ■ ’1>I
76.
the tree is often kept up for long periods, one singly or
sometimes both together. V/hen together they occasionally
break into a duet of low pleased cachinnation and end up
with their "ko-kot" call repeated several times, occasion-
ally loudly but generally rather softly and low. Later
generally about 2 to 3 to 4 hours after sunrise they fly
down to the lower forest levels and commence feeding or
playing, generally if within 2 hours some play is indulged
in for some time before feeding is commenced. They feed on
seeds and berries in the lower forest levels (vinefruits
penubre, soft wood, berries and seeds, etc.) from 5 to 20
feet (generally between 6 to 14 feet up) and continue feed-
ing with interruptions for pay off and on till 11 o'clock
when the sun begins to get really hot. They then perch and
remain silent and motionless till 3 or 4 o'clock, either
high in a teak or in a dark shady clump of vines or trees
in the lower forest levels 15 or 20 feet up generally,
though sometimes as low as 8 feet. The following instance
from my sub notebook copied into log was a typical example
of the behaviour of these birds and because one of the
specimens was shot and sexed, probably the most valuable
note made. I take it that the unshot one was a male though
this may not be so as last year's juveniles behave simi-
larly and if as I believe the species do not breed till the
end of its second year they might have been a pair of 9
2nd year specimens not yet having bred or mated.
31/3/38 - NYMPH I CUS 2 under observation for nearly
1-1/2 hours then one was shot. The pair under observation
were probably a mated pair and were first heard calling about
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8:30 A.M. (sunrise about 6:00 A.M.) A careful stalk located
them resting about 30 feet up In a tree almost smothered In
vines. Later they appeared to be playing about In the vines,
hopping and making one and two foot flights as If chasing
each other and playing a game like the child's game of tlggy
or touching. They were not feeding. They then rested more
or less motionless for ten or twelve minutes preening them-
selves, occasionally making a low murmuring to each other
like low chuckles. A third solitary, flew over high above
the tree and both birds looked up and made a loud hoarse
excited cachlnnatlon call and kept It up for half a minute
or so. The other bird Id not stop but passed on over deeper
Into the forest. The pair then settled down Into a low
murmuring to each other for a few minutes then flev/ down to
within 5 feet of the ground and commenced feeding on berries
of vines and on the seeds of several trees and shrubs grow-
ing at these lower levels, principally the seeds or fruits
of the penubre three (soft wood small leaved trees grows
much In old gardens etc.) a fruit much favored by Hacropygla
elsewhere. They fed on these for 20 minutes or so, only very
occasionally making a low murmuring to each other, but almost
Invariably answering the others murmuring call. One then
approached the other (at first this was thought to be the
d* but on shooting proved to be a 9) and made several bows
ruffled her feathers and called "Ko-Kot" several times and
was similarly answered by the other which also made several
bows. They raised themselves up to full height on their legs
with neck stretched fully upwards then suddenly slumped down
giving a bowing or bobbing effect (true bows showing the
I ' ' ,n . •tij«> t . . ' f \\‘
; K-^t H'^'k-Vi otT’i ii t li <*i)f»4'*» . •/
,»i. -iv '--.’I -il +j)i inlv'; In ' > ‘ {Jtn V*''*' ‘’k» -J
a* n> hr»* <WJ I'-jt •' *' ■'<■'
•A^i» •» ' M !• r»t ^»?ni 1* » T'tl\'’ t» ^ |1*M>
%- f 4- I**-*! O^. t VirfT .. .J .^1 ; ii'safc* *i".{ff3UC: V,-
- .-jil* , nl • ■♦ M v(*'*'5 I'* r-ra -•• f-- -:'.?>( -ki
• f,;». ,' >. -f •«^3nipw«»»i -'■■f i . H vTi 'f fto.l'twx ,/jvU«
i /' *t -t-v ' -,[1 ,. rf .» .I/-. . I* ! -*^1^ V •' vV| f
■I ' •jj.f ■ , 'j , , to V* I tl-'5T < (Hoi Hf<* » »T*i
^ I ' • >. ••«< «f •/•-' f •<» 9 «a '•»/ih'.r2i
tr***/i Hf.‘ ' li' »•?'!• ■ ^r Kir' Fk-TT** ■ '* ■ , ’ t’Hi
t ri.I . ?-«|»'’- nai>f -'I*- !• . >« •SOT ».*' t
rrs^A -■(. •• ii; rvju* I nrr<f« f n|
ijil-rt.. ... tv »fsS l» UrnKtrir^tf ‘ ' fitrt»)v
’-T- 1 .*;?»»'< ! ^ Ms« no t>TNI •■r*lv >■
■rjlfr'^ -•V-.^ -» ■ »F| •fls,*i ^^nl I n^mi\1 t« f«t
TVIT' *■■.'■ ' '• , i M . . . M . \»4
>,;«■ >t. -t ' ' uiir ,*'nt ■ .:?■' -I •<’»•»
y-,..^. -.rff,.. -ifi, TO^ ' .ir>4i nc *’• ■■■' V' . . <«• T»
f0>jrh. tu.; fk. » , : J UksnUfw v»il • ;f I*#*:!
■ . I • •?' ■• ••'SW ►-• ■ itfH’ f,4i< . .’
.. ‘ -^ ifv ? *- tf' 3 ’ ’i ' Ti'i I ■,+!
> * .' f ■* »v^.i a’/*' ‘ T- - * .*1 bi»v'*- - '1? ■*'--■ rMj tl?i* '
•. ., - t I V a V - ■* V II^v t:*v» »-T*r‘>4M> •H»t<
f •■ ‘Jr*f n'* / *| "^ *** 'VF lvjT<wt*W 9SU
r •• ' •>; •' HI Kk't ■♦ »' O'* * v7?i,TKwrH Y«Mtt .»■ ’
kA ■ * ' ‘'fj vlrt'V’,* It? n-f.rt'J sJ t- v»^ r U«>f’/.1nnti Jbe<t rfJl--
viJ '* '■ •■’ i| ■Jrvi* TO I n!
78.
rosette crown were observed at later dates). After several
bows (or bobs) and calls one I presumed the d* (later proved
9) approached and murmured and was ansv^ered almost immedi-
ately and constantly by murmurs from the other. The cT then
appeared to mouth the 9 all the way down its body to its
leg then lifted the foot a short way off the branch when
the 9 let out a hoarse low shriek and appeared to softly
peck the other, c?, (actkally 9) whereupon both went off in
cachinnation calls and ended up with "Ko-Kot" repeated
rapidly several times in unison or irregularly. The cf
(later 9) then flew a short distance (five feet) and appeared
to encourage the 9 to chase it, a game then commenced of
chasing each other in short flights for 3 or 4 minutes (keep-
ing in and about the same spot) murmurs and occasional calls
being given. They then fell to feeding again on vine berries
exclusively till an attempt to line them up for shooting
resulted in only one being killed. Though another hour was
spent trying to get the mate which had returned within 10
minutes and called repeatedly the bird was thoroughly alarmed
and on the qui vive and did not even allow a single glimpse
of itself to be causht, though it would occasionally answer
mimic calls but would not come nearer.
The above observations were the first really success-
ful notes made and further much long observation did not reveal
much more of its habits except the true bowing and showing
the rosette on the crown habit as regards feeding and playing
behaviour though the knowledge tained this day (the first on
which Aplon is and Pachycepha 1 a mock calls were made to cover
small movement noises) enabled observer from then on to ap-
f . V, -te i . - ) ‘ . I ' . ' * 1
V T» J I .!<♦ WkI' ? •’ I »'«i »fJ I «j. 't'j'
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79.
proach birds and watch them closely for long periods. They
show at times a tendency to pick at wood though except round
nest entrances no sign of bark stripping is shown and it is
purely a beak exercise, I think, as generally hard wood is
selected. But it is a very minor habit, seldom indulged in,
and probably only to trim the beak v*/hen overgrowing or to
keep a sharp edge on the lov'/er mandible which is used like
a paring knife on seeds while the seed is held and rotated
by the tongue against the upper mandible. At such times
the beak is invariably held in the notch with a gap between
the mandibles at the side and it is through this gap that the
husk of the seed is ejected as it is peeled off. When clean
the kernel of the seed is swallowed. About nesting hollow
entrances the bark is pecked and in every nest I saw a teak
tree with green or live bark was used and I believe this
habit is practised to protect the young from ant attack as
the green bark exuded a sticky sap which would probably
deter insects and it is noticeable such peck marks are not
so much stripping as wounds marks to stimulate bleeding. It
is noticeable the greatest area of pecks is always on the
lower side of the nest and a much narrower margin of pecks
is seen on the sides and upper side. Marks appear to be made
at various times and not all at one time. Such pecking about
nests is not invariable, many nests showing no signs of it,
but it was noticeable that where peck marks were present
there were invariably ants passing up and down the tree and
apparently giving the pecked area a wide berth. Other habits
noticed were the more or less daily regular movements between
roosing places and different feeding and resting areas during
• I *1 0 •• ■♦'» r^l*wKn.< fbftfnf
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C“*t*i»-**' •***1. Wrt I lib »1» I-I' >^)14
the heat of the day. It was not invariable but one could
generally bank on finding a pair of birds during the heat
of the day perched in or about the one small area often
near a nest site but as often as not as far as was known to
observer, nowhere near a nest site. They returned regularly
to the one place each night to roost also. Another point
possibly worth mentioning is the difficulty of collecting the
species from the damage point of view. The greatest number
of birds one sees are at ranges too close for ordinary 410 or
20 bore cartridges and shooting with 32 calibre dust shot was
only tried once and as it was at close range and failed ob-
server did not attempt it again in case it only wounded or
badly damaged a bird which might die later elsewhere and no
unnecessary taking of life amongst this rare species was ever
indulged in nor advisable. Also this species loses feathers
very easily and in falling from a branch only 10 or 15 feet
up would lose feathers on every branch it hit in falling and
a small cloud of them would fly up when the specimen hit the
ground. This characteristic was so marked that observer
believes this species has a form of escape feathers and if
attacked by a hawk, might escap by the feathers coming out
and baffling the grip of a bird of prey to a certain extent.
Certainly if a strike by a bird of prey were made anywhere
over the rump, feathers would come out in a handful. The
bird itself may have some slight power of release of these
feathers by control oo the skin at their bases, but that would
be difficult to prove one way or the other. They certainly
never seem to lose any feathers when playing and at such times
they take considerable knocks from twigs and each other, but
when short, lose feathers from the impact of the bullet on-
wards and even to pick up a badly wounded still bird is to
-f/ I.,rvr,| Jr... ■tl .-.h
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^NsluV'*'^ ' • ii‘'lJ.t<'T /«■ r.'l .'-'i? It-. I 3 run •»-». (*iv<Wi
^»l*^Off^ .'’sI* M 'f-‘ 4* F< '
•^r ^rlu irtjK iF * ?l uJnrftr.ww yFl<1»acQ
if>^P rtflT .. 3'» 7o J -I.'" »##*»
>« T- .nl'-'ic *i> I ' <' ■ 'r<‘TT-'' fi *<•* ■’*»>'’ *10
a- 1M'' n|r^O :;i‘rM ir ^fy ► H
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fifmi i^f )f rt vfpn r* "< ' • ^*^Uf^ 'll f^nd ^11 1 ^
brm nf *F»‘ 1 •' . ' '^-urv-^. m> .3«r't ^•‘i ♦ ;• ' K(v«» «•*
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>iff (' I •'»: Miifj- 5- ir^-* •* » fvi T«vn
Vo ' * *’■ rrt»? '’•mH *V' >l«**3l ‘tld
• r.% ■ ■ fi-» f J . wf 3 1 ,'*T^ia i4f to hn*nKi-’ fiJ
.,., . , »i ,<ij« ^rd 30 / i. «no *»vo3fl( .»U'*n’llb
««««.].« .''.iir ■»■ rtf '..f{| fV>(*W ?i3*rl3-e=f VrtR na<.f ^1 ft' ;i 3nV-rt
It.! »{*-♦- biith ■' I •!-'■' i •‘‘-'•'"•J 4l-fr,v.l>l<r»ii'.3 i .5. J Y!f'^3
-w’ I* ffKif ‘- f?'f *fn »<r '!)'■ f 5'tf f a3'vff)c«> peol , i*wu}»i
f3f <.•.! ' Mf^f' ’♦•.IHM?*/ ,'fV'.‘ t «|II 4nl*i oj Itirti* N«if
81 .
lose feathers for sure, which will stick to and come out on
only a moist hand. Once the bird is dead this is not the case
and once the body is cold it may be handled fairly roughly
without losing feathers, though in skinning a few are bound
to be lose. This difficulty of damage in shooting made me
collect most of my specimens as high as possible in the teak
trees when they perched high up during the middle of the day.
I collected a few at lower levels and found 9 predominated at
all levels and believe this is true for the whole race on the
island, possibly nature's way of increasing them again, rapidly
as a single male could serve several females. Actually I saw
no true proof of such happening, but several times I saw a
single adult with 2 or one juvenile and in the only case of
shooting such it proved to be a 9 adult. The pair of well
grown orphans stayed about the area and were often observed
but never once had another adult with them and as I only
collected 1 adult d* and that far from that area, either the
female parent never had a full time mate or it had died from
natural cause. Actually I doubt hawks or natural enemies
effect this species very much and probably capture very few
of these wide awake, cautious birds. I saw no evidences of
a single capture or feathers etc. about to point to such inci-
dences occurring. If they do they must be few and far between.
Doubtless when the young birds are more or less helpless in the
nests a few may be destroyed by such natural enemies as snakes
and rats, and to a greater extent eggs would suffer but I very
much doubt losses from such causes are very great. The greatest
danger is from cyclones accompanied by heavy rains which would
drovyn young in their nests. Natives say snakes often occupy
hollows in which birds nest, but found no one single instance
^ IJJO' -MncVii/t -t -Mj nu --rr I
V* 1-,. ?f «IH' '••■•'• - f »■* » •'''*^'
./I. -'- .* yf- r^ «r<' M#> ♦! bfO' »l *'"«
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v*r ffowf idif^ i^:n»»
• t”- »'il y V */' •; ' ' •♦-■.«< •'■•x> »J n*pn*>^
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82.
of such being the case and believe such instances are few but
that natives have come to believe it through this this ex-
cuse to impatient white men demanding why they haven't
captured them the specimens promisted last trip of the
steamer or last year. Such an excuse is commonly given to
a trade who has given 5 or 10 francs credit on the strength
of a native knowing where a nest is with "three fellar
picannini, me wait no more long he big enough belong taken
em he come long you." One trader told me in all faith that
the natives nowadays would not collect birds because not only
were they rare but in almost every hollow they found snakes
and being terrified of them had become too afraid to look for
nests. My own experience was thus. One day I had a native
boy with me, when I examined 3 nest sites. I made no remarks
about them being nests, merely climbed to them and examined
them and passed on. A day or so later I was surprised when
wandering through this almost trackless forest to observe
carefully camouflaged blazes on the trees. On following these
up I found the trail led from within 15 feet of a short track
extending a few chains into the forest from a garden (for
collecting firewood, etc.) right to the 3 nests examined by
me and stopped at the last. On questioning the native he
admitted his intention of returning the following nesting
season to try and make capturers of well advanced nestlings.
So much for their fear of snakes in hollows. Actually snakes
are not so exceedingly plentiful, though common enough, and
1 saw no large ones, the bulk of them being only to 2 ft. or
2 ft. 6 or less, and a few about 3 ft. 6 in. length. I think
the majority of these would be keener on smaller and easier
caught birds, such as Zostcrops Gerygone etc. and would much
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83.
prefer tackling them to a bird like Nymph icus. Judging by
the care and watchful 1 ness of the birds especially towards
their young, I believe unguarded nests would be the exception
and opportunity to rob such unmolested would be few and far
between. Besides snakes have been present and plentiful since
time immemorial and had no effect on numbers in the old days.
Rats may be a pest but this I doubt. Undoubtedly the large
grey ship's rate (Rattus rattus?) would attack even adult
birds in a hollow or elsewhere at night, but to the best of
my knowledge this species is entirely absent. Natives declare
it is entirely absent and 1 am inclined to think they are
correct as nowhere on the island did I see coconuts rat holed
in the manner common to all other islands where ship's rats
are present. The only rat present is the native indigenous
rate (specimens sent to Mammal Dept, name unknown to me) which
also has been present from time immemorial on Uvea and did not
influence numbers in past times. Also this rate is in no way
plentiful enough to cause it to attack birds for lack of food
and it appears to be a purely vegetable feeder. In fact it
is not even common and was difficult to obtain for collections
(the mouse is common) and its usual habitat is not forest but
in and about gardens and coconut areas where natives are
cutting nuts to make copra. A further proof of its small
numbers and the absence of the large grey ship's rate is the
fact that natives all over the island make copra by merely
splitting the nuts open and turning them face up in rows on
the ground or hanging them on fronds of young palms, along
sloping trunks of palms, logs, or anywhere close handy to
where they v/ere picked up and split, here, there and every-
J :if»5 ’ y* . ’ 1 ^ ^ ’ nl •^♦‘7 . '■ t I ' •» »
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^ . .. t '■ ItSH*! • ■(*...“ .•k'l'.i ..’• '..'it 3Ff 1 1l'l
■' 'r?r' .»- '. '“. ‘v.i-xwy rt«*r-~" ■ ■*' «■'»'«* • > ■'
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where, yet these are not eaten by rats and in hundreds of
examinations of such I found only 1 or 2 rat marks. Natives
never complain of rat losses and as far as 1 could see rats
and mice confined themselves to the small chips of copra
meat left on the ground by the axe cutting or to the sponge-
like kernel of growth found in sprouting nuts. If rats were
anyway common this copra would suffer, as for days sometimes
it is left unattended. At night natives often turn the nuts
over to keep off showers or dew and such places would be
ideal for rats to crawl underneath and take their fill safely
protected from owls and enemies. As far as I know this never
happens and all natives I asked said it was exceedingly rare
and said rats much preferred the sweet spongelike growths in
sprouting nuts. Copra, yam, banana, all failed as baits in
traps but this sponge growth was successful). As regards
Nymph icus suffering from rats if at all it must be to a very
minute degree and a factor of no real account.
One might almost say of Nymph icus that it is a bird
of 2 zones or layers of altitude in the forest and spends
ninety per cent of its time in those 2 layers. Resting in
high forests very high up, generally in teak trees, or feeding
in the secondary or lower leaf canopy of the forest between
six and twenty feet above the ground, and mostly between 8 ft.
and 15 feet or a little less in such areas. Generally going
to 15 and 20 feet to perch and rest, though occasionally
higher or lower when it decides to rest low in forests instead
of returning to the tree tops. 1 noted that except for single
birds, generally speaking, on a hot day with a light breeze
blowing, birds perched high to get the coller breeze, but on
very hot still days they preferred the deep cool shades of the
•
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85.
forest, but individual birds or pairs seemed at times for no
reason at all to go quite against this general rule, though
on the same day the bulk of the birds conformed to it.
During my stay on Uvea, I found no birds breeding
(eggs) but the birds had just finished breeding and juveniles
were quite numerous in varying stages. I have no doubt that
during the first week or two of my stay, odd rare birds were
brooding late in the season (February) as the age of certain
young ones I saw later, seemed to point to this. Ninety per
cent of the birds breed during November-December , and a hurri-
cane coming in January would cause a heavy mortality in young.
It is just possible a few birds breed twice in the year, but
to do so naturally, is, I believe rare and unusual. If some-
thing were to destroy or rob them of the first or ordinary
brood the birds would breed again and this fact was known
and exploited by native capturers in days gone by. The late
breeding birds I noticed, had not I believe been robbed in
some way, of a previous clutch or family, but were ?'s which
had no full time mate and had had to wait till properly mated
females were brooding and attached males could go on the loose
and attend to their v^ants. Because of the great female pre-
ponderance, I fully expected to find infertile addled eggs
in hollows somewhere in old nest sites, but strangely did not
find any. It would seem probable with the status of the
species the way it is that such would be the case, and I can
only conclude that either after giving up brooding when eggs
fail to hatch, crabs, lizards, snakes or rats do away with the
eggs and ants clean up the mess, or the greater part of the
females manage to be served and have fertile eggs and the few
which do not (If any) do not lay or have the nesting impulse.
C-^
1 1 l>i !• s J**' *■ »
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p.uWs'fi*** ii • I I , (Id Yf* f
w,n«'-i'’ ’> -■ .!» f i* ♦ :?"] » ^ >b* 1^ *1^
.-r?l t !1>V Mfi 7 .4 ' rtl'/' *V 5 -^.vo-ywn ) p Jur ^*>*-*-
*'l. ' f’ ■•; i ■;• j . M» 1 1<V / * JfW'l •■tI’WJV
*»T Tio fi^r t>tii at, ^ .'-t ah..-’ fto? < Ji’l
■N,«, a !■ j .hx.' ■•-» K«> '-•*'» t •» •'• %»*wcV
^ "X-r-i! (i ^ M*-! *iJ
.(OV-^ 1 V'llti*'^" 6 4.JU' -V oi r>ll«n«rt
,'VW*V •♦;’ '^f ^•1 ' * 4>i.-’l. * •IJ5e*i.>(» t*u; ?| 1J
• .■•■-'I* *• .1 I' u/in Kit. •-fr. > 'ilsi f. I ' ,»! ,*'{1 "tL't .fl '"t fl^ ;1
^-i. lb-,1 ' -f .’■' ^.' T'K^-^ • '*' O' yo!H^
f»*OrtA ' '■* '■’J '! lM»er%<^ I'l'J’ hf»fn^
•»'! t<ur. :\^h (tt >'.'*•11?'';' ' f' y* bn«
,«T «». *» '.‘f.-ffs-' > ■' ’ •• ,b..lf I fS***-;
rt-VV .'. •*• ..< »•’ ,vli* ' ♦*!' f. to ,r«w
» =U4t Cn t)> »*! ? '••tr' ' • ■ ■ -■'tl b«H
•!** no IT* 1 < ’>
oJ - t'-***' V. ' "■ *.>■ .•='-’•■ *. i -" ' »■-»
* I f 0 ‘ -*1 \
Uv, • n. ” ■*• .•.-•UT'V'.t *?j v'T.'i.'Wtwjgr •idwIf ’W flJ
.M, *.. •* *iii ‘Jl 51 .'y
• .- I b.M 'I; '*•1 %fiK> •’ *t* ^1 ’1 Y**-
t ntifl*’* of' '- <1t' *K'rtfU ?Ai4t iKiiI>iyv vltw
«4J .'IV- Ofe. : f>* n*^
%ei^ ♦««*’' r<'‘’ ' '^‘->1' »5ott
'WJ? K t*. a.7 ■ • f 1 '*■'• ' ' ' ' ''■' "■ "
.'=c!m*.'*.1 I »• ‘-t »V- ’ 'K- V' f 'll - 'o» ^
86.
Though actual families, including presumably a cf, of four
are to be seen, they are considerably rarer than parties of
1 adult and 2 juveniles, or even than 2 adults and 1 juvenile
(though the latter is rare also and probably only occurs
towards the end of the breeding season.) Observe believes
that what actually happens is that mates have several mates
in a season and consequently breeding birds are found late
in the season. From what natives tell me and my own observa-
tions I believe this to be so at present, and even in the
days when numbers were more plentiful there was a 9 preponder-
ance-to a very much less numerous extent one male had more
than one mate a season, though each 9 or family consisted of
a completely separate circle or group and makes never prac-
ticed actual y polygamy till the first female had commenced to
brood. The actual rearing of young thus devolved on the 9
parent, except in the case of the last brood of the season
when the cT remained with the mate and assisted in rearing the
young. From what natives told me of numbers of young etc.
when the bird was plentiful and they were watching it closely
to make captures, and from what I myself noted, numbers of
young in one family towards the end of the season are more
numerous than earlier in the season, seemingly pointing to
more food being available for young to be reared on or more
food procurers on the jobs. Even so, I believe a male returns
to the same bird or birds to breed in the following season.
The community is as it were, one male at the head or with one,
two or three (and at present possibly more than three) sepa-
rate individual families one after the other or even slightly
overlapping during the breeding season, from November to
‘ rillolrul irr •■»
*1.. *.w' -” '1-* '■* ‘
f ’ I'l t'' n.nivii'i f I
v| H ...» rl .nKj rf4;ur.a^J
. 'll ■''* ■• ’ - '■ ^
I-.'iiVf* ^ -J ’ rJw ntti)
>f ,l hrtUft^ -»-»l ' ■'.<•»■* -> ■ .1^ i/,--.tK.-- •‘rt- •« r * «i
,.. /., tnr Hiti #*'Vi .' • • • "^*
»<H I » -« . -*•■»« 1l#tf I 4*Ofl?
\ ^ '*■' fq »"->•*'
«*iur. V. '<< •■''■ "n* “V ' »•' ' (4l V '•
', . vfl-r -'i' •' 1*^ tk^tMUfi •' ' »■ •'*■ fwlJ
' ■^■'•1 *v4'y 1 *-*i 4 . l. ' T ' *li* ' » ■' I '< ^ ^ V ^ ^
o/ V !•..• 4 b.»< »l- ■' -•» * »n= e — fj «i fUnU.* Ut'-1l ‘
» »i |. . V>t’VI<^''^L <t/l> Ml* ■ \« ■ i< ' 1 fi'.ii' ? .' '*it
It • ■• I 1 ' ’ . *'■■■
.- f • ,,J I ‘ ’• ht'll -'T '
. - - i rttl''. ' f"'i' ' * ■’* S*' ^ •' 1 ' » ,^-iuoy
>I mJ 'H •«>• ‘••ij *u . ; 1- »-t-^ ■ ’ '*'"■
*»l««gn » r*’«**m% w.** w < ‘
■''t r" ■ ‘J*1 .•ir -.«* '—ft ■•*: n. ' *.:■• Ml J.’W'' .
' , - • >» ^» «5 ^ • -f- mipn.w'txn
a'l.A- ■ -. ’ cK' ' f-\ * ■ *'' »M’iws’ T^n t ^
tmi» -1 ,1 4i - •/- 1 f ' 1 , •» V ’• ,“‘‘1 -ill m- Uitvl
..« ‘.4.43 !#|^ I Ml ttf-ThJ TJ *•-»! ♦iH #f
. »i . to ’ ~fl <»T- ’ 31 ^rlot**iu?
{---t.Vf /, f't ^’K»» *<(*1 '•* ti' l^rMi
vlftlklfs tVM t« -*rT<iU7 Mi«> » (.iJtbNtW)
.,» tv'^»”7>.'' *'"' ■•nl'lltl- i.tO*
87.
January and possibly later in rare cases, to serve or
fertilize and the male remaining with the last family till
the next breeding season when one of his old mates being
an early breeder seeks him out and lures him away till he
is in turn lured from her soon after by some other of his
previous year's mates or possibly even a younger first
breeding season (probably a 2 year old bird) female which
would add to the numbers of the families he became the head
of. Only a close study of the ratios of d* and 9 in eggs and
young during one complete breeding season could definitely
establish what actually does take place and whether the
apparent position at present is natural or only an exaggerated
natural position or merely a phase of nature to re-establish
the race. Personally I believe it is the second of these in
combination with the third. Certainly the breeding and sex
relations of the race at present are most complex and appear
very involved and from what I can gather have always shown a
certain degree of involvedness. From what owners of cage
birds have told me when a female lays eggs in captivity, other
females enter the nest hollow and destroy the eggs. If such
occurred in the wild state it would account for the absence
of infertile eggs, but from my own observations (necessarily
somewhat incomplete) and that of natives, who in the old days
watched nests from eggs to young, suitable for capture, there
appeared to be no signs of other birds entering nesting
hollows. In numbers of cases, natives mentioned that for
several days male and female were seen perched about the nest
and together but shortly after the 9 began to brood the d*
entirely disappeared, or as they said "one bird no more he
il *•.' f i M- ■*»'<» *
fit'* Yfi* ^
iht
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(•» M< • '
1 II
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• I 5 ■
.(f)
• X j ’ T*‘
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('. p|i'i r*(<
.' ' •if!w4t*i'i
'/t'rwy -
tld ')* *» ' ( ma®» > ’• oui rtt tl
1,-1) ' yj* !?•» '( t’ • "•' 1-‘? **>■ 1 " ‘If’
I, i t ih .'-ry* t d
9F'1 vUJi ■
l<ii* »vr, f, J '■ l.fi« '' ft 'I •■■ >'i :# to I • '< /ie>
oj- i I n| ■<''i' ' ifoa- * : ; *i' * • c- MM
I ^’rt’ '■'ll lltUf j»
f»u«» f« i/lflft “» 3. t ♦♦iMIf'ltj
,'»;i ■■'f •*" ^ - « In.-jii jw '/JiJatx |**«t’Tt,i
.1 - twfi 1 I'- ' I '1 ^ I ;I1 ' ^
^ .-.iTa-.k' ,1 ■}.•! •, .StI^-? M n 1- •>
tetifl «'»* <■"
« r»«4<, i'7 . m» > I l..•t*/rH-^^ ? 'fw. Mvl' - t 'f' •'*'
,/■! .-1 < 'ti • ■'■ » ' • d***"'' ^ • ' ' <■< iH
^.j„ . *■■ M^Vs^ f'' 'l»-‘ •I)
. » r; ► i K»1 -lOi < 1 ’,|tv <?-- » •} »- 1M/. ao
•^11 a *(1 „ s," 1 ■'* ’“<3 * ’ »I1■^r»'^wI ‘•■*
' f ■ »fH:t t»l '•-ir > • • >'K r*_-vwK'»
^. ,4 } , T'< ■ ' 'fl*® ,? «»* k#<laf«rf
> fil*' ' I'H ■*« **• *»«' i a t>! *?»< oi
• 1 • / i ‘ ’ >»' rtl 4
■- ■•i*. '-•* ^n- ntr/’ (? ••;■> f
! t . v»f i *»<: I yI
n V>lli IIHT* Mt^t& ?f.-r’5 ni, -HJ /’full'’
I —
stop." Some on questioning said perhaps hawks had got the
other (though I found only rare cases of natives having
seen or known of actual cases of capture by hawks, about
4 cases spread over many years) and others frankly said
they thought the male was a sensible bird which when the
missus was busy went seeking his pleasures elsewhere, as
they put it, "all same me fellar time missus got picinniny,
me go long Noumea come back time picinniny he born six months
finish." (Rather crude but a neat simile and I might remark
the majority dont even go as far as Noumea which is fortunate
for government finances in the resultant fines. "Must be
something in the Uvean air".)
From what I could gather from natives and saw my-
self, I believe that Nymph icus lays 3 eggs, sometimes only
2 and rarely four. Eggs are pure white and round from all
accounts and from bits of egg shells seen by me. A rather
thickish pearly shell. Eggs are laid on rotten wood at the
bottom of a hole in the main trunk of a tree, almost in-
variably a teak (all nests seen by me were in teaks natives
say very rarely other trees are used but there are few
other suitable kinds of trees on the island as far as I
could see). Natives say they occasionally use a hollow
spout limb, but I saw no such nests nor could natives tell
me of any old ones which they had known to be used as nest
sites, but used their "I think might Ko-Kot he make egg
long that one" and point to a likely looking limb. Old
natives who had taken numbers of birds could not remember
any actual instances of having taken young ones from such
spout limbs. All nests seen by me answered more or less to
the following diagram and were found at varying heights. This
fti\j < 3>, f!^i( 'I (I'l* 3 • X'
' »Fv t-'vr/"’' 1 fi’» ' - i»r- , I t. Mf.fi}'
Ml. , r'.' rr.iK' iH no note
hl.;a vl-4.( *r hiT'- 'aTi*-/ vm •! ’i***/'. *: “n.^f ^
"•fij ill 1- .1 <i~‘
i» '
n M « 1 1 I t 1 •» •) • !•-»
. 1 ’ f 1^4
I'OJU >)<1
, i - • ll J
(.1 •
nifl '<!"■ *ld y»w<4
j i«a Jp.
,YclI 1 ■ J.’U' ■! >rj
•4;
fi .■ i; •*
tt. ,tl
Ill/' Y»fJi
»v;Jn.‘:u'i -U m .'
ri ,[
1* ‘ -• -!i -
1 Ml
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-■H! •
'.»f »|iil t
M4Ata*iM| ?l :rljk*
1 > - •!< 1 »•
»• -llj. ' I
1 - , . *.f' '
»•!> ♦'till
■ ‘fiT
t'*‘»K‘i arf*4 l i vtfcnil
i; i'^ •\(j\
' . - ft.' »
..'i «J
tKi 1 rU •*"»,>*
)•(
v/J t' i» -Ui'i 1 . ‘'-sjr t'hM* 1 J
. .
i> * ♦iI
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n "n* ' iiiw
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i iX». • i‘ *•
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1
* iMlMV' t'iiiiill nv ''
f 1 \*V
^ 1 » -
-• i/'
; • ■ V/U n •>
1. , I 1 -
> > '• - ! 1 ■ *v* - lof
f.,, , ■ Ai- -■■■ ■■ ’
f; ’ . . ' ly,*. }i ) kkutvaot... »i*-> ^%mi»
, • ' ii imvliit ll■•|l ■♦ Mil'll) l»l*« ,'iM •■I
'nh'J 1 S •" 't,‘-
M. . '-'H b>li t ( % tx) W i wii rno'^
na^i(^r'‘^n ^o»i I; lu* ■ ’ ii> > ■'i^tcn rr .i ■ ..»\ iflvr »»yl5^.‘n
cfn^ c-irto ioi««yY 'iwfciii b -f nsUiil » ui.-o*
cj tf«l 1 KMi yii mn§ af»#n Ikv Ji< -liA
♦ ?)Ti . >*'■ v*iTvnr/ ImuM in<'tf |m. m ■;|i*.l'i -i.hK If* > «i#
I
f
■jS
sT^
il'
t fl
89.
diagram is taken from an actual nest found in a teak about
28 ft. above the ground. Almost invariably nest appears on
a slightly or well sloped portion of the tree. This is
probably necessary as natural hollows are used and it is
necessary for such to form to have a knot hole in the trunk
broken limb or some such to catch and hold water and slowly
rot out the cavity. The birds merely clean out rotting wood
and projections to shape the cavity to their own uses.
Generally there is a slight depression in the rotting wood
and a few Nymph icus feathers and all around the nest against
the sold wood margin largish lumps of rotting wood v^;hich have
not been thrown out are placed. Hollows vary in depth and
size according to age and size of the tree. Nests appear to
be kept scrupulously clean.
( f » •' ' I n • n>
} ' !• t.Virt I'.M* II
I /| I 'I '/nl tyrr f *'r . . i
1 .’I . • ' • »•■ 11 *•'■ '«<l U
i i '.ft ■ 21) •’i<‘ ^1* n ii^ I *.i?
■ r. # (t« I'll -I'U. 'f
.-1 (T»I Jot*, J i’ ' « V rf I,- • -V* dau* >•■ *T4|e*T i
.,)> t , n Ui,jt‘ ' r-i li • , ' '• -■•• J *»o
I i m ^,iii I, ..f3 ■/( 1-. . I'-i! ' -i^T .^y\v»etS^i
I, . 'll ,1 r,» •;/ t 7 -■ .-' J ' »-
,1 iK'i? --1 '
♦ . ,I 'I 1 ' (•ui«%. . it . in'. I • * '
,4^ 1 - • . I |(i: < •' - I ♦•jtuti W' J f '♦•♦ ■'■•I' ' • ' I ) • ’ ■
if.' - •! *-«' ■ - f' 1«,. -• U-- ' :
, . ',1*' 1 ►*! <» U- i ^ ** U
■W^
111 Il'^.i/1 • j<‘ • ^ «
I had no opportunity to find out how long incuba-
tion takes but from questioning natives I got replies that
indicated between 14 and 21 days and a few said longer, but
such information was too undecided and uncertain to place
any rel iance on.
I never saw young being fed in the nest, but i once
caught a fleeting sight of an adult feeding a flying young
one. The adult when first seen appeared to be shelling a
seed or berry, then appeared to place its head alongside the
youngster and pass the shelled seed to it sideways out of
the beak. The bird was seen to swallow but just then the
adult sighted observer, gave the alarm and both birds de-
parted in haste. From what I saw, I believe in most cases
only one parent feeds the young and though 3 may be hatched
out, seldom more than 2 survive and often only one survives.
V/hat natives told me seemed to bear this out and numbers
mentioned having found four young hatched, but seldom after
the first week, were more than 2 alive. Natives also spoke
of only one bird feeding the young or entering the nesting
hollow. Young birds are fed by adults on paw paw and minced
up seed kernels. In captivity young can be kept alive and
well entirely on paw paw as long as the seeds of the fruit
are left in so it is evidently a suitable diet. After leavin
the nest they quickly learn to feed themselves and can fend
for themselves at an early age and very quickly adopt the
habits of adults though for a ittle time they are noisier and
not so wary and careful but appear to inherit a great shyness
right from the start of life.
; t ■ . f »' 1 1
■ tf-I ;ik ^ ' »».j Uf' I
3tuli 3' il> *» ’ ■' ' •■ 'i ' It r>rilu'>I * ‘
tu ,1 . ! ■ I 3y l f ' I if ♦» ! *»1K,.1
*0 f.. '■) 'kl t,3*|?3iUl 1-41. '■ ' i' *^‘111 J » — ‘ I* *»»l li.MJ*
. i/i*l f.ol
UIT - I J»u • . tWi'M "tH f i.l ^ 1 iJ .'»U'Y I
,r. <V enl/P ,uV*»r^, lit#--- . • a cn]*«r> ^ -ric;u*i:i
||K, r ' r,'! <4 •--i-.r'- . '’r?* '«* ’* ' "<'T •
eii'^ V}*w«*4l'‘ “* *■■- • t t ,vvT ’ •mi U«^»
■* , *>HI> v.Vii^ li ■»* •• i '- riH. 11, •
».<b <” *1* *v> *11 . ■'» <■ ■ i*** •■''! . ^- • '
■.•'I J rvei-; ,10 - lIuKi
V • •- mJ *•' P i ,■ . I I>:» . • -< rtf
J|j^4.t-.,! _ '. , i I* U<i** k.'l* WHM,^ IM^J '■’fn
->■ • “'I *<i...-i »vTvil<« *.' '■‘CH- .♦ >.1. ■ j
n#<‘' l- ' *1 ■ * • -' ■»*l hl**^
nn/n{i»^ Imj ,- M. *■<! ;..Mi)»Y lUf^ l
•^4.1! vtlit f#v|i .ii/'ll'- • n#\r' * -■ T\ 01 • » , iol^ •Hi
yiiil* ’ .»•.! f.it-'-' t ' • t^’T.'<f »iii t.if, • -' IlT< *no yfrtn >o
I • :i . o !• y W»«7 *1* 'll*' IrVi
»-..* "Jli 'f • fO WM£ <?"
; . ■'-) t* - 1 r ' ' ^ ynr- f !rt¥^ MK tt;’ vl*ll‘*rt*i
^-.|v«j*f 1 ti ,5 ‘f f Muf • y}), rt|vi> J tl .•» Ill <tn*
1 ' , - »•.•/! y*. *.i U»#> o? 1«M< I'HI
0 ii.*--, .; !. -.<4^ i%a y(l4**i iH» .U . I *1 iHWHil
Ma - I 1 I.I #141 yMll ‘I '■' flilolM’ ill
5 .-111 • 5l*' )drtf *1^ f»#4 TO»< fu’l^il / ‘ rt- f1#W 0« »MI
4i.*U r • '’'.nl
riif
91.
SUMMARY OF STATUS OF SPECIES
In this observer's opinion the species is in a sound
position though far from safe from danger of extinction, but
if the bird is properly protected and does not suffer any
further setbacks within th next few years from hurricanes
during the breeding season, it will not only hang on but
will rapidly increase in numbers over the next few years.
If the New Caledonia administration will totally pro-
hibit the export of live birds from Uvea and prohibit the
capture or keeping of the species in captivity by either
whites or natives on the island and see the law is enforced,
the bird will be saved. All birds in captivity at present
in New Caledonia and Uvea be registered and not replaced
as they died and heavy penalties imposed on anyone with
birds or ships found carrying the birds (penalties to be im-
posed on both the ship company and master of the vessel),
and on the owner of the birds. This would discourage native
capture of the species and its attendant large mortality.
Any birds at present in captivity which breed registration of
the young to be compulsory and regular track kept of birds.
If possible on an island which later may need further garden-
ing areas, a sanctuary or reserve established of the main
areas of original forest left and prohibition of all expansion
of cultivation further into such areas. This latter measure
would need careful considering as the natives must be con-
sidered and their food sources guarded, but by allowing
gardens but no permanent coconut cultivation in such areas,
natives would be guarded and I believe the bird stimulated
by increases in food in secondary old garden growths.
j:..,- -if’
VnuOa » 'll 5 ■* I --r (. M (K>}<i}it'» r*i /nf * ' ' jT ' t
Jfii , ’ I 1 '.'It . 1-u Tt'-'iS'h rv 'II '^tr 'll *•' '< -
y,.. it'i.t ..•<‘l►t ’iiti 1 y |*B> ■■- j-Tii *1 1^*1 1 il ‘lit
- ,1. -il*Oi,J , (.-,•!> ^'1' • f ‘ t • 4 I Iw ■ ■«
jii 'l'«. -lo/i Ml :1 . i.-'P- '.•» ■nii'/l,
.2*^ ^--'.1 I'l i'i • n »il •'‘'i'll 1 I lli»
f *
;| I'l) in f iwfl") ^.*1 I *l'il <1* - '*”‘1 ■>1^4 il
jll H 1*.' -• ■ ’/J I /n't ?V-i? -vl f ■-■; iJ ll-'lfi
•V f|T|/> fr YJWI»C! t? ?■ i 'V'nX «<J- V'* t-^ .'•. «• .
-^ic
7T»?*nq ■>* 'li '‘'il ' It- ♦Wvim' • III- >il4 >i/-U
K9.ir.(t|eY 1*>*< 4t/*|jr •* A. I JM4T fill -.rf’VI' '.4^ >. I f !'»» fl
rt Jivf »nOYo*^ firi Ividi/i'i’il ff' 1 ' I • V«l* f -.
~ i J >t '•■’I * 1 »niK() ’'••‘It ' I'l’** * 1''*n > 'ww''' %»»♦> •• M
• r^r I0 'utar" lv/> • *0‘*^ •tt'3 ittc'i no Iuk4u^
S-v|>..:' ...'I'HOSlS MiKI Jtft ./‘'-si' •J’ t-* •' ’ l-'l*
.vill n>it' I tii« > ' it*' i»li**»e • ’ *'■
*i>f ' '.*^i 1 J -i ' il-.lrK -Ivl c .»? * ■* rMT^q * .tl4 Yf»A
. ;hiT ' • ' ‘U 'I •'* '•'* »-'»**-. «rfa
-«5«L-i i|' •»- J-|l' ■ * . r,a ••■ ! l'-l«f rtsi '• ♦•‘V.Itl *1.1 l%i £( ’t*50f
nil. 4 IwrifUit' ‘ «• 10 yitnitom f • r^l
*> i,‘'t . tt; ■ 1 t I ••u ' ll* ♦>•1 »0Br\vS r.ioItiTv Ni
- -jw I ’’ f «lltt . *1- ♦"**’< ♦I'll ■ ‘ u n tfMfiii -,i
- -M .0' ’ I full- * 1 Iitlr'if-t i,.«o
|,|| .J»n V> •>' * »>».'iur- ><X)^ nl.* />? IhW*. kintHi
,*1#,*^ . nl ii> I *s'-yt ^fw^ fii*iX’*<v q uri
•< * I'wlt? ’ 1J1I iiH I U«V bU^'i^ofc* W iiliHw
. |{ Vt.'i Kill 4'l
92.
Cyclones are outside of control but would not be
such a serious factor if the above protections were granted
the species.
COLLOCALIA SPODIOPYGIA LEUCOPYGIA (WALLACE):- This
is the commonest species of Col local ia on Uvea and I couldn't
understand any previous observer overlooking it, but later
observations drew my attention to a peculiarity about the
species which seemed definitely to point to a fact I had
previously suspected. This was that this species shows a
slight north and south movement each year. E.g., roughly
birds from sothern N.H. move south to the Loyalties. Loyalty
birds move south to N.C. all moving back for the breeding
season. Actually the movement may only be from one island to
another, perhaps 60 miles or so and may not necessarily be
N. and S., but I believe that the birds difinitely move away
and back to breeding colonies. Tanna Island in the N.H.
where they are rare except in the north, where coral ine cliffs
form suitable breeding colonies for a small population, re-
ceives a big influx from Erromanga or elsewhere, making the
bird common where they were almost or actually entirely
absent before. Similar conditions occur in other parts of
the group. In and about breeding islands the species is
always common, but on shooting it will be seen 90 per cent
or more of birds are immatures, yet this species only lays
one egg and has a definite breeding season. Actually I do
not think the skull of this species completely ossifies till
the end of the second year, but a large area of it does and
even allowing for this the preponderance of immatures is not
accounted for. Sex ratio seems to be about normal with a
slight preponderance of cf except at breeding time when 9 seem
r
;
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5 . i .r - .i-r i\ ’ 1 ft' >\>vl ?«*••'' ‘>M(S «l ••
I I • . < '- " » Til ' -I w il‘»i»j{'€ iw riK^ ,(7u!»iw>
PV’.I 'I I-* » r v» <trf3 ’ •-' ,•' "•*! l^'iH "lO >7<*» 71*
I I . _t » v.iliK- “(I Hnl ’> ^n* 5l-» •3H*
flit y-nt -ItT^Uifea a.|'i^*< 'In! U> If'*. "’J
'*;i- .-u • Jl >* t Jtr ,n' Y *• '•• *» *M<J
t-^1 rl il V) >!('•; *h/ f*fv^>(f#- 'M»vn
* ilM *■ f- 77<'rt #»M% t ' 1^ 0 V)* .
m — S ?"i1 > M**’'} 34 •Orf»*7f4»iH'i(^^7<j li^t-llc
:■ fa
v.i'
!*'
93.
to increase a little in numbers. Yet at non-breeding season
on breeding islands the percentage of immatures increases
enormously and adults or nearly adults are almost unprocur-
able. Only a close study over some time in two areas- a
breeding and a non-breeding area at the same time by sepa-
rate observers - would show any definite results or enable
one to arrive at definite conclusions with any degree of
certainty. But I have an idea something such as the follow-
ing is the case.
Adult and second year birds (probably skull 3/^ or
more ossified) arrive in a breeding area about October.
Mating and nesting takes place. Probably one strong male
may mate with several females and there may be no definite
selection of mates and this is most likely the case.
Juveniles of the previous year have to be ejected and driven
away and this causes great stirs in the colony. One egg is
laid, most birds laying in November but some earlier possi-
bly and a number later. (Infertile eggs and addled eggs
from previous year which are very common are ejected on to
the floor of the cave.) As soon as the young which is
attended by only one parent is able to fly adults all leave
the area and do not return till the following year to breed
again. This movement away takes place about April or May.
A missionary on Lifu told me that early in June at the mission
station at Chepenebe on Lifu great crowds of Col local ia
gathered about the mission (even settling on a large tree a
most unusual thing for Col 1 ocal i a and after a day or tvira of
much noise and calling seemed to disappear and he thought
there were much fewer about later. I only got immature there
nrT<( * 1
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♦ O... I'/#.*MI| ' ’*+ • |lfUSM>l-
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iLiUM 'Y *4 ♦’«»> ?
94.
during my stay though many were examined. On Uvea the hordes
of mosquitoes during the rainy months doubless influence
Col local ia to a considerable extent but there are no mos-
quitoes to speak of on Lifu or Mare Is. I examined breeding
colonies on all 3 islands (all very similar to the descrip-
tion given of a colony in my Mare Is. notes) and the follow-
ing were my findings briefly.
CQLLOCALIA SPODIQPYGIA LEUCOPYGIA (WALLACE):- CONTINUED
On Mare. Colony examined just after height of breed-
ing season (21st Dec. '37) Many immatures and very many cold
and infertile eggs about. Few adults still brooding. See
Mare Notes (no close detailed sexing done).
Uvea Is. 4th May, 1938. Notes on a colony examined
including work on the night of the 4th and early morning of
the 5th.
The colony is In a cave in the sheer 100 ft. cliff
of one of the abrupt coral uplift outcrops in the south of
the island immediately above the tidal lagoon arm about 25 ft.
above the water, well into the cave where it was dark, nests
on ledges at varying heights right up to the roof (about 25
ft. above the water, well into the cave where it was dark,
nests on ledges at varying heights right up to the roof
(about 25 ft.) ledges were easily accessible and nests easily
examined (90 per cent being easily reached.) Examined about
180 counted nests and there were more unexamined (probably a
little over half the total being counted at all levels making
say 300 nests in the colony at full capacity. Of the I80
counted nests 49 had birds on them, 14 of which were captured
and examined, all were immatures with skulls up to 1/5 or 1/4
iliuh
-^V- ’ " .‘‘i.'wlf '*V.- • - /n ^r. )i n
t ■
^ -v-.r, |} 9*9l UA‘ ft! n -.il-L'' -•'•'•lupsiJI 1y
-grwi nti ••*1. yi> f>) fit hic-tiste I. if.'HJ'UllBEfc r ■ ^ ^ -^<*,1 }<U
Q/iI* •1‘* o I . I '■•' *JI# t 'f ' J*l 'r
'* r>tU 61 *».n i> f'l* V fl *' ■». fal fJ'’- t-ittohi
/dJ fct^«3 (^& t.n .«! vt i: /»» kfl Yl11t»)<W| ^ <6 firt*
..;I'''‘>1>. SfoM' I’t '• * '
'I - . - ; -*JAC JiX- - ...
I r> tf#'i I TO ; f>’ t»i»^
bIo::i ya-4i '"- H9’rft* *■» « ' • • »' ’ * ' ' '.'■ ’fl*
* .'mII.oijT' ■ »t • *fll*»rTn! K/i*
I* './I. *<iM 0'tff*
^ N»fil • <. ir» »* it . *
fo frtlioon Y*"'*® l^tv. Vo »v f w* ■ nlfcol *nf
‘ ,r;-^ "d:
\UL-» .f'f t'f'l i»{‘ m1 .\» ^ I #1 ■>
V.» *'■» ■■ *d ’ nl •<JC*t3Jo9 wdj 1«> •■ I’
.11 :"i Iioo . f { ;- I '■rfj »vr>*« y**’*- * ^ “•* '* *»<•
,Jn b - ‘W -'I ♦v *W1 ». t«l Ifrw ,-fr# -V* 9th »»n*r’-*
• o liV j 01 »l* ••’ n«» 1> uni *^v i*> 6»
, M T.i . .vn .,J‘ fJ'il Mw* #Vo -ii
^1,. >•■ ,'* ■> *Jrl* !?>-•! t»olY"»av no
I.|j.- . . ». !,., J 1 « |E|t» k ..;■
T(lt< ' i "Wtl ^
I . Vny' ’ vr*r ' &nn * «i ir*i ** t 0*^ «>»4rt i 'U» » OSt
K ..mI <l» ■ Isv I fl . ) . I’ !iUK-- V' * ll-1v* 'dt •fMlf
r'
^-1 'i‘* ft .Tj!'* ' M*ii 5* ^-'14' f''"* ••'W ■’il iftJiM ft*C V< >
V-.o'^ -. fc-T- fiisttlv *'l ♦ no '■•fl r«i itXMl V '
vf n • M i>t uu nHn 9 ' *tiifV«irtnl *'imw fla ,b-pnh»ii»*?o *yw
T-
W^. '
95.
ossified sexes were exactly even. 3^ nests had addled or
infertile or abandoned eggs in them. The balance were
empty. All immature birds were able to fly well and all
had full stomachs of insects self captured as no feeding
by other birds was going on. From time to time birds
arrived and rested on nests and later on numbers were
noted departing to recommence feeding. Bird guano on floor
mixed with bad eggs and dead young nestlings etc. showed
the colony was long established).
From shortly before dusk to half an hour after
dark even birds appeared and settled to roost on nest.
Further captures 1 hour after sundown all revealed the
same results. 28 immatures up to 1/4 ossified skulls most
1/10 to 1/5 (at least 80 per cent) ossified. Male 15,
female 13, stomachs all full. As nearly as possible the
same places or close to were used to make captures. Birds
did not all leave the colony till nearly 1 hour after sun-
rise, only a few left before quarter of an hour after sun-
rise then many began to come out. All had left by 1-1/2
hours after and the first began to return about 2-1/2 to
3 hours after sunrise.
Observations made at a later date (7/6/38) in cave
about 150 yards from the other colony and results were iden-
tical (colony smaller only about 100 nests). 12 captures
in cave, 2 shot outside close to cave and 2 shot 400 yards
from cave. All immatures up to 1/4 ossified skulls, 80 per
cent of them 1/5 ossified or less, 9 males, 7 females.
On Lifu Island. 1 colony examined on 3/7/38.
Surrounding identical cave in sea cliff face (60 feet above
MMIJ 3'>»-n t' . 'l l t * -VW Ui.v ' UI11*H»
» ..' '“O/jf.l I *1 ^vh* <•• *iu f I J
fl* ’j<« . If w ,'I I i- ■ f' J »hi I viP'/^ • ? n .
» <1* .•■. w,i ■;■. H*.* -tj 1' ifl; ' i l(-
■*’'*) I ' ’'il-' . > ■. flit , lili' *' ■ ■*'■■* I *1.1 f 'I
■j’tf" '/ ' '■Uft *t«»J«( fiM’ * i ♦ ti'i ' tt’i *■'! Hivl' ir
•H-- k:r- bn}?! . ■•'t' -■ ,i' -»»*•''•* i’
, n* ' I i j <••' .j * rii* • 'i t - i, . 3^_ •• I kI <J
. (‘rff' If '«• *»>£»f «*-> .''loli vriJ
->.-t’. ■ . ' rt I f»**l 'il r^V)r ‘ ylT*i»rt* r?»n •
, t^1 tlf\ "I ' ’-s- fcr*'' ■' '' i«»V^ '*' ’•
~>f*f *v>l -v'*. fi *fc- 'I'w Hinr* f r»'u' • **
*41 jIFiH. r ft -I t ♦>’ * -Il'ivT-l *; . r'lll ''T *c.fl
^ i 1 1 . if.' • t .1 **4Hi j *»-»i jj I »'I* J
..‘I t ;* ■ I .|jn» II-* ,*<
i). 0t V VM • •'* •9>ll • 1‘* •*■ '- f ^ MSH
-MV« T'^t. -Ill 'i' I .•(•—■» Iff' f'- I • ■■ ’-■'••f f h. ix>U *1'!'’^
rvt'i -l*v*>-» -MaV't’ ' *i '•> ' ■> n- T» M'f ■ .’'(■«
)-f ./ ' i'«-i (J . ' ri.t -' ,»rw* «»ffi • '!'
, • f- ■ ?»»»■•• *► I !■ I’ * It..' ' Jilt VVpW
, . ft (1 rt S- 1 . .yni ^»l f
,•/< ,,) I I - I • .f . i ' V - •.!
.r. - 1 • *1, -1 I I. 'TIL>'‘"1 *', : .* * f
■f ,* -#fn Wf fl,/! *^.l! ■•-3
■..* ’•» aMRa •''* *'-f •.J.f.Tu Xirt"* • , >»3 -'if
1 <■* , ffi''* * ‘i'f <'* -••i ft .
,'i-. f ’*» , 8Ki I *>**'•>• r> 1 O'* ’ f
-.1 1 in} ' -u» ‘ I ij't f * rt<'»
M t Ifl fi iv; I V)
96.
H W mark entrance to cave) cave rather more difficult to make
captures, 4 only made, all females, skulls 1/5 to 1/4 ossified.
Another colony examined on east side of island only
small colony in coral cave in cliff face (about 400 yards from
coast across coastal flat) Cliff only 30 feet high and cave
entrance about 15 feet up the face. Nest well in in dark,
colony of about 20 nests examined on 4/9/38. Birds present
only numbered 6. 4 were caught, 2 males, 2 females, all
skulls 1/4 or a little more ossified.
Apart from these specimens examined in and about
breeding colonies, specimens for collection (3 on Mare, 7 on
Uvea and 6 on Lifu) were collected and skinned all at great
distances from any known breeding colonies in an attempt to
get adults only (Mare 2 miles. Uvea 4 miles possibly 5, Lifu
2 miles). Results as regard adults were disappointing and
were as fol lows : -
MARE IS. 3 immediately after or during breeding season.
December 7th, 1938. d* 1/3 ossified, 9 1/2 ossified,
9 1/2 ossified. Two of these may possibly have bred
but probably have not though they may be 12 months old.
UVEA IS. 7 specimens, as follows
1 cT 1/3 ossified on 23/2/38 (February adults probably still
attending young.)
1 on 25/4/38. 1 9 o.c.e. skull 1/2 ossified. (Adults ready to.de-)
(part or sooh going,)
1 on 2/5/38. 9 repose. skull 1/2 ossified, (young feeding for )
(themselves by this )
(date )
2 on 8/5/38
2 on 9/5/38.
9 immature gonads, skull 1/3 (Possibly both first)
ossified (or second year im- )
cf slightly enlarged, skull (matures. 9 possibly)
1/3 ossified (1st yr.,d' 2nd yr. )
2 d* repose and repose +, skul 1
1/3 ossified.
T
.w . •' 'lOf' '>'•!/! 1 1 -j fV'. •> , ^ W
-tM *jt t»v| ,.># f J I. ,-»i. f(oL' = .imojflto
yhi;> '■ t ('i *•> rr. ' "fli’f *•? »'flOlc ' "(ff !
p»-.Vn i.' -, y f-t'*' fiioaO - ’ti n M ' / ^ 1 -i /a «1 /-I' f ' -'' Umi*
/ .-* Si. V rit'irl yJo<» /’^rU \lMCJX. ZJ013K
, \nS il pi I f/5w 3 »a-) .« t ritl oo ?F ii>JO tiw rHi’OlM.'
r*tl3 .^TVPVil n.) ‘ ^ ilr w- 62 3«iOi,^* ynoloa
fr. , I f'/’ '=J ,w-l4<n : -- o. '.'••jwAtim yliKi
i .'.'iP 1 i rjiv ofJ'Mf f'» 'o
'■ i'l- ' !-■>♦'<■» «»cn1 3n*qf
no ' .' ' no r' ' wHcyo ^ In 1 i ■ ,* l< olo: '
j'-ii-i i . n ' -.nfif'4e f I'.' ’ im l-ni. •av'i
H' fiJ >-inolco Rolh-' -»•! (iw<v>' **»«'*’' ao3'»*»J«n)
uUJ .? yf iiJ-wot' !>' I ll« ' y(nf> Jfi>».u.
!*n< ^.iJ (I f.*!'*' -JUifif. C
-: •»*? I r ^ ' • '!'
. ill --**' i'M|■1U^ I" T'J^“ f . .. . JJ if*
,Sr.r.T?M> :\f '• CM *
bi6*> i Vtrf yf'^P •.‘<3 ; 5r?<?} .’ l'|?*tJ 2\I V
.U *f • y< "' V miVAti yl J- *.kns <
!!'- , j«q;’ . I m
I, ,'»-*'V
ff . .^ V< * ■
P
>r|' l.inn .)
! -1 <■{ boOrvv* *.pt^
,^y»u'*:'
i' .*'y ^ ” , .IV .ul ?
.( /luo''
.'i Hli'.fo V‘“ I Hu I .i.o. f rtf I
>, P ] iJG i\ I I lu.
A" f» r
f'' f Mu *j , eS*»r»«ijt i*i i* ♦ -’I 9
i'. ? < I ■ ^ '
Mu.i» , Si . <1* foil rlsUlf' *
V-pIlfe-.c f
ffii 4* ,♦ W nto<H'’ V
<*• «
I
. ^ *(11
97.
Up to this date probably juveniles of this year
may not be ranging far from nesting colonies and shooting
at distances captured only birds bred the previous season
(possibly have bred or not bred according to whether they
breed at 12 months or 24 months) or possibly adults though
none were taken truly adult.
Flying altitude has no bearing on sex or age
Samples were taken at all heights. Height of flying In-
sect blanket of greatest density controls all birds Irres-
pective of age or sex.
L I FU IS. 6 specimens as follows
8/8/38 cf repose, skull damaged probably 1/4 ossified.
d" repose +. skull 1/4 ossified.
12/8/38 cf repose, skull 1/4 ossified
cf repose, skull 1/3 ossified.
9 repose, skull 1/2 ossified, (possibly 2nd year lived)
13/8/38 d* advancing skull 1/3 ossified (seems to show breeding)
(at 12 months for males)
E.M.: (One thing shown definitely by the above Is the utter
futility of collecting in or near breeding colonies. Whether
or not my conclusions are correct and as the available data
Is very scanty they quite likely are, at least some unusual
form of movement or ossification and possibly breeding Is
shown. Maybe you can get some valuable steers from the above
dope) .
It at least looks from the above data as 1 f my sui —
mlses may be correct but considerably more detailed data and
study Is necessary.
Another factor observed on Uvea which seems to point
to a movement from that island, at least to other areas Is as
fol 1 ows : -
•i 5 f 36ll i''Vul ci J «lf*» *l“
^,iji 'uv; •’' 1 n/" F^o rnJ'?*^n mo'f’t t * mI' rt*'*' »«F inn \'r.^
nrtt.', '* tWf I‘M-‘iC • iFi '"'i ' '/f.to HrMii' ‘ t«
< v!) 'f y "1 , F'l-i I »’Wl **o I >n«' '*v i* rf leanc)
i!' uoWJ vf''l ’»<>» 'i‘> ^'*‘ ’‘■‘J 3rtiii*n 'I fs
.j<o'«* i oil :« r c<n
s^* itf >t}ie no nl'./’-'H - 'in s rF ^''UJllI
-nl ">0 i/H ':- . M> ** /t»3hi *'-pv 2-lcni?
•“^nT p^'*'i<l ff' ?!*'*. *n Yli'<r»‘i Je* ,i *<> iftfn.l ■
, • *n» MA i»
r • ! I y f <; I ' I -SI'S t V F s^J J
.Kjiiif^ao :■■ I vl . '■ llu-e ' ■ &C\®\8
.* I . I«y» *lSf f tu ■ . • a,)a>-T ^
• VAI Mus'^r . ' tfMt\Cf
: f Jfu'r . »C'«T V
‘.**vl I ^lO!" /I t?5xit{) .hM"* ! <'■ ( lIuJ-I . 20' T S
-Til wof<2 O'? V?-rjr^ ' fM f fv»’« n ‘ SfV^xtl
(f . ! *i*r^ siiifMjn ’:l
-r!f ■■’I , *i'i,v ..'• Y'‘‘ ''F - J F '>1 jnlrfy “ftO}
. i. t.i')f«r" f Mi'.'>‘v-t*^ -m to ni 111 -f i* Moo yMMiu^
aja'. .f' (\!i <V‘ jrrf> i’ ' ' >* i:«*' '»••.■ •*i- :/V'1 ^ufomri ‘(ri >»-f* m
(.Ijw.-iu < ; lA .All -to-JlI »Mn,' \>mrh ylrt*o» Y''*'^ "*
?| -ni'i-i -. ' vl 'j»-- ’ tJi-i- il'-tl'-io no fn*.. .*it»i »nc1
fv - i^f o'* "a «#-•' • I 'V ui'Y .inAOf^*
'*■ , (ftOOFi
-■>u» wAi . v?fl _v * . Aii ^nnl i » Jt
Uw '.i*V 1- M- - i’' *n*'i M'^-n --' *'•'■' -*»«1»‘
. t’Acfoi n si Y^'Uit
JnJuc '■ itoirf f wv».T ia^ V-.w# • '.ni^JOnA
nj • n. I'HKi ‘>i 3* ’l ’• ,lif».l>l it,fl3 rrH'^YW* • Ai
-1*1 A? I
98.
When I arrived on Uvea In February the island was
suffering Its annual plagues of mosquitoes. They made life
uncomfortable in the day and necessitated all skinning or
writing being done under nets, but at night simply became
impossible, thick clouds of them simply making the night
one long hideous "ping". Walking about one could feel them
bumping into ones face in scores, and to wave ones arm was
to strike dozens. In and about the swamps they were thick
day and night but not in the clouds such as they were from
dusk (5:30 P.M.) onwards till after daylight. In February
and March it was very noticeable how plentiful Col local la
leucopyqia spodiopygia was over the swamps and from 5:30
onwards the birds were to be seen in hundreds and even
thousands hawking over the swamps. V/hen the mosquitoes dis-
appeared or rather the clouds of them, some always being
present. Col 1 ocal i a simply vanished nor did they appear in
other areas of the island, in fact they became scarce all
over the island. The following notes on dates were made at
the time. Up to and before 17th of April numerous notes
speak of the abundance of the species everywhere and especi-
ally In the swamps. During the week from the 17th to 23rd
they still seemed common, but decreasing slightly especially
over the swamps and during this time the mosquitoes began to
decrease. (Col local ia feeds on them as I have found them In
the beaks of shot birds.) I began to take closer note and
recorded these in my casual log and on the 30th the facts
had assumed sufficient significance to warrant close noting
in the field book and notes were kept daily closely after
that.
1
ffr- *"'
-1 1 1 4.
9<| ■••■
t*i'
In<)i
•!#>. . ♦
( M
hVJ
1
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,.‘ *<
i-i.'lJ
1 ■'
. *.■) •■
,-j «
."! Jl*1«
• (.1
jx* ;
. lU.
* -* •
;
- .1 ' ao •»yl*;v: (
I. i'? Vt I l'^F#V"C^iI
*U«' I -i I. /J . i. "?'’ '■■*>
' o Vu' , fif Mi- i >»K6A| -
• i • r^’* fur^ '»'»'■ »1 • .’• 'hi'1‘1’* r :
( «ri1 ttf tw» '<*1 lo *'fv. yA
n * ' -> f(If l^-u,ii**( '. .
M»'Vi» to V*** ■'''t'uft 'i ft » €» ' cj * I 1^1 -
«jjl. •ny :/ I . If ' .?"* •♦ vtiM - T
^ I •/ I * .W’ * *Kl«rt
ni -, -i^' . *1 >' • V' M- I /JLUiaLlL* ,
(I .- ■; • >•■» V. i''^ t1 tbO*r4t Aft'l #*»>« W<>*'
i. -A. 1.4 M ^ -nl !:l *<ij* •*'*V*>
»■(.-♦ M "• I'v 1» . I ^ ^ .'.*4 • ‘ ' ^ '■'*’
,4^ . L,^ ,. , .. 1 -! **(tj
• -, _ _ J ' • j I • - # ajit I rl I * . , ► '»*4 t>< I * y f I »
,, IJ.f >(| ' 4, - Mi--; -'.V^' ift« , >»*** ■ w»i»- Mil" '
„» (]. .> *<*1 fc-nl* tlrt ; ►41 •I"'-**
.T . .T.* f ' *' *■
' •■ 'V •• ‘f W «ri 1 Vf ««4lJ
-1 M. *-:|t1 ,>IU -/ft »*0 ImI'* (>r. ^.'1
. ii4 * "t 4 f's lU-vnJw r J li* t-J ‘ -si'‘ •• '■
yf*«*‘ I s'll '' •' -i'i'''> ' ' 4)> V ■' V I i'j M f
/
99.
25A/38.
26/V3S.
27/V38.
28/V38.
29/4/38.
30/4/38.
2/5/38.
3/5/38
4/5/38
5/5/38
6/5/38
7/5/38
9/5/38
10/5/38
11/5/38
something over 100 seen,
between 50 and 60 seen
18 only seen
14 only seen.
8 or 10 only seen
5 or 6 only seen.
(In all types of areas )
(where the bird was common)
(before. )
(Col 1 . esculenta urop. was)
(Just as common as usual )
(about 100 being seen each)
(day. )
( )
( )
( )
( )
Between 50 and 60 seen but most of thes« were seen
very close to cliff which contain suitable breeding
areas. Birds still rare elsewhere.
6 only seen where birds were plentiful before.
30 seen and nesting colony examined. Nearly all
seen were close to the colony.
6 only seen above 1/2 mile from nesting colony.
8 seen in short distance and in 1 hour. Species
evidently more numerous this day.
1 only seen. Bad weather and showers probably
respons ible.
50-60 seen mostly over swamps and near breeding
colonies, though further from those than usual.
50-100 seen in similar areas to previous day
3 specimens shot and examined 9 3/4 -
skull 1/4 ossified (All wing)
d- 1/2 ( 114 )
skul 1 1/4 OSS i f led
U.S. 1/3 ossified.
100 seen mostly near tidal lagoon colonies, rare
el sewhere.
12/5/38
None seen. Bad area in forest.
IK ' S fcPi
^ f' t> !>w *"■ Hm
4
Itv' S ,‘ I i ' (
. # v*'W ^
/) V'J vl»|n '{ "
. >*f Ml*' '(•*
f
.*,•' ■ I" . ' -'If- ^li rt»' ' ■ ' I ' '* •- >• i
I '' I J Ji c?t i'lj Vj. */
. •»«».; t-wi 1 n<i-> fil. j .w>l ‘ .
, . I •■* fi»ti • I * ♦*'<■1 5 • '**i*'i f -jj (/*»!
M It* M*i> /(f t'’ tT . •' '* •' '• ' •
Ps|i' . '-VI I I J •■ f • t’j'i tr
5'',;
.*n»*4l I ril bo ■' 'll ^
, 1 'J.:- 4>*i 'f'rttl lv*
yM.rJ'ifi < ?i ■'Oi's -- • •> ’J ' * ? »lrto I
. -' '’VIOBW1
mP I -O' l'\~" ** •*»*M«* ifllJ- ■
.1 11^ o rl-t .1 *i> •vi.tilul i^'U yft ,*•! '’li'j' =
;'h / ‘tiff a a*f*m nt ■« <
- <l\.' i l«.itb^ *•* 1 •*• 7<«i> aw*#l:> ^
> IP
)i(* n W :•' '1 1 luJ/t
(til -M
v*»t^tf»o ^\l IP* !-9
.’kjJ^lECu ' ( .
•
. , irfuf »|»
111 »ru. .ft-*'* ctmfrl
■%4rY * M * If) I
• J 1 '< f ’in f
. 1
•' i- • jJiU A*/J; • iL 4-<>
r ■' «'» '»* '»%•?■ #* -taul
|i in* » ‘I' -** t'‘f' f ('i 3HO')i
(
■ ?•'
>' ^*• .
< \( I
:
if
' 'I
100.
13/5/38
2 seen. Bad areas
14/5/38
Col local ia rare 4 only seen in good areas, swamps,
etc.
16/5/38
Numbers of both species Coll, feeding in bad rough
weather. 30-40 seen.
17/5/38
4 seen in good areas, none in bad areas
18/5/38
None seen in fair areas where it was once very
pi ent i ful .
19-21/5/38 Only odd ones seen.
22-28/5/38 C. still rare only old ones seen in good areas,
none in poor areas.
1/6/38
£. more numerous fairly common again 20-30 seen.
3/6/38
£. again rare Few being seen even in good areas
(4 only) .
6/6/38
£. again disappeared, none seen.
During missed dates and from there on the birds were very rare
except near breeding colonies. Sometime none being seen in a
day sometime as many as 6 or 10 in good areas, some days even
good areas showed 1 or none. Bad areas all showed nil or an
occasional stray. Entries were almost monotonous in the
regularity of the reports of the lack of birds. Through it
all Col local ia eseul . remained normal and unchanged.
NOTOPHOYX NOVAE HOLLAND I AE:- Natives on Uvea do not
know this species though from some vague descriptions given
it is just possible it may appear there very very rarely after
very stormy weather (being carried or blown from New Caledonia)
but evidently never remains long. This species prefers rivers
J '(,*■
.f
V
i I.IV .
' ' IL'i-- ^
n.‘ Ji ■»>’
.•y i ' • ' M
II I
I*
(>) .»>.• . »
■-¥'■■ 9f, J 1 1
1 •.? r* y r ~T ■ •> 1 ■ .1
rij.' < 'tV'1
( 1 ' ttf. I ■
U)-., ffft'.
, r >1. f
«kC»"^ rtl
. V? f-rr
i,' tHt ‘ I /!r^ ni‘»
. • ■ • *. »»l
'<- I •, O »
I
bofv ftl if-ivj 1' #»•!•* ^ 'll..'' .£.1
, 'IfK' k*'
. ;; ^Jloi ni' .- ' f ‘ i\i‘
'.'T* > 1# i 4-* ’i 1 ' »r > -1. t ■•♦1.1 UfllluU
r?t .i - n:*' . ♦If! !•' •»nS‘ * ■•» ' ^ fi it»»:xo
/ ..« S , Vi '• ■ f*l fff to «* »* ’ . ♦^fcilT^WO* V^-t
Cki ij ti l ' ■ •,>* .! il . :ui na t WiOf
.,' fil .* ' •♦< I'lf “ ilt'A.f- (O-^v . • .'4
■I h' rtsiT.IV .♦**.! t . 5 fi-f 'u t?-XK T <4tt >o
.• !*’<• h*"*»<*« ‘ n*
K»* >>'o *r '(fj fy* J'">'1 ■ t
» 911. f'* JMli'iV nfH}9 y. I>»tjg «!|<3 kilCWIi*
•i ^ '• iiwl 4l jl
«*t*viT ‘*1 f t: 4 J al'<T .■ fiof t-vvh
and such surface waters as exists on Uvea is quite unsuitable
habitat for it being too deep, too brackish, or too much
frequented by natives in their daily taru culture. (Other
Loyalty Is. areas are entirely unsuitable habitat having
no surface water anywhere for more than a day or so after
rain.) Should it appear on any of the Loyalty Islands
it would almost certainly return to its normal habitat on
New Caledonia the hills of which are visible on most days
of the year except when visibility is bad. (Just medium
to fair visibility the hills are plainly seen.) This
species should definitely be deleted from lists of Loyalty
birds and at very most if it has been collected there
classed only as a very rare accidental visitor.
DEHIQRETTA SACRA:- This species is very common on
Uvea and breeds there in numbers. Breeds on the islands of
the westward chain of the island also, and is very plentiful
there. Breeds and is always numerous in the tidai lagoon
arms in the north and south of the island. It is noticeable
that along the large lagoon forshore it is almost entirely
absent where long stretches of sand occur with no coral
rock outcrops, but anywhere in the vicinity of rocks it is
found. Thus from the pass at Lacking isiand in the south,
right to lahnimaha in the south centre of the island where
a long unbroken stretch of sand occurs, birds are never
seen settled but only fly past out to sea, between these
2 places. Along the ocean coast and in the rock central
coast on the lagoon side from lahnimaha to about 4 miles
north of there (where the sand beach recommences and sweeps
on unbroken to the extreme north) about Moul i island and
wlA., {uXf*W -iliU 111,. ^ »'l'. r W^U*! > (i.
finuTf o *J -ir' ,i>I I '.01 •.;• 1 ' 'I . ! '» t
■ -.!j , ■•ru;' lu-- (i-.A2 MI * 'il-r:-; -»1 vl * /' >*. ■
".ilv -.4 J' ♦I-»c! . f ■H'.'f 1 ivftij »o >■* .if
, >f 'tc A '• .HwfJ 'nc»n U' lim/iii* -t* ■ 'M i rn»
>V : [al VUii/it/J .(*'1 *J I V'K •''J *ijf»cfr ?T • !»' nlit (.(•! ■
n/ J -^liv •'ll Ylr»t6/n« -'■srt U Jl
4\‘ tf <■•■ riM 1 ■"■'tv ^ li -• 1‘4 itdA '-J » I '• V«»4
ul' , ( ; i yii I U I »lw «i**fi*' ■<*'?>«» *#i Of •fii '' '
ciiH /tfil tf ’‘Mill ''Hr I .n.lv itlv^ ♦»«
I ; . , .11 '."iVUH *.<• ‘.fucHrt «*t
'r t --M r^4 M Tl rt'TW f« '»n
.- ’T-{v* ' '^ni,«v '. I*, yl'**' I«
o» .»
/ * i ?• i
.-I-.... i.a '•iStiJi?,/.'
>■ ‘im
4i. -‘ 1
■ 1 -r * ^
»* . ~ ' to ul ' -
'■O’- noi^*
I M? i ' j f :.
V • 1
t 1 , rt r f « f jf< 1
.1 ,.; . »
.4aMi4 «H4
i^V « I
I* nl rtxiT «0» 9^> l •!
' 1A
»f • I; in rl if < d y i‘ t ' ■ r * «»I »«in4
T * '• »* wl* ^1 *1 rtwf*’*' ‘ t < *|A I •ifh jiwfj
5#v»* ••!' '' I ’; ' '
#t f1 «-' »'*> i* ’M^f IV ••»’ i iw ' , fcjcn
i.H.r 'it 1 i ni L:j »4l r«n> .Hnif.M
J»,, f<l 1 *• ' «AT •'»H nf oH •i! *rr*t Of ‘’-W H
-.-iV..i •'I* 'tl-f , •'> '■»• I *
- ^ 'I •-*■ , iu- ’4.1# fl'»* i^uJ Wfit4t% t»*4*
I *1 * • j '"'<n «* 'll s, . 4»H4 S
f . Mr ♦' }!<(■■*’ flut I *1^ W1 SMfl>
-*« ’.'riisi f4.l\»r'} 'ortk-t J»rl? I#*!* 4/ ^ t ftS'UXt
V,'.. <vn4|!il llt'-'i* ’JMiv.*.'. (»l‘>n<3rt »«*«i.‘'i4x'i vJ rv*'*’n<l«u «w
t
i
102.
anywhere else where rock occurs, the bird is plentiful. It
is alert and difficult to shoet as cover is lacking under
which one might approach the bird in most localities.
Natives are very fond of it for eating and shoot quite a
number (island meat lack and hunger) they also capture and
rear youn birds as pets destined for the pot.
White pase birds are almost entirely unknown to
the natives and I saw none and only saw blue birds. Speckled
seemed also unknown.
Much of my time was spent away from places where
records of any value could be taken as most of my time was
spent away from beaches and except when I went to the lagoons
or back beaches, any I did see were odd ones flying past out
to sea between rock areas. In an afternoon's run between
Fayuwai and St. Joseph in the north I kept the following
counts (see map for main N and S road) all appearing in and
about the 4 miles of road where rocks appeared on the lagoon
side and the ocean beach on the west.
Going north 5 adult and 2 juvenile blue Demigretta . going
south 2 adjult and 1 juvenile blue Demigretta date 27/2/38.
Other records were as follows.
14/2/38 1 Blue, at becking Pass.
17/2/38 1 Blue, on wing following lagoon edge
a little out to sea, Fayuwa i .
27/2/38 7 adult blue, 3 juv. blue on rocks central
island. To and from St. Joseph in north
from Fayuwai in south.
29/3/38 1 blue adult, on rock north of lahnimaha.
3/5/38
2 blue (1 adult and imm.) seen both shot
on rocks near lahnimaha.
t . j :*-< r'/U ••'f'
y„l iu at il •I'A.n ? Jo, ! -loiriir hfh- tl
. ia-M /il W'll:? fHU rvn*'
laiii nJ < .3 ♦! V* • '•‘i' /*vl ic.H
hti , arjuJtf~o 0.1 . '■^l' J '.'I ^ - -vcJ *' ' f^K Ntfcnii,
.?»•( .fir 1-1 3* -I n»*ov ■’*»•»
oJ n Kovinu !-»,t aV-l * ">» <;' ‘r
boM fj? tn{( 'r » yf'V' ^>nr. to iMM4 t 'VllftM */<J
,.r ■■ -Arty jfi . i
*rti 1 V" ^'*’■<1 S''' fefyo »vr5^*> '►o ab*io.v«T
CKX-^^'-f «(lj oi .‘■-- **’S bfl#^
3UO itM] I rtiyi' as-ar* Wv> ' I'* I *J0
mt*i n «l .» f toon rw.v-v.i oj
..-.l-jnl foi» M'J •- M '. • '1 I* .+ ^ Ii*vWYi,1
Vkv- f inl*i..*gCo H. 'b«.^ '•• S' 1W HI- ^
fr£lO|^ I mfti rt<i '>j'. *•«<■<■, ■ **0*, !■ ' iM ttMxl*'
_ , . 'J 4^>«nio nr!* ’ai »t !•
;. fi I /T- , •"! ' •n.r^vu' '.' l-m. ^!»i5 <1 r^''ii»n pnloS
. ' ’ ' ,,rt vii.i'n. ^ -• 6JjSM
. ..IM^ IK. rWoc^T "Si i*
B.ii : ' uffi I ?'4I
f > "M t n j] ' wi f ||>'» t*ufU f Ui.'
. I : . oJ ■ irf' T*’H
• ^ » .A •
! ’’j;' Man • > iitjf'.! .V*»’’ ' Jlub ' W
-V. I > . ivln.. '1 f» ,?fu' • ’H'f ‘ I 'C !■ ■ •
»
i^i • ■ il' . ‘•>*1 f «#t»i ” -rv\t
* '. . I'l^ I f|,i
V5/38
28 blue Demiqretta seen in tidal lagoon
at south of island Leckin i.
3/6/38 2 blue Demiqretta seen, 1 shot on rock
lahnimaha and in flight out to sea.
9/6/38 2 blue seen while at sea (within lagoon)
on way to Beaupre Is. in small boat.
11/6/38 3 blue Demiqretta. Beaupre Island.
13/6/38 8 blue Demi gretta . at sea ofF and on
island chain to N.''. of lagoon.
17/6/38 28 blue Demi gretta on and about islands
chain to N.V/. of lagoon.
From the above it will be seen that the species is
common anwhere that surroundings are suitable, tidal lagoon
and rocky places.
The probable reason for species association with
only rock areas on Uvea (and tidal lagoons) is that where
rock areas occur these are more or less level ledges becoming
dry at low tide and leaving rock pools etc. which have trapped
small fish, or when covered with water offer a considerable
area of more or less even depth of water. The same applies to
tidal lagoon arms. Along the sand beach areas seas have
throv/n a more or less quickly sloping bank of sand to a point
a foot or so below low tide level which makes too great a
depth of water for Demiqretta. From this point the lagoon
floor slopes off very gradually at the angle or stability
for sand under water. Something thus
l it it
'1 I ! .
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104.
This shows that neither at high or low tide would such areas
suit the species. Demigretta much prefers pool left by the
tide as in such places small fish etc. on which it feeds are
more or less confined and much easier to capture. On the
extensive mud and sand (slurry) flats in the tidal lagoon
arms in the north and south of the island inequalities in
the banks hold and retain water for long periods. Such
inequalities are often made by stingarees (sting ray) and
by colonies of mud dwelling bi-valves ("Tohoeroa" of New
Zealand) which make mounds above themselves and by natural
inequalities. Even at high tide there are extensive
shallow areas over the more or less level floor of these
silted up lagoons. Also in and about the mangrove roots
there are great numbers of the small jumping and climbing
fish (which have gills in the tail) on which Demigretta
feed a great deal, suddenly dashing into a crowd of such
fish basking In the sun and driving its beak with a wide
sweeping snap into the small cloud of leaping fish in the
air as they hop for safety Into cavities or under roots or
Into water. Even so it is noticeable that even in these
tidal lagoon arm areas Demi gretta does very little feeding
at high tide. From half tide falling to 1/4 tide rising
being their principal feeding time, though they generally
commence fishing shortly after the tide turns and commences
to fall, but only in a rather half hearted manner. Between
these times they travel to other areas or stand about on
rocks etc. above high tide mark or fish along the water's
edge on small sand beaches between rocks but only if they
are hungry I think.
105.
ANAS SUPERCILIOSA PELEWENSIS (HARTLAUB):- As far
as is known to observer this is the only species of fresh-
water bird found in the Loyalty Islands and is confined to
Uvea Is. only in that group (Casual, very rare passing
through birds may occasionally rest for an hour or two or
even a day on other islands of the group, but never stay
and do not breed as there is no surface v;ater anywhere on
other islands of the group and rivers are non-existent in
the Loyalties). It breeds on Uvea in numbers in the fallow
taru swamps, uncultivated swamps and about the small lakes
on the island. It is plentiful on the Island but very shy
and wary and is much persecuted by natives v/ho only shoot
it when at rest, consequently at such times it is very
difficult to approach though It will fly close past a
person and offers at such times an easy way of collecting.
It appears identical with birds of the southern New Hebrides
except in one habit which it has been probably forced into
for lack of food on Uvea to support its large numbers.
This is the habit of feeding as well as roosting on the
sand banks of the tidal lagoon arms in the north and south
of the island. Nowhere in the southern New Hebrides did I
see birds feeding in salt v;ater areas too. They feed close
to them and perch and rest In and about such places. After
sundown large numbers of ducks fly up the swam areas to
feed in the taru cultivation areas on prawns, snails, etc.,
found in these places and return to areas of less human
occupation before sunrise.
There is evidence that birds pass to and from New
Caledonia in the fluctuating numbers on the island and I my-
self saw a flock arrive in the south of the islands. From
, ^ . j 4 •'1 !<•( * f' ’ (i 5 i J '
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106.
native accounts it is possible they occasionally pass between
Uvea and the New Hebrides as fl ights arrive and depart in
that direction in the north of the island and as they never
appear on Lifu must pass on to the New Hebrides or circle
back after long flight.
Natives know of no other species accompanying
birds from New Caledonia but It is very likely odd stray
birds do appear at very wide and rare Intervals but never
remain, probably find the habitat entirely unsuitable.
This species has an eclipse moult I believe all
or most of the wing primaries moulting at one time and the
bird being unable to fly for a week or so. At such times
it hides in swamps and is captured by dogs, being unable
to fly, as are numbers of young birds in the flapper stage.
1 got one such bird on Uvea on the 25th Feb. (all wing prim,
in full moult, tail none, body considerable moult) and got
several others at later dates.
Breeding and nesting habits seem usual except that
to the best of my knowledge it never nests in hollows of
trees nor do I know of any such hollows that would be suit-
able nor the trees large enough in suitable places to provide
such nest sites. On Uvea it appears to breed from December
to April and early May and odd birds at other times (very
rarely) a little outside those months. The bulk of bird
breeding in (a few in January) February and March, and early
April. Evidently v/aiting on the rains v,/hich begin in Feb-
ruary and go through to May. Doubtless cyclones and floods
in their breeding areas (swamps) cause heavy mortality in
eggs but would assist young in increasing food areas.
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k«-i <•/! .lit It >!i3fcg f rt> 'yaf' ylt.it* llv.^ **./
' ^
k 1 1 T T . I co**i '^jleiuo r'l 'll "■•
w(>» r ■ , ' ' '' i L- l'.‘- -T^ ^ rtl ». rtl 'or •' '
•• '*• ..I (■»-*< fl>Mi *nl<#'i •H’ - 'HfrtJitlyJ ,
: '*/! ('J »► Ti^Nm .ym/I c* hn# ytont
#.’ I ? yv ' tl irtJ <il
.,’.>it ' 1,1 ril ' 'liaol 'tl Kl'in** ill! n#
ACCIPITER FASCIATUS VIGILAX (WETMORE):- A fairly
common species on Uvea and is increasing. is exactly simi-
lar in habits to birds elsewhere on Mare and Lifu. Feeds
much on native and domestic poultry, especially during
August and September when it has young. Natives say it
is useless to have domestic chicken at that time of the
year. Its perching first and striking from a long motion-
less glide from a perched position and never from the wing
is the same on Uvea. When on the wing high up it is not
hunting but playing and is full and not hungry. When hunt-
ing it hunts below tree level slipping silently from perch
to perch, amongst coconut palms mostly on Uvea which is an
ideal habitat for it, and then striking from a motionless
perch often of long duration. It feeds on small birds,
lizards, rats, mice, large insects and domestic poultry
(chickens and ducks etc.). When on the ground with a
kill it has the habit of jumping up and looking around
for approach of danger. It seldom appears to eat its kill
in a tree but goes to the ground almost invariably. It Is
a ruthless and savage hunter especially when with nestlings,
but Is an exceedingly alert and wary bird.
Juvenies do not outnumber adults on Uvea at any
time from what I could gather, and certainly not from
February to June. In fact I saw very very fev; juveniles at
all. I imagine the observer who made this note did so
from the numbers of skins collected. Juveniles, being less
wary than adults, would be more easily collected. My ex-
perience was the other way and the juveniles were out-
numbered considerably. Females hunt more in the open types
Vfil .
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. ■v.i.i.iii
108.
of area and males though hunting much there also visit the
forests to a greater extent than females, but even so they
spend only a very short period of their time in them, more
about their margins and a great deal in and about native
gardens and shorter coconuts. Females spend the bulk of
their time in tall coconuts visit short ones and gardens
and seldom go into forests if ever, and never far into
them.
This species plays on the wind on updrafts etc.
from the prevailing S.E. and E. winds where they strike the
east coast of the islands. It also hunts above the low
stunted wind blown scrubs of those areas to a limited ex-
tent, generally sighting movement, then settling and
remaining motionless on a coral rock outcrop. The birds
in this area are almost invariably females, males ap-
parently preferring to play and soar over coconuts and
the saltpan areas.
I do not believe Immatures nest but data seems
rather to point to them at least pairing off before the
immature plumage is changed. The first specimen collected
by me on Uvea was an Immature phase with well developed
gonads (R ovary visible) and was in the company of and
playing with another male adult bird and from their un-
usual lack of vigilance and interest in their own affairs
I believe they were pairing off. This may be wrong how-
ever. I do not think the juvenile plumage is retained be-
yond a year and as the birds probably breed (as yet unproven)
at the beginning of their second year it is possible some
birds in a late moult would at least have vestiges of
juvenile plumage left at mating and In odd rare cases be
^‘1 t' !i • (if #*ft»rf i-a- •#’fA
• i4j iVJ4t ftl-' 'I (f itW/Tt* >>1 -“If '*> «1 ♦"‘I 1
.•; ii ’il' -ii r !'• •! rn^a n«rv /!•«• *
vJ : J '.,*1 h( f *•' i' ’■‘f » f ■• »' t'ij ^ *»l-»r:> JikkJ*
IV • h* M\* l. ln.J? i- ^ . ' nrj
4,»^ - ■' rl'i/ ,*’?y.ir-' If. ' 1 f: •(!
<»'»■> I .V ;i L. . ,-i»» M '?<.■( '> al -’C »hly f l-u*^
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ii .
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’-Mj>-n.*i ii.if i * ’ •!
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S „, , •, f'l M bwr, 1^ >) «U“*Wf
-till nii<‘l > ' Vi r TiyVi *l»ki ~i’t : 'ft* ciftliitil*
^*,1 *, ,T - : 'il*t' > nl •vr.f Im^5V
-'■at; *«vw •‘■j /'I I • •; ' ysrl* I
'• 1 11 I ’i rji-i'y'J't‘4 Jil1(vvul, l ’nlfii JiM ch ♦
^n»vnTi hjNfTJ *nl "rl »- ! .;*» T' *■
,■!. _jf ]>^,I. .|i JI *V,||1 >Ai *»I'||^I .,'tT I '♦rti JI^ ikt!!
V-. «!'-|7''iV i>v ill -’I?! f" hht\'‘ • rtl ♦in'll#
I -. s o M' il ’ll- ftl f *1 1* j’t I vV'Ulo /fll
TJ -i
1 '
T
. ■ *♦( .;• I
«M * i '* -'i t • !'• ' I ‘ •
i.wil ^d * " /•»<♦■ n» <
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i li I j 'A M-it ' , '
tf'itJ .riT . i <**••'*
- t , f y I
’ |«<| /.III » VUV-M
in full juvenile plumage. All this species suffer much ab-
rasion to plumage and show considerable individual variation
as to times of moult and it is possible that juveniles show
a similar variation. The species has, I believe, a faculty
of moulting when abrasion reaches a certain stage and not at
set regular evenly spaced intervals or seasons (apart from
the breeding plumage moult) and it is possible if not badly
abraded they might miss a moult and moult at different times
of the year in different years. This might mean a bird
could and might breed in juvenile plumage. Probably some
such is the actual condition in rare cases, but the major-
ity of birds are nearer normal and do not breed in juvenile
plumage.
The follov/ing are the dates on which Accipi ter
v/ere seen on Uvea and though a few others seen were not
recorded, this constitutes 90 per cent or more of the species
seen and where seen (*specimen collected).
* 8/2/38 2 seen in coconut plantations behind and close to
(200 yards) European dwellings, d* ad. and ? imm.
11/2/38 1 seen in native gardenlands (cT in gardenland and 2
year coconuts). 6 A.M. before sunup. Hunting
Perched in dry tree.
14/2/38 1 seen soaring over saltpans area (not hunting)
bel ieve d*.
18/2/38 1 seen in tall coconuts appeared like cf ad.
* 2/3/38 1 male adult shot in short coconut groves (10-15
year palms) near native village, perced to prey
on chickens. 11 A.M. approximately.
*26/3/38 1 adult female shot close to camp (left off skinnin
to chase it, see field note Log book.) In tall
coconut plantations in and about villages and
European dwelling. Still hunting, though full
k ifx4j< • ’-l-yr. -i -l/> II
• f<'LUbIvJ' '!* I'fc <*»«■- 1 • I
VA J Tr S. flii^Vtl- 'J'l S'- -ii M
■ iff ' f h»» '<il I lu^
. , *1
I •• i<*> i( ^ V . 1 1 c » »*
v'-lLKT-i , ’<Uc I , ^ (t it' f •'» > J* HjiV
»» J*7I» •* :i4 'iS.,*-! »li}t?<"’l li. IIJU>/ .
5 |. «•*>« 'f . l i/'i-V'J * • ; vlnt ,’ ■ If h/v"^
yp il •! 1 .-•..r- .1 jl <r o|f»«ul(9 ' *>
tt•^^ ; Jn'-irXM' ^ > t'y^t ’mi i VJ/j’i li
' ■(! , nrr*y 1< * 1. ■
PI
» •** ’<^t
► X > I
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4 ’.r.
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t 1
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i«*f* "ti#* yh ^■
1 -■■' wa-hTf f ’ . - 7t • • ,!••' »». -
I J t I\ *
j !..■(, ' ?■' ' iK'l ’ *' > t1 rWt4 - '.'■ •"'•J
, i ‘ * .- iin ‘b >t‘V ^
5 t„. Uk? ... il ’ •' \ i I -' ‘1 ?♦« '] IMP*# 1 ‘.:V£\n
i ' u»'. . ;' ^ .. . . va** *t.»jv
, » ..T
■|)« 1)).; ■ •n I . ■►•I a I U» T&vki
t f UStSt^t
, (, 'if ' *'f '<" J t (•■'’ ’ll '-■ >• f
|», '>iVV ' '•! .'I .M I i}Z\(V2 •
• . -I f J ' f?lv -vl '^*MI i ,' *■) ^■(•>>-:
. 'T. > '? *‘ • •* H .3n(‘ *^!(r-’ t«o
-1 I ♦ > .? ■t**!';! 1 f’Pj'.ft I
. oA * ' t 1 -I * I J I .fb >•!
Ill/ "fti'' III • '• 'I I V ivrw-/»<ft ,
ff
*'(♦ :
i
110.
1/4/38
5/4/38
8/4/38
26/4/38
28/4/38
30/4/38
4/5/38
10/5/38
11/5/38
14/5/38
when shot drinking water in swamp. Strangely
it seemed to be feeding in the mud (dragon
fly larva?) and when on the way home a large
earthworm appeared and was pulled out of the
throat.
1 adult male in coconut groves (tall) near coast
believe same bird as seen on 11/2/38 near same
place.
1 adult male over taru swamps. Flying high, playing.
2 adults (1 d*?;, 1 9) in coconut plantations border-
ing taru swamps.
1 Accipiter d* adult. Tall coconut plantation.
1 adult ?. Tall coconut plantations near forest
margins .
1 adult $ on wing hunting through tall coconut
plantations .
4 adult 9 seen soaring over and playing on updraft
over low scrub areas and cliffs of east coast.
1 later came lov/ to hunt and was shot but lost
in low dense scrubs, probably crav/led into one
of the numerous deep narrow fissures in the
coral rock. All definitely females. 2 seen
hunting earlier about coconuts on margin of
tidal lagoon arm, believe both v/ere females
and, certainly both vyere adults.
2 Accipi ter seen far away on wing over sv/amp lands
(not together) .
1 adult 9 seen hunting in coconuts near tidal
lagoon arm in south.
1 adult d* and 1 adult 9 (seen hunting?) or flying
above taru swamp and swamp areas. (no record
in small field book as to whether hunting or
soaring. )
1 adult o* seen hunting in low forest and garden-
1 ands .
25/5/38
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30/5/38
1 Accipi ter believe ?, certainly adult hunting
in tall coconuts (believe same bird as seen
on 28/4/38, same area.)
4/6/38 2 adult 9 and 1 adult d* Accipiter seen, d* hunting
through low coconuts.
1 female perched watching domestic chicken, too
quick off mark to shoot.
1 9 ad. seen soaring over tall coconuts groves.
7/6/38 2 adult 9 and ad. cf seen, all hunting in tall
coconuts or margins of such and swamp land.
8/6/38
1 Accip i ter seen flying high over coconuts (large,
bel i eve 9) .
21/6/38 1 cf adult seen hunting through tall coconuts
(same place as 28/4/38).
22/6/38 1 adult cf seen hunting through tall coconut groves.
From the above it will be seen that approximately
19 9 adults, 14 cT adults and 1 9 imm. were seen and recorded.
The more open southern part of the island (saltpans, tidal
lagoon) is more favoured by 9 and the cf favour the more forest
areas nearer the central parts of the island. The signifi-
cance shown of series of cf and then series of 9 at certain
periods does not mean any retiring of one sex for periods
but merely that at such times I was working areas more favoured
by the sex for some consecutive days. Actually I believe the
greater numbers per square mile in the species would be found
in the more open types of area in the south and elsewhere
where similar more open areas occur. Though the bird is found
all over the island in reasonable numbers for the species.
It is a solitary kind of bird never hunting in pairs
or parties or flocking nor would it do so even if a plague of
mice or some such appeared in an area, I believe it would
C 1QQ I
I
(
nun T VO fcT V o u F ::
T 1.- • ‘
)
11
still hunt singly, even though its numbers in such an area
would increase considerably. It is a silent, lone hunter
and very very seldom makes any call at all, even when wounded.
At the mating season it might hunt in pairs but even that I
doubt. Birds, though not exactly birds of territory, defini-
tely favour certain areas for hunting and when once seen in
an area hunting (not soaring or playing high on the wing above
the tree tops) it is always worth remembering when later in
that area and keep a good look out and the bird will often be
seen there again. Probably it has a more or less regular
routing round each day it hunts till it gets its fill, as it
is noticeably it is generally seen in the same place about
the same time on different days. Of course if it gets a kill
early on the round the rest of the round is upset. After a
kill it generally makes for a secluded spot near at hand,
perches for 10 or 15 minutes, then flies off and commences
playing on updrafts of air and soaring about sometimes for
2 hours and more at a stretch and generally over 1 hour,
sometimes taking short rests. It then recommences hunting
and if successful does the same again.
I have never seen the bird over the sea nor does it
hunt very close to the sea, (seldom if ever closer than 150
yards from tide mark) but it will cross inland small sheets
of water, tidal lagoon arms etc. and hunts right along the
water's edge of such places. Possibly the movement of small
waves alarms it, most movement does, and only where waters
are calm and still in such places as these lagoon arms will
it approach it.
The species breeds on the island but was not breed-
ing during my time on the island. July, August, September are
*15
. “'c'HJ 1 r.; -JO‘i ■ •?' £i*i snrT *5 n:
113.
the breeding months. According to native accounts and by 2
old nests seen by me, the species invariably nests in a tall
tree in dense forest, almost always selecting a single
barrel type of tree with small side branches on it, of a
type like this diagram and the nest placed near the extreme
top of the tree where small close rings of branches occur.
with reddish brown. Observer has never seen the eggs. The
same nest site is used if not disturbed and I have seen an
old nest under a newer nest. I believe birds renovate last
year's nests and use them again in many instances by nests
I have examined which natives have said were in use to their
knowledge 2 years previously. When seen by me they were in
such good repair that they must have been in use fairly re-
cently and there were no signs of an old nest underneath.
Observer does not know and could not get any reliable data
from natives about incubation periods. Young birds seldom
appear before the latter half of August and mostly in early
September and then only as nestlings. None leave the nest
before the end of September and early October mostly.
HYPOTAENIDIA PHILIPPENSIS SW INDELLS I This species
is commong on the island and very plentiful in the taru
cultivation swamps where it suffers a great deal from persecu-
tion by dogs and to a less degree from huwans. Human
Nest of sticks, bark and fibres
lined with feathers, and fine
materials, deep cup. Eggs said
by natives to be only 2 in number
and a light brown, much blotched
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114.
persecution fluctuates somewhat, at certain times gangs of
youths with dogs causing a big mortality, then perhaps for
months it is left unmolested. Often such persecution of
this species is only incidental with persecution of another
species (Anas) v^/hich is the main object of the drive (gene-
rally at time when flappers or flightless young or eclipse
moult adults have been seen in the swamps) but Hvpotaen id ia
having a strong scent draws a great deal of unwanted atten-
tion of the dogs and numbers are captured, especially
juveniles and then are eaten by the meat hungry natives,
in fact considered somewhat of a delicacy. It also appears
in numbers in gardenlands everywhere on the island, along
roads and in short forest in large numbers, amongst any
coconuts which have any sort of ground cover, (long grass,
weeds, etc.) and in the margins of tall true forest it is
plentiful, but well in the centre of true tall forests it
Is not common though present. At certain season of the year
It ranges widely and becomes nomadic more or less, but I
believe adults return to the nesting area. It has spread
along the islands to the westward, but just how far along
them I cannot say. It is not present on the one farthest
west nor Is It on Beaupre Is. further west again, but it is
present in the north to at least half way along the chain
of islands. It breeds on the island often rearing two broods
a year and I believe often more than two, as young quickly
learn to fend for themselves and are driven away by adults,
varying numbers of eggs are laid, generally 4 to 6, and are
the same as usual in the species elsewhere. So are nests
and their situations, in fact all habits seem Identical with
V I i *
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115.
those of the species elsewhere. The breeding season is very
long, from September to May and odd birds may rear a brood
even outside these months. The greater number breed from
December to March, at such times all birds appearing to be
breeding and young very plentiful.
MAYR QUESTION:- "Native gardsens, second growth
(?) swamps." Answer:- Inhabits them all. Native gardens
and second growth equally and a great deal. Almost all kinds
of habitat in numbers and only one to a limited extent. See
above.
PORZANA (POLIOLIMNAS) CINEREA TANNEMSIS:- Is present
on the island and breeds but is becoming rare, numbers having
greatly decreased lately. Is most numerous In taru cultiva-
tion swamps but even there is not really plentiful. It occurs
a good deal In the true tall forests and in original short
forest where the growth of the bird nests coral rock ground
fern is plentiful, and more rarely in and about native
cultivation areas, generally such cultivations as are U or 5
years old and have fair ground cover. It does not appear in
other habitats at present date though it once did and was
plentiful. I saw only fleeting glimpses of a few, the white
eyebrow being a conspicious mark but failed to collect any
even with vigorous efforts of all kinds, dogs snares, etc.
all proving unsuccessful. 1 shot and lost one in birds nest
ferns, a flying snapshot, but once or twice saw others
plainly enough to identify them. The population of this
species for the whole island is probably well belov/ 500
probably in the vicinity of 300. Even allowing for its
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116.
shyness and hiding ability, I do not think the total numbers
can be much above if at all above the latter figure. On Uvea,
like Mare Is., this species seems to be rapidly decreasing
from some unknown cause and might very soon be entirely
extinct on the island. Owing to its rarity observer could
learn little of its habits or economy but believes it breeds
from December to February inclusive and is inclined to range
wide at all season except when breeding.
P0RZ/'>NA TABUENSIS:-?? (See notes "ZONE BIRD LIFE")
A species thought to be this or a very closely allied race is
present in swamp areas, but exceedingly difficult to collect.
None collected by me.
PORPHYRIO ALBUS CALEDON I CUS (SARAS IN):- Is present
and breeds on the island Is Is said by natives to be common,
but it certainly was not so during my stay on the island.
Less than a dozen all told being seen by me even though areas
where they were said to be common were very thoroughly worked.
Nor during my stay were signs visible of the bird's presence
anyv;here in numbers, as no reports of damage to gardens were
recorded. Sometimes natives do complain of damage to gardens
by large numbers of birds but none occurred during my time
on the island and on questioning natives who had been re-
ported as having complained and on getting accounts from them
personally of damage done, (reports of damage done and numbers
of birds estimated to have been responsible) all reports were
found to be grossly exaggerated generally by third party re-
port which quickly increased. It is possible, though I think
unlikely, that numbers of birds may appear at times from New
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117.
Caledonia. Actually I think the real position is the same
as that on Mare Island and what occurs is that at certain
seasons this species becomes nomadic and joins in bands to
tour the country and at such seasons they do some damage
to gardens here and there but nowhere is the damage over
more than 1 individual garden, or one or two gardens within
a very small limited area. Investigations amongs natives
seemed to bear this idea out fully, even to the point of
lines along which decreasing damage of other gardens showed
along the lines which the parties splitting up and growing
smaller had passed, occasionally to form up with other indi-
viduals into another lightly destructive band elsewhere in
another area. In all cases investigated damage had occurred
at the non-breeding season of the bird and at the one period
in garden cultrue (i.e., at about the same period the year
just after first plantings, after burning of the vegetation
rubbish left on the ground.) The bird is not so extraor-
dinary shy that even if it were only fairly common its
presence v-jould not be quickly noticeable, (in fact Uvea
birds are by no means shy as they are on Mare Is.) and this
species can quickly be located by the damage and signs it
leaves about if it is at all numerous apart from whether or
not it is shy and retiring.
On Uvea a few are found about the taru cultivation
swamps and it breeds in the uncultivated swamp areas. It is
also present in and about native gardens even in dry areas,
and is to be found in such places all the year round and
breeds in such areas. Water apparently plays little part
in its distribution providing gardens are present to supply
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food to replace the swamp bulbs and roots, etc. on which it
feeds. When it is nomadic it may be found in all types of
habitat and doubtless stays for a day or two in any area
where food may be found sufficiently plentiful. I have no
doubt from local reports that the bird was once exceedingly
plentiful on the island, even as recently as 20 years ago,
but for reasons unknown to observer the bird has since
rapidly decreased in numbers. A similar decrease has taken
place in many other mollusc eating birds in the Loyalties
and it may be that some toxic properites have developed in
certain molluscs in the area which are showing an effect in
the bird life decrease, especially those species which are
mollusc eaters and feed much on the ground, seemingly point-
ing to the toxic mollusc being some ground form. One might
suspect dogs or domestic cats gone wild for these decreases,
but the former on Uvea have long been plentiful even in the
days when Porphyrio was very numerous and the latter have
not gone wild on Uvea and if they did would probably soon
fall to the pot demands of these meat hungry natives as
doubtless many of their domestic relatives do. In fact,
I doubt the domestic variety would ever be allowed to become
plentiful enough to want to go bush and on first showing an
inclination to wander v/ould be quickly killed v;hile yet eas i
available as meat. Natural enemies such as rats and snakes
have always been present on the island even in the times
when Porphyrio was plentiful so cannot be held responsible
for the decrease. This species has an eclipse moult and at
such times cannot fly and numbers doubtless at that season
fall a prey to dogs, but the number so caught is probably
t
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119.
small as the bird at such a season would retire to quiet
secluded areas, seldom visited by dogs or humans. Owing
to the rarity of the species, observer personally saw little
of its habits and economy but gathered some reasonably re-
liable data from others and puts it hereunder, but does not
vouch for the complete accuracy of it. This may be gauged
from the following. By local accounts the bird was more
plentiful about the northern swamps (St. Joseph) but when
observer visited the areas on several occasions not a single
specimen was seen nor did signs point to its presence in
numbers and on questioning owners of the swamps they admitted
seeing only 2 or 3 specimens a year in recent years, though
in the past numbers were plentiful. The amount of damage
reported and visible seemed to bear out the conclusions that
the birds were present in small numbers and rapidly decreasing.
Observer saw more birds and signs of the species in the dryer
but intensive garden cultivation areas of the higher central
portion of the island (where yams and sweet potatoes were
much cultivated) than in swamp areas, either in the north
or south, the northern sv/amps showing a slightly greater
population than, the southern. The above fact seemed to point
to the possibility of the big cyclone in the early thirties
being somev'/hat responsible for the decrees in numbers, as
the southern swamp areas suffered salt water inundation to
a greater degree than the northern. Questioning of locals
seemed to reveal that rapid decrease had taken place long
before that. I have no doubt great numbers of nests and
eggs were flooded and destroyed by the cyclone and possibly
numbers of young also perished, and to a less extent adults
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120.
suffered decreases and this mortality, added to the previous
decreases in numbers, assumed serious proportions. Close
questioning of old men seemed to point to a previous great
decrease in numbers, then a sudden increase to large numbers,
apparently indicating a influx from elsev/here, (?New Caledonia)
then a period of years of numbers, but slowly decreasing.
This v;ould seem to point to a colonising movement from some
outside area into an area of unsuitable habitat, but such is
not the case at least as far as can be seen, as Uvea appears
to be an ideal habitat and visible food supplies are not more
than 5 per cent in use, and probably not 1 per cent of avail-
able food is consumed per annum. Nor are there long periods
when at certain seasons food might be scarce as the sv/amps
carry food all the year round and not 1 per cent of that
available in such areas is ever used. Observer knows of no
reason at all which could account for the status of this
species other than some unknov/ disease or food poison.
COLLECTED DATA: The species is said to nest in
uncultivated swamps and to a less degree in cultivated ones
and in bush scrub, ferns, tussocks, etc., patches of cane
grass, in and about gardens. Eggs 6 to 14 in number gene-
rally 8, (? probably 4-6), light brovm colour with large
brown dark blotches or smaller dark brown speckles in numbers.
Incubation 3 weeks. Food, swamps bulbs and herbs, but mainly
at present garden products, bananas plantains, sugar cane,
yams, swee potatoes especially favoured, taru molluscs and
and insects. Probable population for whole Island consider-
ably under 1000, probably even below 500. (writer's opin:fon
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121 .
250-350 birds in 1938). V/riter offered natives considerable
amounts to capture specimens for him either by snaring or
shooting, yet natives were all of the opinion that they
might be so long making a single capture and so many days
might be spent in fruitless search that the eventual pay
per day of work expended would not be worth while and might
even be total loss as the chances were that complete failure
would result', I paid numbers of natives full days to work
in conjuction v/ith me to collect secimens, but on 8 out of
11 days no birds were seen nor reports of them heard 1 day
reports were heard, 1 day 1 was seen and 1 day 2 were seen.
This work covered the greater part of the island suitable
for the birds and a large portion of the unsuitable and gives
a fair idea of the true status of the species if allowance
is made for birds unseen. Dogs were used in numbers rather
unsuccessfully but by the visible signs the birds simply
were not present except in very small numbers. Two specimens
were collected casually when not especially after species,
more or less accidental, and most of the few sight records
of the birds v/ere made at similar times but the total of
even sight records was very small considering the amount of
territory covered and the constant almost daily work in all
types of country over a long period (February-June) .
MAYR QUESTION:- Habitats, woodland (?) swamps,
second growth? ANSV/ER: - Yes to both questions, add gardens
as main Uvean habitat.
PT I L INOPUS GREY I (GRAY):- The commonest species
of pigeon on the island and is fairly numferous, but numbers
•I '( 'J ;ri’
t ' M » 1
■ 1 f'-.T J j '
t A •
./J .
I
•2
^ 4 t ■ ■ I ' r r < *"■ / I « * ' I 7 ■ • I f J
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(' ! > j '• I -f’J 1 ( 1 • 't.‘ t i ‘ j] ■ t ' I'v ,. /i I
. .. -I-,. I : 1 •
'3C I uJ rtj jtifi nn.'.ft? ?2f»I •"’ll nl jdo
• f-
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I
1
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wt I -io ' -iJ H /•
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122.
per square mile are far below even Mare Is. which is below the
usual for this species in other groups. Inhabits the tall
forests, short forest and garden lands very much as in these
areas small fruited banyans on which it mainly feeds are
most plentiful, short scrubs to a very limited degree and
mixed coconut and scrub areas to a slight degree at certain
seasons. It has spread to some of the islands of the v^^estern
chain but is novyhere plentiful on them, in fact, rather
scarce. Feeds on a number of fruits and berries, it does not
eat on other islands at certain seasons of the year. All
other habits and economy identical with other islands (Mare
Is. and the Nev/ Hebrides) but status considerably below usual
in this species. The lack of food for this species is very
plainly shown on the island. In a small area perhaps only
1 or 2 small fruited banyans v/ill be found in ripe fruit and
Ptil inopus qreyi will be swarming about them; a few days and
the fruit is finished and the moment it is every bird disap-
pears and one might have to travel a mile and more before a
single bird will be seen or heard. Thus for v/eeks one will
find a small area absolutely devoid of the species, then for
a few days simply overrun with them. V'hen no banyans are in
fruit the species becomes widely scattered in tv-yos and threes
and singles living on unusual fruits and berries mostly.
There is seldom a very long period without banyans in fruit
somewhere but during March and I believe August-September
there are fairly long intervals. The natives profit by the
congregating habit of the bird around fruiting trees to
capture them, generally by shooting, getting several in one
shot more often than not.
1^ jtfJ (L-^I .al yi'nh ' Tf. I '•»■/ •Hn ;i‘i >uvt
111 icit 1 IriiiM
'1 '•* 'T'V^ ^'''1^1 I ^ ^ J -I' t v'/l^
fT»* :l'/''i iJ fk>lH^ »+•! ar»Wji* V ''ill'll J 1 «tiif ■ tii’
: ,l« •ijt'jf*!# H rf::>'/ i <J i J*lfll i , fi/H J f-I I<» yjKJik
(jf ■■•f'. * Ji;.** t-i Jdj,;ll » < ’<5 5 !m >■:
»r *.r%»rf **11" <i a*' iiI-jI r' * ; ‘ ^ J ’ .n t ^ ‘ I . • • '#
- .lii .’» ui' , lulIjn'T^ ip'r' ■ *I ' 'f •(! ..;»
’I ,r: i^'i' ‘•fl. 1--’ ‘i' * ““ * iv ' • ' ■ '
ff.l .'I jV a.'* i gfi- ae 3 /ii »:ty*>o »* B*^»iifcf*l iM.'o if
**\ j'’tr f ; V I Jl !»'»» • I iiti ' ./!
f I* I •nT*? ' ‘’tf (it*M 1' »•' '»•! b"
i'*.- I il i*»l 1^“ *» '^ -t I t .« T iM» *1''"
y(’i*i •»! '»*■*)*% M • ' H‘ , ' ■ I • f 1 ‘ ni'rt’* ‘1 ’®
J 1 tn ■ J ! i*’i » M * • t
,'vn... '*■• -■ i“ '♦ ‘ ■ !V"i •" ' ni-' I’lu iJLU;>
“H,- ti ‘"1 ■•'. *1 .1 I .1 • ■ «w ' ®i 1” ' Nl
r ?
I
1 . 1 !
jn '.
1 i»ll •
t'-V ■ t.'l
1
1 • * 4i^ in
i» tt 7'» ' !•
iry^
•i'
f • *V
^ > ->!
' '1
i iVMf *i
■ m> •rni '
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r f
, ■ i
f ■
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It ‘M ■
■ H
'.tr’-Tt-'j ■
7
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n 1 ifi .’.
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I.
r 1 f\1 nt'
• 1 1 ”1 ‘i
> H , ' » j;1m> 'tx? ••♦JvM
,J I fit.*!’? t t.-'.4-4 nAltr
•df ■l,ri.- ?*v»l T ..v«*t .-’I nsfil nmi rir
■it i’i -jiiMiriT Kw'vxy :'’>1 j.ll > ' '1 ■ .-U
nl ')}fcw i: ''5 * v‘ "<• *nniuiT
. vort 'vfrl:> rtf
123.
MAYR QUESTION: - Habitat mangrove (?) Woodland.
ANSWER: - The former to a very small degree most
of the year greatly increasin in
numbers at lean seasons. Really a
habitat of necessity on Uvea, except
for a very very scanty apparently
permanent population, these few
generally appearing to be strays
or lone birds.
M I GRAT ION:- Possibly migrating between islands?
ANSWER:- Yes definitely, but all movements as
regards Uvea v;ould probably be to Lifu
at lean seasons and back later. Natives
speak of seeing them arrive from sea-
ward (Lifu direction) in calm weather
in singles and numbers and in small
flocks, though the Lifu natives have
noted no similar movements their end.
At wide intervals of years great num-
bers appear on Uvea but never stay
long, the greater number quicking pass-
ing on, probably to Caledonia, though
I could find no records of v/hat direc-
tion they went in, and only one record
of their arrival in great numbers from
Lifu direction, and once during stormy
weather from the north or New Hebrides
direction. In this case they arrived
very tired and weak and natives collected
great numbers for eating by catching by
hand or knocking over with sticks. This
happened at least before the seventies
of last century gauged by known ages of
old men and mission records, probably
about 1861 .
DUCULA PACIFICA TARRALI (BONAPARTE):- Is only an
accidental visitor from Lifu Island after rough weather. Either
departs or quickly falls a prey to natives who make a dead set
at the bird once it is reported, till it is shot numbers of
lO*/*' ♦ J’% AM '
Ul! - ' X* 1
ii'/i ny. -* rr J i Y'*'"/ urlt
i] ni. ritjfjJ v|i.i*ifj y ji'y iv
^ /If'.t . •»:! > t 1/H f '» I
Jc , ‘'i MP» yi I !«'>• v<t >'*
><f /tfliioil Y^ov y^iW ^ no'i
-<f •• , mjI j ♦•!
’ .’ItilesKy X.l\
jQ e3.!'W|»A*i JJj /u ' •*
vH.t fti t»i vJ f*l^^ bli'tiw »a'/ rsJ> yDf*i
c vii« j .*t*t I .'tof'ff b ii a.nja aa “tivjl 3
- sa - t) 'I*i*w3 tni "siir pa ‘to q?
‘ vtbv ' m(- * cl '< t ’■►'♦il'* vfK. ' ■'
(i li I 5 *'*• f '•) ' it
t^rt 'f i..n b t I <tit^ fij^wort! , ’(I
*tj ,/It • '• ■ ' ’
/ -. jy .'T • • T' ’* t ''t" ’
■;> I.**-'. I *i»«i ‘avl’ i»i I — ' ■ -ri-T '
-‘M ' » #*0«( •ft' f t
, I 'fc ' I *> *■» >»> ' OJs jW t
,1 ' » I t'-i ‘ n ut *“ 'jj-? 1. }> >(:•'• '
Ir,. . > » f- /I W' bnu ,nl I't . ’ t '
HC<^ t < •* ^ .vItm 'll '
I "la? *• v’llti'b * 'ilff t *<' Iff
••tt. t t i; I «*H f ^ll^•n^ t«l3 H 'i t'wif- 1 -
f tfinit el/t’ il
’ I. II -n/1 t ^ iV, bfl > |v^lt /■'•‘V
.•1 1 ♦ - 4'1'k'Aiu.’
Otii* , J t * ’ ^Itt ’ T *v |H| l“icrt I1J "h
».'V I • 1+ i Hv 'I'-' ■ ■ il'
"Iq i»m « ' yj t'l''*. M\* yvU-' I » I 3*- 1
'f.,' .-HCtr fu l’-iln t..jJ it** • '-ftr
.I**'! 'jw.’di
o.> vfrjn .n ATHf.-V »-«}
'»Mr?l> »> T • t <»Mt w'lU sn> Wltlv |w|n4«i:j<
fc2 Vi \I • wvlf*'' oj t ^ I ft\t yli^slup “y^t
■to M3;rtiin Jorln I :'l ni;> at >1 »ono 'nbJ '
124.
natives spending all day after it, and it generally falls a
victim to the pot very soon after arrival. Has never bred
on the island. The total number of appearances over many
years has only numbered at the nrast a couple of dozen. I
saw one high in flight after rough boisterous weather from
a hurricane elsewhere during my stay. In spite of native
efforts this one was not shot and either returned to Lifu
or went elsewhere or died a natural death, as it was only
once sighted again within a day or so of my recording sight.
It has no definite local name, is sometimes called the "Lifu
Motu," or even its Lifu name "Paum" is used.
COLUflBA VITIENSIS HYPOENOCHROA: (GOULD):- This
species is not at any time plentiful on the island but its
numbers fluctuated to such an enormous extent between Feb-
ruary and June that observer uas forced to the conclusion
that it moves to other areas, probably Lifu island and in-
vestigation along that line seemed to point to the possi-
bility of such being the case. When observer first arrived
In February, though the species were no ways common, enough
were seen (and several shot but because of moult observer
decided to v^ait before skinning the series wanted) to make me
consider the bird as plentiful enough to leave it more or
less alone till other rarer more important series were
finished. Even so observer noted that the species was not
plentiful though the numbers seen seemed to be only very
slightly below what one would expect the food available on
the rather infertile island to support. At the time the
follov/ing brief memory notes were made.
o :H I n-} 'rajirt fc.^ If -. t»v) irn
4 4f iftll iioj} fi»v loci u) fl lJ^fv
T»V'/ 1r» 'I'jfeUJtt I ♦ ‘ffiT ";n rfo
f try filmy ’1 i i' ' ' • «*■<'• *’<
/<r,i J 9irn-*i4y^d Wt 'll t''; M «(Hj
fcVlJ^M *1 nl . >a fri .rilMiii ^bF< anvaJ-ftw) i
ji',1 » ..i E'i(nui»'i ’’’I' If / 1 -i !n JfJ'f 3l' ^
•J<>0 ■w j1 tfA ,»l *nt I'JH/' '• f-'l 1 i« f » hh‘ i no
, Ij !nn ri^ f^} 9 i»fr?i! • >? ' •
vYU -ir i •->'il I .1 .'»a J , I '»’'! /-( iT« H
•
«
-ID
Jj
f-ll*!.'''
' Vli 1 ►
f.» i
r 1
l«'V<
V
- < *■
UiX
- . '
» ■•
pr
, nr • i«i '
\P • 1
‘■’N
t -r
> •«* »
■]i
'. JL»
■ *l
i
1 fi
l/tf IWJ
Ij>- 1 Im'j ( hj
.# j ’
t
• -1
l1
•»< 1 ' *<v4
■-■
, . -f ^
■ '
1 t »
j]l
I : i . . ' ' »
ff Ml?
Ml 1
< . r
Ml
($
« *U/*
f» I
If •
• KX*
•♦•i '
’■
•» 1
-> •> ( ■; 1 '»
♦ V’ - *
1 !•
• ih
•Xf*
1
. • 'Ip «n
U»i
Vi'*
la}
iMf
fl
1 «■
•>! 1 .
. 1-
1
*4*ym
ft «wl+
•■ * •
r '
.,1
m} i '\
1 * '
t ■j 4
1 ( •
i> f
•1^
•wyl-v ■
ri >«v^^♦’^l fwrfM
•
' ii '
,.5 1' ? ■ Cj ’;f ' 1 1 1
,. ril, *T • a-!}
• 1UJ ■ »
(V M. ■ , ' '• • xj
,., till. >. -i, YU.. *»'.!{
f ii(4 f "1
1 t ' •./ 4i (V>^ • 1 1 '•■*
^ Vi '*1
A .»(!►' I *■».} ‘M • 'xl • .'!?
,. 1 ' 1 \<i^ 1 1 ' ' u 1 • '
-» ■•' -vya
. tl »N» "f ik U<?II ■ |h
>1 ; Itfo
•t J ' i'.’i n.«M ^
*1-1 %
. Hi , t*i ‘ifi} I.H'I
♦'M'i 1,1''
t.'ri nit vKil.i !««}
t •<» ;>..
•* I > «4a ■ f fluF'f
ii> .’’xialull
'p r«/
I*f V M
?‘ i Mii i|)«l tVUt'if) Iu‘iP »>(p
•, -1 }.
I i -.V» )i(f '><*<* ■ * ,
}u '.V t(Y|.'
H’fV K ' I ■»■■ V !_ "i 1 F •
^ *f’) 'Ip ’«rt lil alP'ndiil ImVMi •<?)
. i*' •'» T‘'W ' ; nhii|| >Y
125.
10/2/38
12/2/38
23/2/38
31/3/38
12/5/38
25/5/38
30/5/38
No Col umba seen, natives say not common in this
area (the area v^as that in which the small maps
for Pachvcephala. Nymph icus. etc. v;ere made) .
Saw and shot 1 Col umba. First seen on Uvea,
appears similar to Mare Is. d" ad. wing the same
as smallest Mare specimen. Moult too bad for
skin. Put in pot.
Several Col umba seen not very numerous, appear
similar to Mare. This area said to be best in
island for Col umba (i.e., southern small lakes
and tall and short forests there about. Mr. T.
(ubon) a local trader gets boys, Hosea. Paul .
and Obed to get birds for him here about Xmas
time because they are fattest at that season.
N.B. Hosea good boy.
1 Col umba seen on edge of forest clearing. This
bird seems extraordinarily rare (keep notes of
sigh: records from now on N.B.)
Getting serious, not a single Col umba seen since
March. All day today in good area for them and
in places v/here natives reported their very re-
cent presence and none seen at all. Is the species
like Pt i 1 i nopus and moves about from small area
to area or does it go to ther island? N.B. see
east coast and northeast coast natives, also chiefs
of villages all over island for reports of presence
of Col umba. (touch through native pastor and
missionary with chiefs, reward information leading
successful capture) .
1 v;eek since reward offered in all village through
chiefs, no reports of Col umba yet to hand.
No Col umba seen, though most of the southern island
covered. Natives cannot account for its absence
as there are usually a few about, though it is
never very common.
No Col umba seen, though ideal areas covered and
areas where in early May native reports of its
presence 1 was told of.
31/5/38
I
' I Miiutim fan ,f*Jwk3
' 4 ; mil f!:'Uhf f^l lorti - <•> > ^
. K! *iflj . j
, I »v!l »?** la'i J I ...il’Lllii f H >3 ')M * "^1
iT- .3 -wfi -4fil ,’n4 • ,<l t. j1 ri 14^
•'if Hl>-Bn il ;nf|.J ii'lft't .i an
m1 ta i .n}J9
’I - !s. wi yT’W'* t<*'' 't»' • i.t’U'.l'j, > ••>«•/ riv
.1 ia> j1 ' I j • .-' -Jl'ff . 1 II ,] •
^ . ■ [ n U<f rt-t?«liU4k. . ' . } XlkX. ^
. 1 .-. , V, 0'^-tH t f I !«■# ! ,1 ri ' *iw
«L**.' ♦ riu •*»'*'' ”* ' '. '’ ' ''‘
a I*'. 'MttS **'l(> > i >'’<1 *- ti fevits
, ,, ; . I rO t0c1f > n' •' ! ' •'T •* ' •"‘H
?i. ' ■ .fr*l •- )-, ‘-^T ^ srf) I- ^ .'’‘I*.; *
n: i» O' /illwii*" firo> bT<
{. i.Vl o »*><i rtfVt ' "I*? I
/
4. I -*K' ‘
bue T.’) • L r/^s •»! y ‘ y *'> M .4.- t >
.'( -I'y ’»? 4(1 * '■ ■* > .'P ^ 4 ’I )iP i < ' (' I
' -<< .1 4 M-" *■■ ' '"■ %■*♦•«?'* *'K t*» '
to« M
. . ' ‘♦•'•H ' ' '
.4,'- if. ,a^ivP I ■ f.»«4Pf ' j» P“
-» t 'ns.rrl •• t( »,• ttiv h-*
■ .'. * * a 4j '.'P'l *i<*) ftnitiM . * <ii ^ •
IN .f .1 il P,-n»‘-P'J 'I (ft.' sflf •••rviPi
, ! »Vi, P I I- . ! ’ll •
, . ,I»tv It. .11 •»' » ”.'1 ^ ' ■ ’
.V,’ V ^ .vluiiL.'.. '■* V- 1 ,
■ -1 ; ii ir. iV'"*' ! ,. .1 v 'J.v. •*'
t -• ' v^l 1 >7 I • M ,;) > V vm^
:1 '1 w 'I-.,!* |J'.7 • vft.'»-M i t’f Sf>.
. I * “/ 1 ■ 1
’ ■» I ' I , fJil.'U
i-ff <» <*vt ^.n ’ ii 'fnn tit h iSv,
.'t ■,!
I
P
#?V I
t *\w' IS
126.
2/6/33
5/6/38
6/6/38
8/6/33
17/6/38
20/6/38
1 Col umba seen in flight, appeared smaller than Mare
Island.
Native report of Col umba near St. Paul to hand, seen
early morning 4/6/38.
1 very juvenile Col umba shot. St. Paul area (N.T.V.)
1 other seen, appeared smaller than Mare Is.
All day in territory where saw a number Col umba on
23/2/38. None Seen. S aw 3 native boys who shoot
for Mr. T. and all repeated their previous statement
that it was useless looking for Col umba at this time
as they were too difficult to find and were never
fat when found. "All he got no grease nov;, plenty
he to small, picininy no nrare belong kai kai he too
smal 1 ."
On small islands of v;estward chain, 1 Col umba seen
flying high between island, appeared adult and
fully as large as Mare Island. Iodine unders and
white chin patch very conspicuous. Flying very
fast and strongly about 40-50 feet up, passed al-
most directly overhead. Natives say, and I be-
lieve it true because of lack of food, that pigeons
are rare on these islands to the west and probably
are entirely absent on the farthest out ones and
those along the southern chain or arm as they lack
food trees.
Uvea mainland. Afternoon. Went through low forest
where Col umba reported during my absence. Saw two,
1 shot, very small d", skull ossified, had greyish
wash chin. Other bird appeared smaller than Mare
Is. failed to see chin but gathered an impression
it v/as a juvenile. What date did Sarasin collect
his skins? He possibly collected v/el 1 advanced
juveniles as his type specimens. Certainly so if
chins are greyish washed in cf as adults in d* in-
variably have clear v/hite well feathered chin, ?
less feathering and suggestion of greyish washed
chin. Local natives classify sexes by this though
9 do sometimes have clear white chins with slight
suggestion greyish v>/ashed margin to the area.
(Notes from Hosea on sex identification.)
ms. rtftffi soli'fva bvisoRq® «1 r»«o^ P. f
.Vt/iri r 1 1
tvjtd ,l>i '*il iin^: ,^2 £. «/Ij »;|
. ' • ,1^ !|fiidTjrl ‘^Huf
‘#fJTT- flK 1 . ) '’(I Pv'U; I
,it ai'ir. (V.Hi tsM'^ l-m ^»o»» s , i j<' j I
f» / 'i« htVn ■< “■«» </*k>/ l-rt f ril II .
vtVi 3Y»>- ti.rt r ,i•l^■l/ ».kivl , * t'f.2
jiK’J'WMS '""i •" n •■ -«i .T ,1M lo*
• “’J.f *1< 'i* > I 'iC '*vlT ^'itl I" I tfti t Hi S"’ ' 'I ’■ 'A)
>A\*9n vwf-' ftr ' Hnn >.j if '■ 11^1’' ‘r* ‘ »f)
Xl'<*U ««Kf> .*«♦''»♦■■ «B ♦<% * n l .,4* ►ri’r
♦.! IcJ Ituf t!il"l ''fO” Ml ‘ .n '4 >^1 *.1
, ( r
<t«rn /. :*ij. ;» ( ,»il ‘ ' ' I M
v-1' 1 f '/-‘•V > I .! I'l
fn *l*nu •*‘M
>1 . iioa tit •'! 1
j.i ( .1*.
Hut
«V 0fll . 1 1
. ••i>-;i*r vJ , ii;i yis-v
iTrtf'V^ hlik* ;i
iii’M
ti V’ ^4-< 1 ,<*f
'll* I'll
•/ 1 /( hit.
75 ■ 1
1 Nfv* , f .
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tit *io ntiJii rt*i t^Mu v n;l tflcl . ^®t>n '
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riaiyA-.' U-.if ,* Hu/4 , II vn't.' ,:mii I
m. 'Vt'f' > '» ’’■»* ' ■''1* * ’* ■ '
JOj • > '‘JtftjlBf ,1 1U ullf-il ’• ' l**tf .>1
♦ -ll ’ . ’’f' ''» • ^ .'ll »'|VM* 1 ' ft
•, i ^f.vS •« (?'>■* ’'t«1 " f I V I t ' ■» '( »ll ) it *IH
't ‘jlnt-in-t iv‘ »t'‘ »■ •
•'at ‘ fjl 2 • * fit *’ ''' '' '‘‘t "' ’ ’ 'tff^*
r , t/h -tvi-,.:} ff »' ‘*t ! ' -la ■ •'* '
t:i1v n- P't
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tf j t'tl't H(fc» T •‘'In t<v if «. iV, <
. -I Iff! V 7*21, ’HI/,
: . I iV,i f ■ t > H>-t .'1 '^4 ^ vjoi
0f ,.•• r
Hc'vdHI
127.
From the above it may be seen that definitely the
bird disappears at certain seasons and the fact is well
known to local natives. It is certainly true that the bird
is never really plentiful on the island but around about
December-February local whites can give a native cartridges
and send him out shooting for the pot and can be reasonably
certain of the boy coming back about midday with 2 or 3
birds if he leaves very early and goes to a good food area
for the species. Whereas at other seasons of the year,
full days of hunting might be spent and not a single speci-
men even seen, as was done in my case. Also I had an island
wide watch being kept for the bird, and allowing a large
percentage for native laziness in not sending in reports,
even so this leaves no possible doubt of an almost total
absence of adult birds as only 2 reports came to hand in
4 weeks and investigation in both cases revealed juveniles
only. As 4 Sundays were included in this period when
natives even if lazy would have little to do to gain the
reward and even from the most outlying places came in to
the 2 main centres to attend church and merely had to tell
at that time when and where birds were seen and I myself
with other employed natives was covering all areas which
natives did not frequently visit, one can consider it defi-
nitely proven that the species had moved off the island in
great numbers. Even had 25 per cent of the estimated popu-
lation present in February remained, I should have had re-
ports numbering at least 4 or 5 a week of its presence even
allowing for failures to report sight records and should
have seen at least 1 a day average myself. It is also worth
recording that though the officers and engineers on the small
interisland vessel which calls at all islands regularly.
m
; ,1 'fl' I'Tl*-^ »*•» f ’ ■")•’! '1 : 7^ ' '<’> " >
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128.
every 6 weeks, are keen shooters and invariably go shooting
pigeons on Mare and Lifu, they definitely declare it is
useless going on Uvea because pigeons are too scarce to
make it worthwhile and having tried a few times refuse to
go now. Occasionally they go after ducks on Uvea, but are
inclined to think these too difficult to shoot and only go
very occasionally when reports of the presence of great
numbers of ducks are told them by local traders.
Investigation along the lines that the bird must
go elsewhere, and reports (and later personal confirmation
by visiting the areas) that the islands to the west had very
few pigeons at any time, left two possible likely areas to
which birds might go, Lifu and New Caledonia. Along the
south, I could find no definite indication of a movement
of birds towards New Caledonia, other than that on Moul i
Is. where at most times considerable numbers would appear
for 1 or 2 days and then disappear again. This I think
was probably when food shortages elsewhere drove them wider
afield and in their searches they visited Mouli, probably
only shortly before they left for other areas. As regards
movements toward Lifu Island, I obtained two native records
of having seen birds come from a seaward direction on the
east coast but both reports were of only single birds and
could possibly have been cases of birds having left Uvea
elsewhere and returned. A far more significant fact was
that for several days points along the east coast had large
numbers of birds about them, then suddenly all disappeared.
These congregations were annual and appeared to occur about
the one season (though informants varied somewhat in the
fiQ I fur i?-H* fj I ■ , V' •' '
ti J I *» !: '■ y / k’/Jj, J'^nS y^.th ,;*tl * i' tt ft' (q
<<t « '><>1 ^u:~ tfUM-t I ' mft? ' 1-.' Iio
nf W*>\ *. K--,f-tt (Vytw.f^ bn* «f|r!i«ri^T ( .*) *-jUoi
>-|«> ^liti ,.a^y t/C i »i,uh ’)ujfir> v-v ^-fiJ .wo.i yj/
- //JV Wn* ct ilurli ro» dJ k'tflifo.il
'. lu *‘Wa3f»'K‘ » ’■* H V • ^ I v~»* y
. t y * Tm*! ■' * |o> »*I-. ^ t>^
5«ii,>" ♦rt> J '^/ M "'ilt .'rvtti, I I Is iiynl
• I ■ rtri'fi/ r •ir H»l j • . -i ' , •"» K- ■ ? ( • o^.
f*!*y I- '»; ■»»*•>* •ti’ ♦ *r*t 1 ■/I’ ffiT ltlv yd
1.' yf ' ♦• j ' ' ' ,*•»»• !*fc •H' '
«ii ' ‘ *' ■ * '
^ le »ir^l *- l(-nl ? 'U<I .'.<• 4.- I
I fiW#: »|A> 1Xi+1 -«r,k) ,• ««'*riS4' y •; >l j “^V
*i»»''.*’:a> I*|k f t I iJ'jy'.'V I ’M ■' • ? ' ‘WW- t»- - • *Hf ■ .tJ
• f1 t ■••’fi ' H t TC’T
.. ’vo'ib -■-i®f! *^>l ' * b< •. <»• b.- ‘M»vvicn» —
*nu<J» ! •liltlv ft - I ■ ‘V
i’ibi { •y'-'T'* •• ^|•*‘U^^fl yf.w
t! rvHrrt -*'f I ,Kr(. I. t u.i ‘ ‘••inv'ai
•iit> fVj .)» .t'O) *•?*.;» »’'' I <> »»f‘ * To
Li*< (iiUi "•■-/v S5*!*- '-i -i Ju«-
.•cM I'vl <»n}y«H r’nM >«•?«.*> fVoH .'('Ih* v
r-... yr J.Mf.ui -1 • 'V.
H n, f iv-w' iv o ■’B ’*'J rnnlv '»m? ’■ ItT.’V'R iv>i
.'' •lux.f.c n-.H '■•••■■* ^-n- .- U4«
M, • inr-iyt o-» l.ii '" ■ •*♦ * i/ f ' yfM-»
129.
times they thought these gatherings occurred). One native
reported that on one occasion very early, he saw about 30
Col umba rise in a flock and climb to a great altitude, then
turn seaward, sweep far out to sea but wheel in a big circle
and return to the coast and alight. Questions as regards
visibility etc. were fruitless and brought valueless ans-
wers. The most significant fact of all was collected at
a later date from the native captain of a small 45 foot
cutter which trades generally between Lifu and Noumea,
but makes occasional trips between Lifu and Uvea. For-
tunately I was able to definitely place the date of this
record by looking up the iog of the cutter which they have
to keep for police records, and by looking up the date of
their previous Lifu-Uvea trip. This cutter was chartered
by me to come from Lifu and collect myself and my gear on
Uvea in June, 1938. V/hen about half way between Uvea and
Lifu, slightly north of a line drawn between the centre
of the two islands, the native captain, who spoke good
English, quite unasked volunteered the following informa-
tion, telling it more as a remarkable occurrence. Early
on the morning of November 15th, 1937 (date defined from
ship's log) while on his way between Lifu and Uvea and
just about the spot we then were (i.e., about half-way
possibly a shade nearer Uvea than Lifu) three large Col umba
and a minute later four more passed rapidly over the ship,
flying strongly and fast and fairly high up (?40-60 feet or
higher) coming from the direction of Lifu and going towards
Uvea. Others of the crew verified the incident, all having
been able to remember it well because of the unusualness of
vH"n - I,' . V'ctu o v; y^Mrl:» rrltuort^ ‘f*rta ? r]j
‘‘ 'i-i ‘u. i ■ i! vvtv #tr»l .: » lo n> •t /Hj
c <! il<.i] I : i-»cfT >- I dll -jni;l,f 5
.1 oi > ,; 14 * ai i‘ '<fh< nui ► <;# fij-' n. *1 ;*K ;« inij^
*rtT '.'•> 'I ? . l/!|f‘l1»> ^fr ' «? j :: "i'* K j
irt »si»l'ur V iWtxini' t'.h ia-^'luni •' villlf tyN
-n K»*v-llr7u , M-, >0 '♦nti »rrr..l1I^I ? lso« i.r*i . '*tw
joo’l *“ IlfJJW io nl' "li* »irn1 h
fHl.l v Tr13ti:>
Un'‘( /<• ■ e )u>i
IflJ «J..l mt-t yi*,Urtn<vl' cJ e|. . »e^ I yf
fbf'iw •vf*tlua *H‘I ^0 n'”l h'yocm’i
i . <1^ «,1 fU ' H. ,?*>o.-'i-t .<1 I»J«; TCt e»«»# r»1
U^r%ik ♦ -u; th ' *) J /u. ■ ? I *H . I <m» vli- ut I - j "o I • e n 1 f »*1
<V> ff-i 'f ' <y^ tlHl-J 9i90tt r:J tf> I'
I «tTvU .|f ‘C*^ Mi d ilkii'ti rM»fH' .£^1^1 ,»<iJil. wav^i
f-'ffni.:, idj «»'**■''• '■-nil m 1o ,u^U
|«K/| »irf-' ! t'lia 'Vr'i ii ud.1 , •'» »' I ■’ I •'*’
-t»tv »mI rr^i in* I •/ ' ii> •'-■♦lir- ,d*-llei»
v|t- .* '' -‘;* '»ll M ) ,r»t-»»
i*nl !'• «rr *' ’ Mvl i Tlinu'i ••»» ’ n*.»
kftfi ^»vii lit u^U ’IH 11^ llfKf ;i<'l »' Irt*
’m-H'.ri ftfiiC'' ,. .u ft 7i»‘^
i lyyif l’ -•''K. f (’**^1 * '■ *>«>'•'"“*’ *’.- f** J /f'' I
cW* -I« vn yfl lt?» l h-SJpv niwi t » '"I • • brt«
^ 1,,.^ f».-C4' • ^11 dtUI rhi ^ »-•«. JJVI ’<|V ylt'inn#^ .;mWI'
• -, • r i .f. v.p/t rtM i 1 ti)* 'lib Vtli fienTf i'mIpk'O
, n , ,,,t ].,n! »ti'i b' r. 1 w-iJ> Ml-* "lo . -<vu
<• Mil! '.Sthr- .l U.<»* -)i u1
130.
seeing these birds so far at sea. At Lifu where meterolo-
gical records are kept at the wireless station and radioed
in each day to Noumea, I was able to get weater data as
fol i ows .
WEI
Fine, clear, sunny, light S.W. to S.
airs visibiiity extremely good. Calm
sea. Rain kO,
Very fine, clear and sunny, light S.W.
to S. airs, visibility extremely good.
Calm sea.
LIFU 11/11/37
12/11/37
13/11/37 Fine, calm, sunny, close still weather.
Visibility extremely good. Oily calm
sea.
14/11/37 Fine, sunny, light southernly airs.
Visibility excellent. Calm sea.
15/11/37 Fine, sunny, light S.E. winds. Visi-
bility excellent. Calm seas, slight
southeast swell.
16/11/37 Fine, sunny, light S. to S.V/. airs.
Visibiiity excellent. Calm sea,
s 1 i ght S.E. swel 1
17/11/37 Fine, clear sunny, light S.E. breeze
Visibility very good. Slight sea, S.E.
18/11/37 Strengthening S.E. to strong Easternly
squalls, rain, rough sea, S.E. to
E.S.E. Visibility fair.
(These tally closely with my own records of weather on Mare
Is. 30 miles away from Lifu, except that I kept no visibility
records regularly nor barometer and therometer records which
were available but not taken. The native captain's remembrance
of the weather at the time tallied also.)
- tri\ ' . . 1*s *r f? V.tH »>r
I
'.('"^*It.r,-. J..JI Ij6l>v I • a*ir |< •( w 9fl'* iHrf> * *1 -(M -,*••>
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. , .. 'ftelf , ^r»Mi « ,•>■>* f ,i If II
rrf*i‘ .’CK# / f*4 r-'t pIM I t' **i I »
.f, o1 i ' ■’
sM-1
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131.
The above definitely establishes the fact that
birds do pass from Lifu to Uvea, but leaves much to be de-
sired as regards the frequency of the occurrence and numbers
and regularity of such movements. The date seems to accord
with natives' accounts of increases of numbers on Uvea and
visibility and weather seem such as birds would choose for
passing from island to island. There are no records of
birds being seen leaving Uvea or Lifu, but this probably
takes place very early in the morning. 1 had one or two
vague reports on Lifu, of birds arriving at Lifu from a sea-
wards direction and one very reliable report from Thocking
village in the north of Lifu, of a day when during the
morning,, small parties of Col umba continued to arrive at
Intervals (parties of 4 - 8 or 10) for several hours from
8 o'clock or earlier till 10 o'clock, all from seawards.
These birds might have arrived from along the coast, but
natives seemed to be very definite it was not so, in fact,
some said they thought they came from the New Hebrides
(not likely). \/eather natives remembered was fine, but
other points they had forgotten. Considerable difference
of opinion about the time of year was expressed, the earliest
date given was January and the latest was May but the
majority thought It was either January or February or even
a little after that.
From the above data, scanty and vague as it is,
1 think it is certain there is an annual movement of a cer-
tain number of birds to and from the 2 islands. My own
idea is that birds cross to Uvea and breed there, not in
large numbers, and possibly others cross but dont breed.
I
3
r
.
tl/ (,' I'Jfi # ./•.»■ f lllll jIVl'/ll ( f ' I ' I T
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•>'2 2r,*t *-H . i ■. ■ 'Ab/': H* ' » yll'i' ItTH
' *o tft ^1- *.Ui1 ,'} •• S T>-/ jm- /tKn •Hlfl'*/
!
■ *1 lljM*/ ’Cni ‘ • iK' ' Km v3M1-1<IV
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» r. -,VA # uli ' , ,,.^lvIt^• i 'I.I If0<*v
»v:*' ' n»»p>'^ ♦ ( w. } I '**1 %A'-' b*tik /iTi| 1*1 1 "Ki ‘
tl f • I' { •jtiv » t*'! .* ',. jH ^'*^1 •'' ?■" J* • iii • -fflv
,w{-,*i 'J* • iifst • J' m i li»* f r ,, O't I i.'i ar,
(♦it I .vi^i M ’ -I ■* <r /'. » I
. •Vh-*-* •* ♦ U» , ' 1 ' ■* ffti in N’iri# V' *
r»»«* ,•«•■,■ ritt (k¥»ii 1/ 'Vli /'■ft ■>«.'*»*
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«t.»» I i
132.
The majority cross in October or November and return in
February, March. Some few may remain, (some if not all
young ones certainly do) on Uvea ail the year round,
young possibly mating and crossing with others in their
second year. This movement has been caused I believe by
general scantiness of food on the island, this having
been reduced by a hurricane which, though destroying food,
did not destroy adult birds, who ranged wide in search of
food and reached Lifu. Next season they returned to Uvea
to breed and later when the lean season arrived, rather
than struggle through it they again left for Lifu. The
nnual movement having been more or less continued to this
time. Even so Uvea is a most unsuitable island for more
than a few Col umba and could never carry a large population
under present conditions and it seems strange that there
should be any urge for the birds to return there from Lifu.
Only a strong urge to return to the place of birth or pre-
vious nesting can account for such movement.
It is very noticeable on Uvea that this species
eats fruits on that island, which it does not eat elsewhere.
Young birds, according to native reports, eating fruits
which seem entirely unsuitable and which in other areas I
have only rarely heard of the species eating at such times
as hurricanes have destroyed all their usual foods and ap-
parently only doing so in desperation from hunger. Food
during the seasons when the birds are more plentiful on
Uvea is abundant and varied and could at that season carry
a much larger population than is present, though such sup-
plies are subject to sudden or total depletion by hurricanes.
fj| ■>« (1 >3^ri,rj yll'i' t ‘•J
U - f4^n ,»il.-.ri ‘T ’ .fi ,YT«.iru'»^
.’xriuf;-* nr'Tf oi4? fl« H' vU fio {nk yfalc'ioa %r><\c onuci
ni nortio ^fv> nlji^'n
,/,| . vll' - I W*aw*'j .'10} » » fcrtjfisvotf i ^Irr
i-ftl-^rl fi/O ,'*»• 1*1 no U v>1l 1 ? - l^'i'iMif
,‘-0 ' »rt1 itt jfHIflif «'«<».' 1 ou»1 ' •'fi Vr"»ul»^T
n > .'D*>«- i ul I h falv
. t V>»*ny*c*% .|>>U K»Hown Sim
ttofxna f!**l '(Hi t»r^ *>. :>)
^dT .Iillj 1*^ ViS'l ' j] -*. ‘*'11# /wt3
»]/?’ i -luti '• Ki #*■'( -n/j»« iw< ‘ 'rtlv'.r' *•y.*<^'"J ♦•iWi^*i
t--Mifl S> lei ■•f.mifil.mv 1»rtn • *1 r-f nt- '. .-^Tj
n'.ifHr fut '«.' r^'-Y f - yTTT:5’ TTI Vto^l ^'*'* „'ji‘ ^ * j|»d*
e-MiiHl •%«.»%■»*? •*r»n»Uf>.i»»o Sii***'.^- n*.> 'U
.m'i'J m.(1> iinMi-ri yj aV*>I ' *• >t Jr--i' <W *•» SImw.U
-•’tl 1o rrt ••.»*,(« C»t I'iUJVI o- A-n'i • /In-f
m*vy4ii f' ' * ^^■t^ nf< ‘ »'(il.’if#ri fuittv
sol <‘<v i a1d.» .'*v’i . • J • 1 i3>» c( jl
>1- '*>* «’■ '■ ^ ^'■'
?Mui t : «vl ♦ I 0’ nl’SKOi* ,t>r.ld i/fiuoV
I % i«1.i -Y4tH ■ il iKlUw ‘..’1'- #> l*vnt»4H(U' 'i >ft' ■•••'14 d'inw
ft.-if.Yl! Hru* i<^ >. i!j Y ml • ».!' I<. *0 tu' y|»— •: yfna vV*..<
> V.(Tte I i)4U d .iH IT.. .vfcrt ! b-
.-!»• ur,! r*y.i >uJJ • S' ■’’ •'' *
fh’ It*^llo0l<i VHjn *•’»“ fti.tjfi 'll* :ii t'l'i t'llni.'.
-r-iR^ (in.v .! H d! >1 '.M >'■ H'V I'M.. 1-- ?1 "-'O
-yiit ,b<i ^ .-IvmM* '»•'<» I'O^ ' •■
f
r,.i
As far as is known to me there is a similar abundance of
food on Lifu at such seasons. Col umba probably came to
Uvea, originally from Lifu probably being driven to leave
there by lack of food from hurricane destruction, possibly
Uvea having missed the blow, had food for a limited number
of birds which may have remained and bred. Later their
descendants being forced in their turn to recross to Lifu
from food shortage also. Pti 1 inopus will range wide after
hurricanes in search of food and strong fliers such as
Col umba could and would doubtless do so more successfully
and to a greater extent.
Little could be found out definitely about this
species on Uvea but the few observer saw led him to believe
the species was identical with Mare Is., showing consider-
able variation in size as on that Island also, with just
possibly a tendency to a general average slightly smaller
than Mare Is. but with individuals definitely reaching as
large a size as on Mare (wing proven). The number of juv-
eniles which remain all the year may have led to the im-
pression of smallness, though actually so few were seen
that only vague impressions were made on observer. Certain
ly the one seen over the western islands was as large as
any seen on Mare in sight record and one or 2 others seen
in February v;ere as large. Certainly considering the
general lack of the best pigeon food on Uvea one would ex-
pect any birds remaining on the island, as some probably do
to be somewhat smaller than those on Mare Is. and these
birds even if only few in number if seen with a number of
other nearer normal birds or on their own vyould create an
impression of smaller size.
h
Cf «»
1' ? »:i f! ii*.*
i»t 1 J ‘ < *»i
i'
..v.if li o,* '/li*' 1^(1 l(j*
’ y I*: i/jcic
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ftrtTr >
If' il .l'K , --V?
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lit i ,1 fi * •? '• if^ t*- 1 ir
lilt '-I
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ffau» n’l* If k -
■'jJ,' in»*> V
i.
■ *1 ■• : ' I '- yil
Ir^'
</l j,;* >*• t~fv, <'1*1
*K» 1 J '*
.» ••*••»»» Tt * < f ,
f V I > t '• ! ♦ ' U ' ’ >1 r I ' ■< J J
*-v»1 '•ill f V-'., T«t /- ‘ ^ iti ■'Uit vv: no
-■»^’>t *»io:> t ilr" ,.'•1*1,* f • i * I *»I
.'••» I<fl rftl r.i > ' i I • I
~ ’ I I ' ' f ■ J I ,* ■' I'"' M ' /. il>* * ' • I ' '
.*• I -i I 'f ’ -'-. ir- ♦ iv. . 1
~wy| ^fi *<T . ( fi VOK* * tl «j Jll.vM .'l • * I I
-« I •yf:) .)',*• F > y •' '■ I ' 1 '»-?l -
'»>'• a ^tww ' ■ <* tfl I ' * ' ' 'i#*l
-njwii' <W 'll.' T**'i01 ' ■» ' ’ • ) 1 '/ > ■ f'/T*
f f I - 1
tr.t ttW 1 mj
,- ..I, .-rtt yl
-tJJTt:!'.! 'I'l p w ''0*1
- *J*-1 ukli *1 5-7
n n t fi^i* » '' ‘tp*
’■fU : fit •■ ’* 1 • 'itn yf (ll '
l‘(o.’ . 'Sil *'•• ;
1 r*’ *I^V '-• » I'l 1
f iN,i 1 Vt . 'iV'* '
t 1 1 ♦ -1
.,,••'0 ■• .«V* '> , l
. > tl.il •,. n '
‘il ' \»rr
: :t*-f ’ f,. . ‘1 ■'*
' '/U r. ii n« '
,^ki. , I ■ ♦ c » 1/ ’
134.
Observer very much doubts the validity of Sarasin's
sub-species and in spite of failing to collect a series be-
cause of leaving it too late the fev^ facts collected seem
definitely to point to the invalidating of the species un-
less Lifu also is included. A tendency to smaller sizes on
Uvea might be acknowl edgable because of poor food conditions,
but observer doubts a full subspecific difference is warranted.
The date of collecting of Sarasin's type specimen if occurring
between May and August would seem definitely to point to its
being an immature and outside those dates could just as likely
as not be one also. Though I do not believe Sarasin did so,
1 believe a collector could if he wished in the seasons when
birds are more numerous by selecting only the smaller adults
shot (and especially in females which even elsewhere show a
range towards smallness) create a series showing a very much
smaller race of birds. Even if all specimens shot were
taken, observer believes, and it seems more than likely
taking food into consideration, an impression of a smaller
race might be created quite accidentally and this is probably
what occurred in Sarasin's case. One would expect strong
large birds to leave the island first (and I believe they do
leave definitely) and this would increase the percentage of
smaller birds which is probably why such an impression was
made on myself subsequent to February observations.
Habit observations were necessarily few and the
following are compiled most from reliable natives. Nesting
of the species on the island is little known to natives,
probably not because of the rareness of the actual happening
but because of the natives seldom visiting the tall forest
I
•9».'
>‘u)' tfl 'M.tl- ft l|^| rw'f :
V * 1 1 J ^ *o . • } •> oF hf.n «'»)
.* t Cl-il *« I I • ... f>0't ’ll . 1m t4K.*»
, iiwi ' J * 'll'- t t.,.'i *1 .,/f y»t I :>U ,r J '} ' •> ( . ' 'I i-V*!
all'll 1] j* i •'7^ ».. ft ^11^' fff .1^!'
. •; t tYti’wj V/ ■/(•rlfij]'* fli./j I fMcvf J«w i>' *..
*'• l•ili hfui**. »»ri/h .*i t ■'♦•♦r.i ktl^ X’^ '♦ "I f|f> '.■ 1 >»t'
,<•« ^ f • I *1*. ^ »•»/! •# r <l» I‘'~ . J WW ** : I ^ !
,»<.T‘ . • *1 --♦rt> ol I'* «it H *»il >« ♦ t' n i
IjJu'i*' aH* v/liK> ’ ,*•■* - .nti 'i .
.4 %■<« « ,v jui : ~ I 'i .>*•}.■»- 1 ■" ’*fn;
ft'ii. •• rtl •• . *13! 'gpr»nfJvi.] ■'-d»kn
' r. /'■ » » H*» I !♦ '- 4 ?\ '1 5 j r'l a.ir^'i *i Ham
rtnfh -v if ■> i ' *irVt < I'i ,
A a»v4# I «'<1' v«-J*r **!- - ■ ’ ' J ‘ •■ I'**
-nw f'l 'f' ' */l‘^ . I J '.K n^v;*} t '! rt ‘jj’ H'
im c ?! '■•-'(/'■Attf t f ■ . 'ilitMj /I ».» 1 '* u ! I • t
\ < «t •rntJf'fC >^1' .I'-l ■■..■>,»» (Jiif ^ . 'ui »' .#'»/•♦- • ' 1M,
',-■ t| ’j*4 « ■><; m U-"-' rl . \:tt'u' U 1 r
yf ' at -iftr ,-| f «■* >" /if » H" '••*,>-r trtrTr' ■: •
. ' <tt i ■''ft'*''* 'I ‘ *inj" "O ; '
*i4 M* i't\i *e * ('■
. -hv I (I*, i' ' Vi' ■ *1
I -1 1m7‘ . *v -• )
•cl.'? t* '■*< c.V'^M
-, .1 Vi-: '-1?^ 'll. ' „
■ , ,\}fi ’ -■ I'-j 'U "5 II ' * I •
1 c'l lT.*<f I *n<<l 1 ’.VW
iK.li ’.viii 'i
135.
areas where it mostly nests. All accounts and records
obtained of nests (about 5 reliable cases)seemed to prove
the bird was identical in these habits to other areas it
frequents. Nests being the usual scanty platform of twigs
placed on a horizontal branch, pandanus dumb or some
secondary level grov;th in forest 10 to 20 feet above the
ground. Egg 1 (white). Probably invariably one in the
face of food shortages. Apparently the bird becomes more
plentiful about November, December and commences breeding
in those months, all being in full breeding in September.
It probably arrives there in October and November. All
birds having crossed by the end of November and possibly
earlier. The majority leave in March probably only late
nesters leaving after that and young ones generally re-
main. These late birds and young feed on vine seeds
(hard like corn and about the same size) and on fruits of
unusual food trees, some being fruits a species of trees
generally only found growing along seas beach margins, such
trees depend on water (sea currents) to carry their seeds
and propogate them on other islands in many cases. Also
the young of the species becomes somewhat like Chal cophaps
in feeding on the ground on fallen hard seeds of fruit etc.
I have no doubt mortality especially of young is very high,
especially from native pot persecution, as though natives
say they are thin and not worth eating, I cannot imagine an
Uvean saying no to a feed of Col umba poor and thin as it
might be. A certain number of adults remain all the year
but probably very few and the number probably varies accord-
ing to seasons, non-hurricane years being years of more
'• -iO.-.'.n ’/If) n ^ .riWfi /(ta/ .1 JI rf Ar a ,vv.
* I -*f,L JIot ? £*•/.]
iJ ^i.VK -lorfio oi iil itri rtl f«3]jfic.M i . ' :<-,! ' *.ti
■ 5 •// >/J w‘ 7‘<j|# i/fi! i* fr.Ui!i» ,*j, (pr«>^
nf/ .If ti/n f Ir ifi/i'Ifnrt ,. ri*.
iif.^ tvVtNfr. j«f'j| (.1 : o; C( ■ _vS'1 <»l | *v / ;
wlJ rtl «/K» j1,+ ,: I j.. •- .
b*j|i" >iift /Ijrt»-n.cs . »'.f‘ , Woaf To »3»T
. *^’*ntA4ltO, tr*1* ,•»« ’mv-VI H<rx1r, fu'iprh^l*,
•‘ '•**' 'I flui ftl .ol*^ [ft, »|k Ml 1^1
I l-A 4'f^* k'> ■ ^oi.V' rll |(
f' t f> ^ Vv»». -7 V1i>/.<i , f„,,.
•1»f ,f'W> vfi -V ia »h.nik>^ at ' )| vMtm. I ) <*#^7 .'ivFf*»»'»
-• I vM* t#fio L ’I* ' ' T<»rV pfvl'/'.f I c>T. te,,
jV » I */ilv »f. ^^»r> cmKv/ '.,,1, »;r.M ^7. t vt» T . il ■
1 ri# bfM> *r«}2 4. iS» •/!» 7|M<i^ i ,)^ -t u , ..jM f 'f'milJ
t ■•■■•'ji Ki 9.4 I >' , 'Ifn"/ vjftl'. ■ j«#tc'3 ,t*-'*i Kr^-il i l•*l>ml
rtatfw , 'IcMW* <•: >« y/if ff, >i««) '.*Tr F ijih ’ 'la-’ yl I * •
^*. . Af fdltriMii ■ ■*.' Ti i„ii n. I ' »■ '-T '
•f « •*T;^ I II? ? I 'l l (?■'•• iM I I f t ,'<!'CTQ \fltt
•*** 7i,fX.i.« . n ■ ?>,i t>,‘f 7c
.:»7i -t?i‘T7 aH«vI nffl?'' n<^ '■mic'it* #/!♦ n*» i|. '••) n?
It? ynvv »1 r >n /t t r'?T (- •'ii.M r>^ <»vv'’ I
< y? ', /» rt^uof!-. »r ,rm? •• r«jn *»v? 7)..f
I i.4\1 I I tpill ’ ** HJ‘i . * i| * (i. n?i*> /•li*, y- t
"‘I 9v r1/i* l»|i Too«? ,i\'^ *' nl ;'<a cirv 'V’J
• '** *rH Mi r!' >/»t t’fif’ 1o *4;- '*ukt rtf 7'. •“» . . li 7ri(,'T.t
■'•Ki: .' ’■/?', V vI ’'Hi/nc; Ty 7 un (oiH 'hia u(*y y^pv y?-1/. iu*.'
•■' •*»- '■* '»r / iTf ' '/I alrujihii M ,»,iii.'' «4 <ij rtf
136.
abundant food, more would remain possibly and all probably
remain to later dates. Years of early season hurricanes
or high winds from hurricanes passing elsev/here during
December or January making birds leave earlier and in
greater numbers.
The species suffers considerably, and on account
of its more or less limited numbers, seriously, from white
persecution for table purposes. Traders giving natives
cartridges to shoot birds for them and allovnng the native
an extra cartridge to shoot a bird for himself. The species
may suffer especially in juveniles from hawks (Accip i ter)
and in adults from Falco when passing from island to island.
CHALCOPHAPS INDICA SANDV I CENS I S : - Not very
plentiful anyA-^here on the island and identical in habits
in every v/ay with the species in the New Hebrides and on
Mare Island. Favours forests tall and short and native
gardens within such areas. Seldom seen in purely coconut
areas .
NYMPHICUS CORNUTUS UVEAENSIS:- See individual
species notes.
TRICHOGLOSSUS ORNATUS i-lASSENA: (BONAPARTE):- This
species seems to be a visitor from other areas, probably
New Caledonia. Some years it appears in numbers, seldom
stays long and again entirely disappears not reappearing
for a number of years. The years it appears possibly coin-
cide with years of food shortages elsewhere. V/hen only a
small number arrive it generally remains but does not appear
to breed and is usually wiped out sooner or later by natives
fl irr.i. It * (• 7| 'I !*' I. Ill* 1»1 IiIk^i V ,■ nj
.>•<1 jln'Urt I ! /I^), .V 1 f*. (' .^9 b *i' f ■ .' ';J i|#t;
i/iIm/ Ti^fi eri I4, - .1^ J'>'I?M • .Iflii 'V<*
vil hn j ivli*j r/‘ 'I 7?!‘*v| ‘ *10 I'- • •-
. '* -1 i.i' t 1/
J.iJX>JOTj rtn br , ,yl »'3 *, 'ffT
ji ; 3 #**• • r,'t , y f juf I >• ■' 4 'j (■ ' i il l , ■ ( •. > ' 1 «( > j 3 '1 ;
'iT .*< » ‘^4,:=; >1 f I *(fi ( ,r»l
;,<fi - ©fl * 40 1 ( n - ' > II .. 'i3. i , : ••- ■ ini'
*»'•’> 1* ■. U
<( e '■••»■•»• •rr, . •••(i'-V** It ' '
(«i <*i t; 3 «v .*4 ^ /»*■• ._*J»ib<- -f
fi r.,* i{ 1 1 1 . ' ... I, I ^ triviiAr ' 3
f-« '■ % 1-^. . ■tt/l •f)'* .1 - - '3
rvl 4 'vi. |! '. ! ii 1.^ / ,
fhifh.j r. yI 'ii*^ -’T di” '■ ■’ ' . ' "3< *3'" *<ri
t ©uK I V 1 ► r 1 . t i
■ I
irtJ
I -.f
i<;i ■*» i.VJM . ,.^.^4 V,.- %WjG..4L'
•<■■»• *iii 'ti.'l (V I -’ ' wlvs#
I * , Mwrt I t t *v ’3 "IV '/ . •' .-I '* *3 ' 'f.M
I ,'Hr .cr r“l r*w1
" li I v|'-i ‘liMi 4l*t! -ut 1 )l ■’■'
. V I a '■ ‘ . '* i» ♦ I'
T
■; , . 't, 'V ’■ -
'•■ • ’ I ', I 1 r*» *>Y it) I ' f ‘ I •
r ‘ i:v(t,ir !u. -il.v; j-ll •■■«.(,. *1 ‘'3‘ni
i
Y<’ • i t ,} tnu 'iVrii'.,’
137.
who consider it quite a food delicacy and are keen on its
beautiful plumage for making hair pompons for dances,
possibly because of its rarity and as even when large
numbers arrive its stay is so short, few chances of
collecting are given. During my stay, only one was pre-
sent in the southern part of the island near Fayewai and
was always seen in and about one small area and was
collected by me. In the northern half of the island I
saw only 3 individuals and during my stay natives got 2
of these, elsewhere 1 saw odd strays but doub there were
more than a dozen birds on the whole island. Being noisy
they are conspicuous and quickly fall prey to natives or
natural enemies. The specimen collected by me was one of
four which had arrived a couple of years before in that
area, three quickly falling to natives, 2 within a week
and on the following week, but this lone bird had evaded
many attempts on its life and was certainly more alert.
Being alone it only called at very wide intervals or when
in flight and was thus often unseen till it flew when no
native would chance wasting a cartridge and so it escaped.
As a matter of fact I collected it on the wing on the second
barrel after having fired at another bird and not knowing
of its presence. Coconuts, a favourite habitat of this
species, being plentiful and many suitable hollows for nest-
ing sites, it seems very strange the birds which arrive
do not colonise the area. Possibly coconuts alone form an
unbalanced ration and the other necessary foods are lack-
ing on the island and birds quickly realize it and depart.
MAYR QUESTION:- Does this species migrate from
island to island? ANSV/ER: Definitely 'yes' both in the
jt iTi Mufl.'J 5*1 I l.ria -i *fli«* ’I cirjt
‘ >1 *jl irt raM<’r't tfr’i i f>ffl4ilq lu^Jju*#.^
"; *ji».l rls/hj flr ‘/0 -•-■ lifM y-J !*!' •» ;J] yf' li'- tj
W6"^ , florta ■’i 'A'.!"* ' M ufT»,<' »•« iiljylf
- *»f *ev< «.»o ylhc ,v )• ,'m ^ . <vl •i '
I ‘I v» ' ,r '.1 lit insrf-fl^^’ Cftfl rtl !<**•>
e%J ^^f«^ :»v*n» n (ftji -fUl Mix' M ^ - i ./
1 *^1 > 'i*'-- H l^ f.* »' '■! <i ij • *■•
^ |»j| ia"^lJ'rn -r t » •*-' .11 f*»u^ ^ ■•! ii*f lvll*nl " •‘■At
»V'il5 tfjf-' ‘^^’ i'ft'itg 'ikii if-*.* I ,' lo
<il •<* .W» f 1 • !>4j ft" ' Ati.'* >->cw
••vl j' 1 1 ji» kt Mf.T i)/' I **iA y^^l•)
i-'> Twio f-'*'-' «•> v<l a.** 1 '‘iCrt i*rt .1 '!•' I -iki/i'.ti
JtiiJ «f i**>o<* J ft 'iv AfCiiK/.. t • ,>l»*** A
.'-*,...4 K Alrttiw y ,V«v|A*''t fM .IlliV)' ‘'f * (Hj
K‘l iV> H»-' ' » O* ♦«l thl4 JU" , It *JW i •' }'tJ ' »»«> <**' r*.
,11: li »1CW '*' * ** ..»l^-' <>A yiAft
r*‘ >o »ra.**,«,jfil •M-* "»«v »». • II .. fl ri-iwU (fnl*-.*!
C»1 >^r I I fl IliJ ‘t- nmj rtt''h< l'(l» •'>■■' t>tu ,1| 1 M fli
«a«» fl 17 t, , .. Mifm •■ 11 '
Urtri-ot *»ftj no j’rthf 'i t fH* fi ' !■:♦* I f- ‘1 I ^ » ■iaIJ/IT' • *’
Urtl,'.iif loti VcH I'll ! » • l»«in •.iFv/il -Iftit* f'.ii-*
el. 1 \cv J.i3Jv‘0M> ti-,t»i v - ..jtiAh L . *ll to
v-’l avTilfml a!. iihiH yrif-n li'Mlvi- lo r J ' •*
•vine H.illki 3tr,l *ikft P*'’*’ * ' il ,’•' ’ll ’ I
iin i.'l -riel. . ■" . In. ion ok
- ' I ‘n- t' 'Ki> '/n i‘«rttii o<'i *'fti ' 'T ' f *.Jni‘
.Pm. .1. I.*w 1| • If. .-1 ' '^.f tr«-.l‘l lit rjn tr»I
,j<n. :j -l}.!!!! -‘I '.*»:? ? a ‘ -i 't';-
,11 n1 ilto l '‘n'i'
1
I
138.
New Hebrides where i have seen it miles out to sea between
islands and in the Loyalties v^;here its movements definitely
show it does move about. On Santo in the New Hebrides this
species used to fly 40 miles night and morning from Hog
Harbour and Port Obey (n.e. Santo) to the Segond Channel
to feed on the extensive cocoa an^ corn plantings in that
area. Night and morning early vast flocks of these would
pass south to the channel to feed, returning at sundown to
roost in the trees on Cape Quiros the N.E. tip of Santo.
They are fast, strong flyers and appeared to make no diffi-
culties about this daily 80 mile flight. This illustrates
the fact that nowhere in the Loyalties or between New
Caledonia and that group would any sufficiently wide water
breaks occur to hinder the species. I have seen them
forty or more miles at sea from the nearest land in the New
Hebrides.
CACOMANTIS PYRRHOPHANUS PYRRHOPHANUS (VIEILLOT):-
This species is common on the island, commoner than one might
expect with one of its main foster parents absent, but it
doubtless finds other species to parasite. It calls much
and at night, especially on moonlight nights, and its loud
and frequent call may be responsible for creating an impres-
sion of its being more numerous than it really is, but even
allowing for that it is still a very common species. It
frequents tall and short forests and native gardenlands in
such areas, but seldom seems to visit more open types of
country, such as coconuts unless there is a considerable
growth of shrubs and secondary growth between them and the
palms are not too high. Its habits in all ways appear iden-
S;S; r
' tlfo j| fMkty-? ' /«(! I rj’y <’■• '1'‘- I'^tV M
'J- 3l(in> .U^K»«i**-c t jJl tinoAl -je.t • r j'j jl oJ ! I 1
e '. I-i't ♦ **»H ul rin . f>VLr« «**dH #1 »«5f»f
9i^i\ irh. In # . n<i /I't •' ► v, ■ .-u UtIo!««t
f ntv^rt. < ? #rtl 01 .». w r»o'. SrK. nuoo*< ^
■■ fti ft] '-• -it rnor, firv. .-.iO.» vj jr" *f< ' to I • I
Mif • ■ • ^ ia 3*ocl' 1' - f V-i#
cf i*?a ‘ ^*^'>1 '■ ! f •'"* r^“ ftj • ”• fI)U02 »*•*[,
. 'i f<i el . . ■».*♦ 3-. -'«» -' H" * -t') »:1 taivcr:
tin ' .1 .1 1--T- ?*i lyr' iVf 1 ' ~ •* <4*i
.’TMT? *I<^T ■" 'll'*- al .' ruo « a* I j f U#
'•»,. (to*w^i*W > I * ( ,v» * *(f;f tl ^ .! tt' ■ 1 1
-.* • ,, •’{»■ i' I'tf > iw/f ' . l K'fc<l .j
t{^i ♦vi.r f»t*o
f - i ••♦4t (if 'n»kt <n wfi7 itf "'I '» •• M “
; f :• •.*] r -1^ . , ji' ■ 1 ,'t! 1! ► J r , ^ ^
‘u K»> { i ! f »H «T tlfTl
II u‘ ir’aol ltn»
iVtM if j .5.1 ‘ ■ 1' ^ vf I ' 'I al>tn tc«>J<c(W
■ ml ^t1 ■ ■^ i' '• I f ' I -'ty*, *' ''ttt
..,, . ,. ] nl »• ■'>' •>' ■ • I* M V ' n« > ktn*
»..- V I'tt' ,.’i yMf i< ■' ' '1' • M t
, , • 1 >> l••f - Hi ' 'I 'I ' -' * “-''1
? I ’ -u* vi,*.*') 'H' u ifAi ♦ it ■■ - n . /t
,,, *••»(!' f1 I ’ ■ +Tvt
r l n ■ fv al :■*• »1u*o3*<" - , /trnniff
. ,*. v.^ A* ■*••♦. n-.V(i'Oi ^ . -• U' (5 r>
- , M -I ..ku , T* « ri' -il ^ . Ufl’oc' 1'I V>lva
139.
tical with elsewhere, apart from this peculiarity and keep-
ing more to cover. It is seldom seen on Uvea to perch high
on a dry bare twig or tree and call as elsewhere, generally
selecting a tree, teak or otherwise, with leaves and good
cover and perching close in under or in the leaf canopy calls
from there. It is difficult to pick out at such times and
generally speaking, more is heard than seen of the species,
though it is often seen in flight when departing after being
alarmed or disturbed by presence of observer. On Uvea this
species parasites Pachycephal a I believe. At certain times
when 9 Pachycephal a gives a call which seems to excite and
attract cf Pachycephal a in numbers Cacomant 1 s almost invariably
appear silently and remaining still and silent and watching
the goings on of Pachycephal a. These are probably 9
Cacomant i s looking for prospective foster parents. If humans
mimic this call they can almost always attract Cacomant i s
if any are anywhere about, though a very sharp lookout has
to be kept to see the approaching bird as it comes very
carefully and silently and low dovyn and is apparently watch-
ful and wide awake and appears to be peering here and there
al 1 the time.
Observer may be wrong but gathered an impression that
the Uvea bird showed some plumage differences to Mare Is.
f'lAYR QUESTION:- Parisitizes which species? A.
On Uvea Lalage much and though I did not actually see any
fostering young 1 bel ieve Pachycepha 1 a much. Myiagra is also
parasited to a limited degree. Zosterops lateralis may be
parasited but observer believes only to a limited extent.
Lalage for certain and Pachycephala I believe are the 2 main
, ''I ft 1 1 ' l«oJJ
* j»
Ii' ?b'K-<f ny no ti'inrf fii*f f i «I I a"> fn>»i *.»fil
'*J J --.y.(c,| ' tin f I o h.ifjj w '»i ■»»/ I <• *k V<»i y*(b A fW>
K.t*.o Urtr. 4»^ii a i, »il j
^ .'ywruD r ’ll I rh fil T* 'it-'Kiu fil #9uta *»(K- •♦♦vm'.
Vii. em-ili f'riija J'/1< '» 4] M . nehl
,^‘tj »»r % nri t I0»* i ll•■lif 1 • •'•I ,^l'l-k«' t ,'l(
T5#>^ firtHl :|^ip I I'f ’ •?*'■' #1 fl 4» K’^f
til’ nr ,•»»*•/'(■ ; i'fr' T. >* !••* ■’tufilit i'l /•.
t • mJ ttn-> 7X' . 1l«-< ’ e»r'«»R^
^tf‘ % (tf **^.4 M ;> <- j4i(> ' ^
vf ' 1% .vnl *' 1*
(i.ul J ifll- ' ■»’« "J *m0 T*r-y
^ jr'u. j.'jLiii . n* ^0 iiyi " *
•*»»<»■» #vf» H40-HI «1 >, "» .if.l
I t ' i'J' IA’I^I
• i( iiti. Atf <rii -yi/n :• > ♦•
• V*'/ a . '•> il ■ ' '''ll ‘■•1^ I r ‘frii. «m| 'If
yt • fnOh.f'.v ^ 'I ‘‘'* • ' ^’1 f % > iii ;l fii't ’n»".
-Tr^lf > *’'n'» f rniT '■••( •' if ■‘^ t « ’’''i '■ i« n»1
. i ♦ I ( I f
i|. s n-(l* V ' ■' ' •> >v-
,^t V*I /» ‘I' .-Wi n I-I 'll; t 'tj! tU^' ’’
. \s,i ^ 'XV
.,. ^ n ylf. II ).M ' ?■ » ff > I T- >" ' . ,;j|^ ■' •I--
li •) ..I -in ■, , ' I, <
. • • ail I'-iJ • X 1. >tl/n I - '••'il
. ,T V- .' i.,U »n ’ ‘‘* .’ill < il ^ ' *■ Ml '
„I ., • t ,4l 1 'ifTi. h]i *1*3 vO . I/. I
140.
foster parents of the species on the island. Occasionally
Myzomel a and Lichmera may be paras i ted, but such cases are
very rare and more or less accidental in observer's opinion.
CHALCITIES LUC I DUS LAYARDI (l-lATHEWS) : - When
observer first arrived on Uvea he thought this species was
almost absent or exceedingly rare, but later observations
led him to the conclusion that the birds were only rather
silent at that season (February, early March) and not call-
ing much. It never became very plentiful on the island in
comparison with numbers on Mare Island, but during April,
May and June, numbers were quite in accord with what one
would expect on the island taking into consideration food
and the numbers of its foster species. It is rather shy
and wary. Males generally perch high on an exposed dead
twig, often protruding from a clump of green leaves, or a
dead tree, and call much from that position, the usual thin,
high note, though often somewhat more robust than the calls
on Mare, (but in that observer may be wrong and the greater
number of immatire calls on Mare may be responsible for this
impression). Females are generally found low down near
the ground and seldom call, mostly passing silently through
the scrubs, close to the ground (up to 5 ft. generally
within 3 ft.). Both sexes feed generally within 10 feet
off the ground and more often within 5 ft. off the ground.
When resting in the heat of the day and not calling cf gene-
rally perch 10 feet or a little more above the ground, 9
often within 2 and 3 feet and seldom above 4 feet and almost
never above 8 feet from the ground. This species is fairly
common in and about the mangroves of the tidal lagoon arms.
fit fio :/|i- ti» . >ft, *if>Q I
• '. .« i :• /hijjf Pni ,U'-tIar*jf,t n» ’.L lil'.L.
, .J lie . ^ '*f.vj / j'i'i /il ,i« tf *• I •» “/,«» 1 1<, »'1 *, •■.yi
v^.;: ' - : i .. .iu> . , L
: i -n»i^2 «I»' i • *H • 'V*i tta ► '• n > '/V'exJo
-» f. J t Vn - > •/ *(«.* I turf . /(•” i ••».- 71^ 1 1
'f '/l-J1ri “-"liw I ’ ■'lit i'.tl' ,*(•)-;(<( j I • i - i<< b<^t
-fl^ : tf» ^.nfc• . Ivr** , 4n^'. r •»> ' -ilt Tik lJf
ifi ^-■>r, ,j * J .».i firtllty if- " -■ 'i . ' « "v *1 .ful
.IJ'S*.-' m’ f«l .A: a I •• •*».• I ♦*ni«ri
• ;. ,| vt#' I ''U. ,* ' if-ji’,
. 1 * ■- • •
1 1
I 1. r> ^ ‘ ) ' •»»•
f ? !
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f iiH' '1 J
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it ♦
,ni<? *
1 - H, ! i'J •■^■■'1 rfk
i it '
f 1 . I
Vn*
♦ n. T .*ll awa't
1 Vi; , < 1'
tUr>
Of f i
v» f*: f
1
1. Irf
'( • ■ H
I'O
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tf %
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(f
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it*
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r
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' •
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t
. ♦ t
I ^ nl
. ,! 1 V
' - n
-.Me.
1 H'-'
?' i/o
•t,. KiU
y\a
-r ; '
Mil I?..
lull
I'll-! ■*.* 'lit 1* 1
, .-.i'
.,1
i! 1
1 »,;»• *1
nmfy
t
1
'<• ‘I- '■ <fti> *w'i
; ti 1 -r f » t 1 !
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V" •
141 .
generally being found all over them at low tide and in the
margins at high tide or in scrubs and forests adjacent.
Sometimes even at high tide individuals will be heard call-
ing or seen far out in the mangroves at high tide, often in
an isolated bush with 3 and 4 feet of water under them.
They range much v\fider and into areas in which their foster
parents are never found, often appearing along absolute
beaches and on dead trees thrown up by the sea on sand spits
etc. considerable distances from vegetation. They range out
along the islands of the western chains both in south and
north and are said to be even plentiful along the southern
islands of the lagoon. I saw them along the northern arms
but they were not plentiful, possibly even in smaller ratio
than on the mainland. According to local accounts numbers
do not vary and during my stay they did not. I think local
accounts are reliable as the bird is nowhere common and was
unknown to 90 per cent of the natives in all areas except
the tidal lagoons where it v/as better known to native resi-
dents. I had great difficult getting the native name for
the species in the Fayuwai district and only old men there
had any idea of it but were in doubt. Though the bird is
present in the area and quite up to numbers one would expect,
many even old natives had never seen it and many had only
once seen it before. This was probably not so much due to its
scarcity as to the poor quality of Uvean bushmanship, but if
the species were subject to sudden increases in numbers as
on Mare it V'^ould force its presence under the notice of local
natives, especially the women working in gardens regularly.
Actually women knew more of it than men but few women had seen
it more than once before and to many it was entirely unknown.
r.!# f I.. ' > )A ^rj[ if, ff> ' /IUm’) ' < f I
. Ifl^-(■l^^ a I *t»*jr'1 mI *a iJptil i*< aniji-w
- i J-a, hit-id » flJ I aliuMvHW'l i>li ft' ?»! t>‘
f»l H /{fel<l T . *•>'/<*'!, iri'.t • «/’ 1 tU'f M''** ’»<» ffil
. '<tl? 'ir*-* (III 'lurtAt In j'-f-fj ^ Jirfb f .' (I'^u 1 ' - *-
'ilwiJj "? «T..i'|.. ("inJ ' m. •f l'I I (' rM(/ 'ei(in
.3l||o>t'(». i/iH/fi. yii]-|.', I'» t ^litllMlI *j; V< 'I 'H 4^04' tl>4
Ko,4 «ci »ii5i y<l liv li ^*-»y I>1-. •*. m’ H i#.
tui> y*»ffT .iwll ''■‘t/j.i'y i* ‘i') «•. 'Jai-’ >f ;n< . j
• f*n (il {i<0f J .I.H'J HJ I J Mli jn< f .
I u^|r4l^. fH'4' ' 'f u tfi »t ( '
■Vipi}f’n/» arf> f 4 4*«41 V**- I . "»• 'I llll f^.i. .I^J
cll»i •loMott’ rtl I' ♦ 'T ^4j "MmI
4-wn4UIH^ it(ipr>wx:i «} flil4W li*'’ .i»ilt
l•,JO:| ^rild' . '::5 Y*-"’ '•'■► -olW' v<lfc »' I 4i
3 .•' '-«> #¥>!«PVII »4t »f '.If I »1»* ••'|( I*
fit* fi i *>vi > II >(i) I'J l.tflfJ ' ' '. ♦*? fli ''Wiv^rtll
-Tl '» 4»i#l oi » *' ♦!
'■'1 fvMfeO ■'f'f tJ0l I ' 4 fit I*''ii)'i 1**1* • . *'1
«v'5» <*lo K'1, I •Hi ^*1 **•! >c» *Ai .
#f Inid »HJ , ♦•v'K’*' rtf ^10*’ *psl l| >n *^il
,1>.i'-' ■ ■ (lUT- till jilwi'jRilfl 111 qw iJUifi ■ <1-1 ■’HI '*!
,'I.TM 1..«l T* If - ■i lAJifl .4<-vN I bf • <H*V> V4V«
X’l »t ; «»i» <i3 )'»fl :ffdfi 8l* I . ll ;!"»■» ‘>;>n>»
f Hi.i , ?f>J*Uiii''U ' ifc. •• ' >(• /'ll »l 7 -ll' ■' > ,’.H T'0«
nta‘.lMf» flJ V ■ •l.’ilT II *’' ’ •'•fril 'I'J ¥*1 "> l-'f 4 -!■*
f O' I Ici .ilkii (<» *v«‘^iin »*iK ::<11( ‘|| ‘••' I ' In- ' »I ■'H'*’ f’"’
. ‘ft hi, PiUl.!^n-“ of ,.ill I*lf» r«44 »r1 /U‘ i •• > ,1 ivi v.rt
’. rtilwrti* 1' n* ' •'' ' ' • *''** vf(..u:i.^
-1 -nn;’n»i v f •■*» f ' ''»f*
142.
they claiming never to have seen it, though some had oc-
casionally heard its calls, they said, when I mimicked it.
The excited much calling behaviour of Chalcites which
occurs on Hare at times of increase of numbers could not
possibly pass unobserved if it occurred on Uvea, and such
would preclude the obscurity under which 1 found the species
on Uvea as regards native knowledge of it. While skinning
specimens, invariably word went round and natives gathered
to see the rare bird they hardly knew or knew absolutely
nothing of. Strangely those who knew a little of it,
(especially in the tidal lagoon arm area) called it a big
species of Zosterops and say it is always found with a small
party of Zosterops. In that area (tidal lagoon) nine times
out of ten it is found near parties of Zosterops and else-
v/here it seems to be half its time close to Zosterops . Ob-
server thinks that the real reason is not because it para-
sites Zosterops but because Zosterops becomes excited at it
and is inclined to gather round it and chatter at it.
Geryqone, which is plentiful in the mangroves starts the
ball rolling and actually attacks Chalcites . Geryqone becomes
very excited and gives agitated calls which excite Zosterops
which also gather round giving excited calls, apparently not
attacking. V/hen Zosterops moves on Chalcites goes on with
them to get av^/ay from Ger~. qone and it is noticeable that
when alone Zosterops tolerates its presence and does not
seem at all excited providing no Geryqone are about. Observer
was given the impression that Chalcites was inclined to use
a small flock of Zosterops as a screen to cover its approach
and movements as several times Geryqone seemed to overlook
- ro Vk/J r.fxu , ;1 fw ♦v'ifJ 'I v»ii ;;fi)r i
. V I ifofK ,’tloa. v/Hj ,4n >f# aJt h'K
/irlfi* ‘‘ijul v,j)W*‘f mI I f
ffui MliO’ *o t »jfil " J - IT'.*, flo
fj-ui V>ii.. , -v rwi !»■<.'• I ;T il 't '/*r 4’ umi.) I'K-i
ci'l •■'ce i-riMO) I /.t *Jt«j Irr'c. Li(tA»
til fill 'k; '11*1 ,1 Vi /| f >f *1’ Ti '^n
».*vl i^.f ft - -I I 1^1 *»ryvfi) ,
V' •»<)■* >■"> ►*il ' T -*! a09 v>‘i
, 1 I Tf* V#^' : ••‘>1- H‘1{J "** - ‘
t<i « ll ^ f I fc' .i «T| iHi .v I f •** F* .M* III I J * f
. ir-.| - .'tl WiilO^ cF If ;*; • ** I f
;■'*,* '•il l - t- f lir 1- f. f^T *j .. y?n*#*
• if * lllW ^ ^ ^ '' if "^1
• »» ( • •■'ll.' ‘Jf M mF «..i i'I ll 1-.A»
>1 tifiti. ^ » I <ln •*: T i*» • .1’’
*■
f! I -t., .-v' V ..•f*ii^.!><F /U'* *jl[ r- J V.C Wft
,-f (•- t ' irf.'* - it; tl 'ii.-f i.'i’h./ 't !:.’ .Tlt.'.fil ' I *•■
f.4jr t Vl •’ 'r iwf# I'f lilTlTIHifv »l
llllol IlSrl
iid -‘’f • ■ '*^’f' ' ’ 'f‘ ''<v1f 1 '-•'V
♦t 't M*7#»vn ,<’ll ‘ *1,1. 'll!'! ■ ' iR’* T "I •■' I »
■1 n.i '-■ -v .'.I d jt' *■' ^<T' -■ ■ ... '
,v .,1 - t mt «t ll ' ^l■■' "'•'■'•''T ' '• ’ lH 'ft
: . .R iffi,. •;? f ■ flit* M’ fl"
. ,,w- . . ii, ' .,.t. tl il fit. *♦»-<' St
..f ’ .' ■ (P i1''l^-ii..-iwl ' !i "«vf »<•»
*f v'lf • j" 4WsO>..
r V- I'' ■'
■• * 1 1 ’
*1 'V: •J
I I w^R r
'•J.1 ' -ll’
■|
>1
J. In%y
the presence of Chal ci tes when with parties of Zosterops
though the slightest movement on the part of Chal cites
when it was travelling alone would draw Gerygones atten-
tion and excit it. The general activity all around with
a flock of 6 or 8 Zos terops effectively hide such movements
as Chal cites might make, (but generally speaking Chal ci tes
moved little) but if Gerygone did stumble on it there would
be great excitement, Zosterops joining in but soon tiring
and recommencing to feed, and moving on when Chal cites
would move on also. Gerygone never quieted down till
Chal cites had gone on. i never once saw Zosterops feed
Chal c i tes nor in any way appear to show it any attention
or affection and when Chal ci tes remained behind Zosterops
never returned or showed the least interest in the fact
that it was longer with the flock.
In observer's opinion Gerygone is the only foster
parent on Uvea.
TYTO ALBA LULU (PEALE):- Though I failed to
collect this species on Uvea, I several times heard it
and had numbers of reports from natives of their having
seen it during my stay on the island. Evidently at this
season of the year (February-June) it becomes much quieter
and more shy and retiring as it was during the same months
that I failed to collect it on Erromanga in the New Hebrides
(I believe I have since found a way to collect a few during
these off seasons). It seldom calls, even when hunting at
this season and is generally much more silent and elusive.
I saw wings and feathers of the species during my stay on
Uvea and the wings certainly looked similar to Mare Is.
iu difw lOirW l-o oHi
LL*' LiHII rto »' 2«'/fH’l|? wll
-fw- I ■ ^ -'■'>*» btuO'f fxV'Irt ■ till I f^’A*n3 f*v/ Jl
/Ifi f hiioo‘1 * 1 1.» /Jlvl toto {b*i«i1«>(? 0rf'( .ii Jto<» hii>' ftol t
i1:)U» dirt : 4i i I'J ' to rfaol l .
^SLLisflStifc itjO) .sr'wi jHtilr, i»p3 I ( ’ d j. «?•
t airrti Jl no hlb d 1Uf‘ '©1:1^11 liov^
Qnl"»f» nof«it jurt nl gohtlo^ i6S!ijjLL2?lA » 1*^ •<!
n*flw «<’> (^nlv<t#i hn« ,I '»‘ 1 9!^ trnl9fj«v-»t»d&^'“» Kn*
(fij r»wn*=. U«ji«iu|) *»'/»« ynw yu. , .»vl ' o- ©vnu bfuOv
l «r f •»-^*i|f>1^‘ i3 ’ nv«vnn I .itf ‘n*»' j
nr 1 .>fM* > ♦*. yn- i( vJrj.te cj ynw yoB nl ■»«» j^^JLLUsfG
’•nlrt^<f b-wl'iwnn ni»'V W *^9
»r .'1 Adi ia.’ tl ^rSl h^^nU ^^• t»v«n
, l.ull •itt 'w»e*w>l 8«*w 3 1
«
•i tcoT yIrtO «»it ■! cnCh-<yn»» <j<>lrtino a|
. .V I IHi
oi ».r ( M I 4.i*ofrr - : #•( jA ^ ) lyi.i ,'iva_ '*-1
)J »,‘U.i 1 V**l|.’ Its-i.' vt' I ,lri»V!< n » loi.i ^ tifb 19*H<»
cwl v-rt -I I • M J ^0 a« v? » i» ' «i •< » • -T)*- Vw>»< b»rt !•/>•
i!rt> U vl >^‘ '-■'**' W5 .' n«l^i jflJ m> yrJ.-> ym cnlnul Jl n«af
rL>u»' ji ;.-n»rt,- ,n ,in t»ey **rtj t\Qi' t9
e.:»4>.i: -..a f« :? nfilnd. ■• » il <. I'ns yrt« l» w
I wrH nrtJ nl Kt-|J n»* H I
■ •tinu!. • r..^ *■ o> y ■ - *iv,>rt I • yrll >' ♦?
K. tilijimi fr->rlw n *"'11 '!’• ' ■ an 'j* "« w^iyrt^
. .vianl- ’AJlf. Jn ll'i 40.if.» H.‘ I t 'll .iMH'O zl ' H.> rio»- 3 *Irti
IJ VM f?f>l,v^ 5 rt-y bn>. ^nt < I
.«! r- . ',» n. IMN ■ li>-'I r nl'' rt) V ' <
specimens. Natives know of and speak of its habit of being
controlled by the moon and say the best time to collect it
and when it is most often seen is at the full moon. Though
not seen by me alive (1 far decomposed dead one seen in the
bush) during my stay, I believe the species is plentiful on
the island and from native accounts it is very common and
plentiful in the latter half of the year, becoming active
and noticeable in August. From what I could gather it seems
identical in habits and economy to elsewhere in the Loyalties.
(Only 2 weeks before my arrival, a trader shot one in a tree
within 50 yards of my camp). This would be probably one
of the last of the ones seen about at the common season
before retiring, the bulk of the species having already
retired by then, February 1st. On Uvea as elsewhere, this
species seems to suffer from some plague at wide intervals,
numbers being found dead about the place for no apparent
reason. Observer believes if careful note is take on the
weather before and during such times it will be found that
not a plague Is responsible but rough boisterous, rainy
weather coming at the time of the full moon so that birds
have bad hunting for 6 weeks instead of only 2 weeks (new
moon) and simply die of weakness and starvation. The condi-
tion of the birds, amount of fat, increases and decreases
with the moon (proved by actual observation) and I think it
is very probable the margin of reserve is insufficient to
carry the bird through the longer period of poor and bad
hunting because of bad weather. This would account for the
apparent irregularities in the occurrence of this apparent
plague and the times of finding of birds dead for no apparent
reason.
if- f
r ,J- I'l rjt!:,/ V)] y>--- ‘‘i^i i iifo 7^1 > wl ' . "'‘I.'^'l#
’.I tij ml / 4ii» />j iirj'i t< M *tfh ^ V'
■ .i<ov^ f Un »>ri/ /• »l hf>' * i im €| /I
' f /» '.a f>(Ui VjK»t’ '•• •**l!' 'f* t I •'■/ri'- f't,* /«J nw » ti'j'i
H'i t' l/twiv »<l <ifIJ *VS I I ‘ I ?'• !;r#l-it^
hu* ii»’»rMO ’p -y ;1 !l *)iu “*vj t>%<( I !i,n1 I'/i l<?I
-vl : ^ j •'■■'■f ,7 s / ■'i ' I'* ' lirrr-*i^ J .» • ( 4»1 h'fljrtplil
»■— "/I .i.Al*-l hlMr>'( \ C.w •*< ! . ' »'« fl » ‘'Vt I f(*
y/'.-J >.tij >i^>»*l'; U l.riM */!. .■♦ nl Jf;:/1 ItM"'* I
aMr*i,« . (il irifi A ,I '/It.- f •ftii )
<f*« yf*<«43'(« ^ Uii*m «lr . . ’ n? >tlw
.1. -.ciM tto /li »-('> ^ 1# I iui7
.'K- *tl . . mI f\ •* I ■*• -* m'j »'J IM» ,M. I* Mat %-Tcri(^
»|, I ,..-,'.W*|!» ?hk .»■! ,rvTi /r. W-*| **|T|
jVf' VT<tnl f‘w 3r (iT "V’ * r. a*. I
\4i Twl avln ofli ■ ’ '*!»
'H* f*y •
«K J *1 ' »
>• l4lt*Tr
U
It'. - T
/ ■ • ' . j>-i» 1
4^ ■ rt»i. •
•! •■ m ->
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/♦ II •
Ortf-luS ' M
-TO U* '
1
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: H{ il
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iti-i .
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► . ^ f 1 ryi
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rt i
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• wflT
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f,.-ii m* M
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' ^
ii'XK.i tH7 i-’li*
■>|11.I jMi'li.'nl fl ^VW'S;'** C fiii'Tt I ■i’ • ( - lo-( piv *)
' tn •U.K(» i-i'M V. 'K'l »'»■’ riv*''-''-'* ’
)!-♦ toiigk'.’ - ‘ lw<’ * *I'*T 'I 1 ' 'M.-.-v ■
-.V '
5?il* Mi.nTir-jQ Hi .»! <t HI-‘' !'h»vtt1 <
TTk-n^n« w *n-r1 ^ ‘ ’’nT ’> • or»J'
M0-- -Vi
145.
COLLOCALIA ESCULENTA UROPYGIALIS (GRAY) : - A common
species on the island, but by no means common as Col local I a
spod. leuc. during the greater part of if not all the year
round. Its habits and behaviour are exactly similar here
as elsewhere, this species favouring less open places than
other Col local ias. and even hawking much below the treetops
in absolute forest areas and generally closer to the ground
than others, and seldom visiting really open types of habitat.
It does hawk occasionally above treetop level but seldom
very far above, and never for very long, periods. Along
narrov'/ tracks and road, between scrub or forest, between
coconut palms, and low near the ground, being favourite
hawking areas. In and above native gardens are also favour-
ite places for feeding. It seldom visits open grass
paddocks or areas of any expanse. Will hawk amongst
coconuts, come to the margin of an open grass area and
turn back through the coconuts or along the margin of the
grass area, often not going more than 15 feet into the open
area. Nest and eggs usual.
MAYR Q.UESTI0N: Nest under branches of big trees?
ANSWER: Yes where sheltered from weather and not
subject to water drainage around the limb in wet weather.
COLLOCALIA SPODIOPYGIA LEUCOPYGIA (WALLACE)
See notes under Notes of espec. species Zones of Bird Life.
HALCYON CHLORIS CANACORUM (BRASIL):- A common
species on the island being identical in habits to birds
of Mare Is., though it is more plentiful on Uvea than Mare
Is. per square mile. Is very common in and about the
r
-1*. 0^1 y/< /IK' ,Hm> la! *ffa rU* v|
•- fir :‘ t If "^o J*j*.q »irl) pt>liuJ^ . ,i>- f
»- >1': ' l*n'. ,Jl J ,^ru>/.o
a*.(/ i<t *•?! . 4*1 I' f T* »*Iri , - nf^
»i»‘3 .<Kfa*i r i|> /»' I rj. ..aJJL: JJrJ
Vi/iump fff'Ji Of ylfmoni^^f' 'n- « ■ l8r*K>^ .- rtl
in -bq/i ,>w<%a ylls^'f rnfiltlv ' u*'!*. ti <rb
'•ol'f .i /tK:' Ivvr l o- 'JiwBl) y* I‘ f SSA'?'* WOl# jl
5f(v.fA .Mfiof -n^v *n*f t»sr*<i N*- iat
f»*r«vj ) , no Wmi> «<^4*ni -<mni»rt
iJnuoffc^ ,>fU<»“if ntll tf}*>n Ho8 tar’l'-#; ItiTTArKsn
OilR ‘■w. «o^>»n*p*. ''/l/rin '•vex.’v bo* fit f«»i|Jw%r1
airmy *•»;.* >Jlllv H . <U>M^ *>^1 ■'•••Ic
Af.ii in ,■ .At*> to ft?4»n*i no *q
V^-* . *nr- 7Hi;'«(L t.'wi'*’’ to* » n^v"*' ' '4®."* , i1i(*H».>*V5
jji nlvni- "*»it (iiw>Ifc »ii I’M; n.»r,* *»f<1 flToJ
►«*;» tr'i''l ^■w) if «*■*/!♦ onOP t/'if ’L I 'o t ' • , • >» #*o»
TaocnJ 1*14 torfr*o- ■*,♦ ni>bo»i 4»V'i>
.hvi b«*s n,^* mcinl U/'ir Jfsfit e-ntif i
.nofi.tf-*'* »lf ^11 ortl bnix^tG t*. till?. .'lb nA»*^.f •] J*4*ldu*
. ' UJ bnl ‘ >K> Int ' . p' ^ij •»£>»•■! ntbiMi at'ori "o’
: I.I 5t|^ -.tl fi1 ' ? Ifil-'' bill In T . » no «pI -«ic:*
ii if'/ ' *i s*l' rii' 1 11^ I ' f' I''; j ' ' •’ I f fl^lMi "I t«tl
iilf »i'u. ’ iin Mi rnWiK? 'nn‘/ ' . fin i>Mt'i|>« nt'il .$1
, f' li lu 2
. **n
U_2
•-■■in
146
cultivation swamps, native gardens even in dry areas and
well inland, in fact almost everywhere on the island ex-
cept forest, where though plentiful, its numbers are not
so great as elsewhere. Nesting and general habits are
usual, nest being in a hollow limb, eggs 4 white. Season
very long, from October to April and even some outside
those months.
MAY,'^ QUESTION:- Habitat Near the beach (?) ,
forest native gardens (?). ANSWER: - On Uvea in all 3,
least plentiful in forest. is very common in coconuts
and iron woods (casuarina) about beaches, on rocks and
reef at low tide, on sand beaches etc. Has spread all
along the western island chains and appears on Beaupre
Is. Inhabits natives' gardens a great deal, often 1
and up to 3 pairs (and for large gardens more) of sepa-
rate family parties inhabiting one individual garden
area, spending most of their time in and about it.
LALAGE LEUCOPYGIA SIMILLIHA (SARAS IN:- A very
common and plentiful species on the island found in
numbers in every type of country except claypan areas,
though even in that area it is about the most plentiful
bird. Feeds in great numbers in swamps under cultivation
or fallow and is fairly plentiful in natural swamps,
exceedingly plentiful in gardens and low forest and tall
forests and very numerous in coconut, at most times and
always a few found about coconuts. This Is about the
only species fairly numberous in the low wind blown scrub
on the east coast where it feeds on tcp of the leaf
I w
St •» 'pi» til a/»^kir,r/ * /bwri. noltuvfifi^^
-_i '. itii’.fri irJJ O'-' /»inf.. ■>•' /t I 1 (Iriftitil ll^h^
•♦oil g7 <*!>• lUin 2.1 , 1 u'l F i/i(* f <1 I , 4<no^ tffti
»’( ?.tl *4 ciiifi8* • .’^'u if «•>*
V- * rij |i«i; i il I'tl#* i\4a»t , r UHAi
I , r*“,7v ivjii 111' ‘ o?r t , trier!
.4filiv3r« ‘'if'rf!*
, ■ ri,* -VM. J.<
• U i
. -7li*.n j2't-
fHiffh"* <> 'll V'
r*" ;;r .*1
. t •4NT4 1 t ««
1 !u'^ i I'M? 1 4* 1
Wfit f¥% ,
; • fl.»»i#Ml t|i 1 *i
( jt-.il» .
) ^ n*.
f f ■ 1 *•%>•«<*• « »"
.-Tr- 4Ai|-.4^
* I'CI t !»■
. ‘*1 * f * V ‘'i
# irtfomA rw ?•?
. *i^t- *iil
t^> \rt|( f*l
y- ’I. I, l^-»l t •'rJ ^l‘
• J>>f - -•(lO V'll H trtlll
. I *urr»l,. ttr^f 0l T4- 1 -ll-rtl O }»;#
.•V '. *:';i;i' r i ‘Ji^' - 'Cl; '*JU
•il barvtl *»i’l (Kj iol- rirtlir. -. (q brK <nr»OL‘
i»-0 'r.! v tip.' 't trt* - <>• 1 VI I'4» r.1 nijdiw.n
(rt'’^ I . ' MJlil *'ri* H’’ '• M 1 'll ■ ■ * '^1 fl», UpHS
• 1 ' r'l'f" T ‘1
' Y,|Ut| l< > ■ ' 1
. -I
••4 i » 1
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1 1. > '‘»M, -K'T 'll ■ l.r •
1 l"lt : 1
■' n‘Iu'
nf t-ii.L.XH
••M'-.i - :t>l 1 f >•>'■' " “> « '<Vlr. O 1 1
1 nirn an* 1 y^
V Vn;«
atJKi-io!
,.iri; -1 •lf‘T . -rl" r -
(III ^r ),ui>. '!
14^
« |*Y V’l
M- *-,rj>l'* Iiflfitf f> 1 "'111 'll ^J'
n tAfjl/i
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>e;S YftUl
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• ]?'■
' M.fb Nit
147.
canopy. Breeds on the island from October to February,
mostly about December, I believe. Eggs 2, Colour as on
Mare, green with blotches. Nest identical with Mare Is.
more cup-shaped than on Tanna.
MAYR QUESTION:- Habitat Forest (?).
ANSWER: - Yes and elsewhere as above right down
to sea level and margin if vegetation is present and at
all altitudes from the ground upwards to above the tree-
tops. Often flys in play well above coconuts calling and
fanning its tail. Favours banyan trees.
QUESTION: - Food Caterpillars, small fruit (?)
ANSWER: - Yes, fruit and berries, quite a lot,
especially the 3 small fruited fig banyans (red, yel 1 ow
and purpl Ish small fruited and leaved variety of banyan).
The bird is almost always to be found in and about these
banyans. Observer believes they originally became fruit
eating because these banyan fruits and other berries
often have a large number of weevils or Insects inside
them (which have entered generally at the eye nipple on
the end) and the bird found swallowing whole fruit the
easiest form of capture in bulk. Now it eats fruits with-
out insects inside. It prefers insects and caterpillars
but fills up on fruits and berries, probably finds this
food more easily obtained at most seasons. Probably why
the species is so plentiful is because at hurricane times
when all fruit is destroyed, insects increase and it lives
then wholly on such, thus not feeling any leak of food on
the rather infertile island because of large suuplies of
insects at such seasons does not have to compete to so
,( -1 ■; i' I . 1 »iH
,'l S-. .. rljjw ' i -fit , KttifliiT ■■ 1 ■ lOl i no^Ti*
. nuii 'I’.ftl *v*ti
• ' iJNPV-i
$„ liHi’ MO<j al n/’U -»i'i »*v 11 filft(h<i !>«)• %*■ at
e»J IOiS*<T I ■j I #i I fs
M"' . »ll n ■> aJwMO> ' jw>V, II ( tvH
'vyi*..?* .11 i>l |«nlivu>1
^ jlinV Itwir , **»o! II'T/'T**-' '■ ; JP. lU «■;
,io( -• ' I ,*iiy ':ijSiil25
'-n '-f.'hnl n*-.i i •■ »di
. ,iWi Jo ru*vr'>l ^fv. M ilsjJjt'Uill
« V.*« rtl bniv.*' *»J *vi fr- wu'lfc «I IiIm
rlin* fl <-.ii ft I-' o 4<(^t ’^*-11 ■ '
-f*’ . *, lilt’ll iinl 'Mi
•J,.l l| ! »tflf *»<> ifliV "I 1'1 tf* '’lUn ,1 I
•’ jMiJ yflv/onr-? •’-.'nr iin<t ‘
«iii linl ' f irWi •of ’Fl»^‘» ^rlu.’l •r^;f fcriw {biv. *»<1‘
-*fjN ’tluM -■ i«« if "v .-“ftti 'll '-iii; - -1 n<»f
Plfcl !** •J’ltisnt << .♦M*rsl a.J »’ip
jltl? cfriH vIvU'H^’*.’ ,• hj vu .111* #u<1
'
-1(1 -I'lT'fl '• 5i fuflM*-!*; '* I SJ-I ■'ll
••'Vil H '<1. t*-’ ;n''''V. •-■? H
r, l,.,,t I' I .• f •/'’"■ ^ '•'»<
^ ■ T ( f*' <"*''♦ yIH’^ »<>'
• t'J:>iun V' j* '1 '<’n fl^Ui Art
i it'3^ ^'
great an extent with other insect i verous species. Generally
speaking, dual food (fruit and insect) feeders are plentiful
in hurricane areas, Zosterops . Aplonis. Lai age, etc.
RH I P I DURA ? This species has only just arrived
on the island and is entirely unknown to natives. I sight
recorded it at the one place only and actually once shot
it and lost it in the birds nests coral rock ferns on the
ground. Observer saw it reasonably plainly enough to be
sure it was R. verreauxi the same as on Mare Island. A
native (one of the best bushmen on the island and one who
visits forest areas more than most natives on Uvea) with
me also plainly saw the bird and stated it was foreign to
the island, though he knew the same bird and had seen it
on Lifu and in New Caledonia. I searched much of the island
with great thoroughness but only In that one spot was
Rhipidura seen, though several natives said they had with-
in the last few years only seen the bird in several places
on Uvea, but it was exceedingly rare. (? Uvea observation
value) Even so I doubt there are more than 20 pairs on the
island if that, and it certainly has only arrived within
recent times; knowledge of the bird being entirely unknown
to very old and old men. From somewhat vague ideas of
times of seeing, 1 would place the time of its first arrival
as not before the big cyclone in the early nineteen thirties.
Actually it might be today considered as an accidental
visitor as the species may not be becoming established.
There are no visible reasons why if both sexes are present
it should not become established.
‘ •> i aK)* »■. 'Vt *("dln fifl-r '/ti' Mo ll»
*r*1i . Jj- ‘tii K,,: tfiJ-T »,ODt I.Htt' , ll
♦ »Ji_ J.W.’ • Oj.LiL‘5* I ? i*'»o o/wolvtw/; nl
.. vfm <'>l-»s«nie •5t*i i *
t .ir*'7!/un *f} P'TffiJtiKi /l»rii *< *1 U** I .. (*1
1W'3 OfW; 7||--,U77« fill*' |7,' tilt •^rlf '1
•^fSJ iiy ' ‘O') < T > 4/y* ,t { ~th Mi ■♦I • M J(
: •I" it'.<ui.r1», '/(Ml'.fv t] « •)‘*VT It' •|1
••*»*■<' ^ ^tM • Wfit i V !*ri>*V 1| *-WJ!
tvw» *'<t» ^fr-ft1 f 'l" 1 -^1 -»nw' tvl'/rf
M%¥v (V> #OvI.>W( J H;f <1 '■< £«^'> ft|#l7
rr' -n I ••) rt tTjv? ri • » *“ ’*r' • fr; | r .»*
•f t '..tr« ^ii«J .‘i ; • y , Mr»ti*t •>
-■‘"tJi* ‘ . .i *4 1 *■’■*•- tf^ 1 j no
i » f I "H* »i| ; I > • '‘M * ' '* Li<i.>ii<l *i;. tI K'
*rA.i. }0,i$ M»« **7i f..(i i tllikl
Mtmf.v i«'»» *4 <J >'rii rtt*>4 ylii** <'**<,, wj ' ' 'm’1 Ml
-|| 1. -vn**;*# %■■>’> ’ 'f-'.liMi'" Jl.*4 ll MM ,
-.^^ IV 4~,\- * inrl‘ *•»' I I'v. rtri.'.' MlUa’* i '# n»w ■ l-ttl*v
;t »1 K«vl-*~t. ••[(«« • i' ifFiildM: • M h-m ).■♦J«^h tiii'.i:!
•.fiii.lnru yfjol ffro .ini. • ■>1 • ' *m/ i; hiori * ‘j.'-'l'
; * «, ‘1 iivvv . ‘ %\ j i,>. n»v ,'»i
( >.••)? *ii io <»i I '3 f(t 1 It**' t ,l>nl^;l? ">o »
■••i ‘"iIMJ v(tj ' ♦ il ii.il. ’>' 1 ' 'M' i*y,i 1**1
I 1 in I (1^ '•■ 4^ *»4M '•d'l.' ’li j*i» '3 1 yl I
.1 “(i !il 1 : 1 ' ■4'' ft : ' 'J ?' ■» ' ’»■' n-'Jltiv
* . ■ a
t‘K'
i 34. "wn
f lit
t.'laiv an
Jur» I l>’'s • ’•
..Jill
MY I AGRA CALEDON I CA V I Rl DIN ITEMS (GRAY:-
UVEAEIjSIS (SARAS IN):- Observer
did not have the opportunity of actually comparing specimens
from Uvea and Lifu side by side, but judging from memory of
the amount of variation in the white on the tail tip, doubts
whether Uveaensis would stand, and it would be hard to knov/
just v/here any line of demarcation could be drav;n as regards
white on the tail. As far as I can remember specimens from
both Lifu and Uvea show a wide range of variation in the white
on the tail. There may be other differences present though
observer doubts they are regular. Observer believes Myiagra
is one of the later arrivals on Uvea, probably from Lifu,
and is not yet fully established or rather has not yet
reached its full numbers on the island. Considering the
suitability of the area and the great amount of food supplies
of this species which are available, its present numbers do
not represent more than 10 to 15 per cent of a normal popula-
tion for this species. Naturally in such a position of evo-
lution, a new subspecies is possible or may be even only just
evolving and the latter may actually be the case at this date
and account for the variations, though in the face of varia-
tions on Lifu it seems doubtful.
Though a fair series were collected, these took a
considerable time to complete, and the species was sufficient!
rare to warrant every sight record if it being recorded from
day to day. Sometimes several days passing without it being
seen.
It seems to be very evenly distributed over tall
forest, short forest gardens, and coconut area margins and
mangroves and coastal scrubs vyhere such exist, with a slightly
^ ■ wLi.sjU: JIU 3 <JjC-4 , •••«'
are -1 ■ ;i • .q<v-' /n .u;)*v» Vi '\f 1"^ l!5»,
n -O ' ^ tii-^ , *M ; ; i >* I ‘ !>■> I ll
?>■ »•• ’ ,' ti M ' ''i'l 0'i * j5(14* * *I .iI t|<- 1 »tM
,^<1 ' W-nr.i! it tj .» , --^1#
r> t ‘ (u >j Ml i "id'ifilMK *’ ■ -iljl t f U i
1- I • ' *>'i .11
• • I’l Mii|Jrl‘ ' /’I ■ ^11 *? • ' ll'' ■- i» 'ft " I > 'I >'*
'ft.* J ■' I '*« ‘‘I' ■ .Ml W'
* -j , i ) ■« I ■('•'r'l?''* ' , • I T ■" ‘H’»1i V) i-
•j'f ' '•■ Ti/ * Vl *•» ■ #rt‘l *.t |»mm t!
t~'0 /-'K . *» ■ 1 I • . /M»'’ «I 'fft"
II • n 1 !■*«< * .>■'?' MI I'f .#• ' I II''' I'l '"'■»»l.'' *1
Mit'Aii > *».T^ i/l f ’.I ■ *’'•'• II' ' 'u 'll! * 1hi
I I 'f Ml'* ■•! :r< i I !♦ ' t
• f « y> /ts I *MMJ I * ■ ! ’ *
-*,V. N« l>M {■ f I >L M # fll «‘M ■*«* ' .' I ' ' *j'tt ■ ■' I'l I ■
f(iM lr<V » ' \' : ’> 'i‘ ! ' 'I ■< ! 1 *<^Mol
*jt>‘ "!►*•' ■ *> J *n.it»ia> X’ *' ’’ M b’»** I Mf V
*.'^1 t '■' jni(’ ,»(■♦>!> 'll ■' * . ■ I M. ’iM
./ul.'^'tl*)! 'a t'V'i] I
jJrv) • • •! I I '.V - ■ t 1 > ‘r
H»*:'r'inil»Jt t-A' a»l - •"ff w* V * t. I I »■(■'*. *t ' hfl *•
’.-’.•(.ni.-n 'll! ’! M ' ** ■ '** ' ^1' V • 'I* ' cil i*'.**'
i H fu.Ti’M'- .'>'''1' !■■' ' • "''*1 • ' ’ ‘'’ V ^
. t- f
II i -iifv.* ?■- ''**
'• * Sftl 'ft"-* • ' tiifvoi'iv '• I . ., im T t* ifl.t
■/T'* ■ Ml ^ <i UJ rlw I I’lu-J '/•'i,
:>i
denser population in the tall forest margins where they touch
coconuts and garden lands, and to a slightly less degree in
mangroves and coastal scrubs. Even so they are by no means
common and rare compared to their usual numbers on other
islands, in any areas. They are found evenly but widely dis-
tributed in ail areas except the salt pan areas and a few
visit these areas at rare intervals in parts which are not
too distant from some form of cover. They are on of the few
regularly though wide distributed inhabitants of the close
growing pole like 15 feet ti-tree scrubs along the east side
of the island and on the top of the coral outcrops. They
appear to be a still expanding species, birds ranging widely
at non-breeding seasons and inhabiting new areas. This
ranging has spread out along the western island chain but
only a thin population is present in most cases I beiieve,
though they seem much more at home in this habitat and to
be comparatively more plentiful than on the mainland on
some of these islands. As regards habits, the race seems
very similar to all others of the species on other islands
and groups. Feeds generally from 8 to 25 feet seldom going
higher, though often lower. Is generally a quieter bird
than usual in Myiagra and much slyer, being rather hard to
call close to observer generally, though sometimes it will
come very close. It will answer a mimic of its "zzz" or
scissors grinding call more readily than the "Q.UIN QUIN
call, in other areas it is generally the other way about.
Nesting habits seem usual. The breeding season
seems very long, from September to February probably and
numbers even breeding outside those seasons. The absence
tiDU' :• sTit^h; II i «fU iil r«tl ' .ilu<^ ><)
,ll . tMtl yljfi: If-d ) rti Hm ► H »'On ■ •‘tOnCO'^
C(i( V<^ ?'l« ‘/♦irf'f Q4 !> /' .»>*) Ii«5|
liU a*<!» lltUtI IfjUiii* Tl' i! ’ r^J K *kcri lirm rM»l»OT
--a!^ /I 1 I ■# lori Ylm#^ # t»> f»iTt . i"? #ar> i«Sri4liJ
■ r%^ t> bu* a<’*ni» H a '<»li '♦4-- >>*» c^jn- If* til WiU'HtJ
Tfd ■('ii-'ir ril al. 'n»hiJ f *iuT )I»tv
»iH5 "Ifi d^i n* »f ilT .T**^'* ;r, fen 'l vrr i imkf?th ooi
*^i|bl . »r!l Jlrmtl i . «a1 . 1 ^ »4>l •# tbuoHl y I nii» I
I j* < !*® <U*> 9«ltr>:^>r *»^-»l"' 1 S ^1 * i 1 I i fi '■> l»nlw©>V
','friV .acrnijtuu ln*ioj **h '• t fto hnr *n ,(<I *»l| lo
iT »| T *• ll<< •■•r- ,fri|’ih'»i^v Ilf p »il Ol ^f>l0f,OT
•tiff S;> <(!• -'c o I *'1 » J* '
tuil f»l^ . -• ^■•l^ I -1 n‘ t ' " •' *i^i I'l’iul* *•* I * * it l^'»*“i
■<# 1 1 % I r fMvji I ■* *r'i f'l 'V ifp-si 1 i'.ft*l'in'w ithi.; fl vO
. > ti I, ii.’l v-.il ‘liH ..I AftOfI -t.\ iT «i riwui tfcjuofl’
n.. I«!< II I . ■ atij ri'vHj fyll M%«l« i* »ni4 -■i
■'iil'i ch t i • . ’'piiwl#! »*«!»
I .1 t-HKi t*ti )vl kb^K -(!• >'■ nwf*'- M.. -i i*n«.l*
,J, , -.. c,|-, . 1. *: / •; t . Hiii'tll ,*fl '1n-. •! . , . fen*
* • I -IftJuliM /II • .T *«vl pIU*^'*. f1ti»--(!.> ,T^r%lf*
. * b iiMf |if‘il ./.' ,v :!-* rt .mi Kf^r. j , 1 WJ
• Hr 'I - ' l l ui<y» (K'>’rt> ,y| I T M ■» “tfi Uj »*ol»
•jti "r c*.^l i»W 1 ' sti- III ' '< , Y’lov
•'I'Uf If jf ' ; fl f vll'’ ’■■> -T'' tnlWnlltl ?‘it "Jtl .'i#
.nii.vV. -urtM "ui* y'lt i . '1 tl •».*T iiflii. ll ,11 '
' • i»iJ' .*1.! ■»rrt . M. .» ' »}J it v*l Ui[M
•“tt> yl. .lonf} r* •'>'»*.' .-I '•’ r'ji/il m 'i"f Yl" ' ”**‘‘“*
H»,7 r1.r> j .'T . luj .> •■t.lMno Qn1J-'^*'ui rt- V- i‘ii
151.
of immature d* was most noticeable and quite unaccounted for.
Only 2 being shot. Observer believes it very likely there
is a ? preponderance in the young to increase the species
and more rapidly populate the area, but a series of nest-
lings would be necessary to prove this. The bulk of the
birds probably breed in November-December and it is more
than likely that numbers of birds rear 2 broods a year from
what natives say. Natives themselves report increasing num-
bers over the years and a wider spreading of the species,
very gradual and small, almost imperceptible from year to
year, but noticeable over a number of years.
GERYGONE FLAVO LATERAL IS ROUX I (SARAS IN);- Observer
very much doubts Sarasin's differences, though the Uvea bird
may be different (doubtful) when close comparisons are made,
but I dont think the differences stated are correct. This
species was confusing on Mare Island, but later I managed to
sort it up. Juveniles keep the yellow washed unders in
many cases till the end of the first year (skull ossifies at
6 months) but in some case loses the yellow wash very early
in the first year. The eyebrow streak is an almost invari-
able rule as regards age, if this is yellow the bird is in
its first year, if white or grey it is in second or later
years. On Hare the preponderance of these yellow washed
unders in the lower ti-tree scrubs on the plains and their
rareness in forest areas was doubtless due to the crow
(Corvus) destroying young in forest areas. Had conditions
been normal, doubtless yellow washed unders would have been
just as plentiful in forest areas also and would not have
.’fn'. f I IA< \>i, |rn| /jjnrn ♦*../ * 1iV
!?>'. y*»*<‘> ;fi u 1 ♦iftf* 'ffii/f • • .Jfiftg Qnf'.r i
^ -'(ii I n| (.injt f nrj/ c? ^ '"rii^M /Kl0®*KI '•? #1
i-f J't'fif I. t|j.! ,t '<ilr tit ytHor/i 9^arl l.i»*
->th 'io »’>M I «Mri . >l^t| .Vf*^r I I I 4 MlitiW II
t] • I >1 i!V •***<<' »<'r/r I nl b»*o-, .! >{f< i^T>4
r Ol^ / ■ fl. f t -V.- t-J .’4^jl<( 1 » j yJfi^^I ( n- ti}
-nthi tml '1' Meo »ty| «»i' »♦) vl 1 * i ^^►vI)»,.• iittW
C'l'i' -o 'ird' •ii-'v* •» 1'rf '■ ^ itf’ tIMV
a.f «tJi1 » K*M <»•»'» ’ i«n(ci ,ff '•* bm Ii>,i»bmt; tn'»y
j, r fu-
*f r .**- *♦» ? ' - : trt I # t* I X\W ,J , ^ a.!«feaj«! -(Li
0
b-rj") mI • , •** ' t« 1-1 1 HI* •'ll! • >■* (^kt '■ ‘ ' ": >v
► iH #r*M*I "if fi' *f |ir. \in .'.. '|* . ‘ t"
«|(ii 'l l vii9 •»! J 1 * I t.i. J
*
♦ '*. M* • 1 . ' .f r)*i* I»l «n'4l im ■ '• •*! --4*
'll ^''dl-' «*H» ,"fl )•« vnt . 'I f’tilf
I fit' J fu *W •n/ !• d1 «•! J tv *•' ■> :.i.f MI* '■
•• X^<*y *t^w «ilIrY nW 'I t»e • ■'’> 'I ’•*'* ’
-I .«vnt »»«rrr. ft >1 ^ v io -M'* .1 - >f i nt ♦ »f* III
01 il «ijf(rv.' ,d >.1,!' it , V '■’ > *14^
. t-I T.1 Uko « Mi t n r-n; • '?f^- >1 .v^V
I -tfifl* V uidl-'.' •*■ ’!'• *• -ti' It ’ -I •: * >#n. n.'
nliii 111. ^fil'Iir I » "j ♦^n^^ • ni-IJ ' *id miU d o '■'.'V.i
• n> i dl 'Tl »»**•’ * •> ■/ nf 1
' I;I5W >' ,U l- i l'M,*'’ ft* i^u'HV w-U ‘.»'|'i, ■>!&!. (ttnnjLi.,
»
* ■ '.I'l ' *1*>'uiu ' "iM •n'' ! I* d o,i» I :..un*'. ,I ' "in 0"«'4
V ’ *1.1 Mil l ! Ml <«I MVi'»1 >i| hdMfif*l<j «i» ipni
152.
so confusing to observer. Only with a good series of
specimens from all 3 islands on the table together in
this variable species could the real position be arrived
at as regards races and their different characteristics
as in the field passing from one island to another the
impression of all 3 being the same is given because habits
and behaviour are so alike and songs are so similar.
Probably the only differences would be the amount of white
in the tails (size of spots and on which feathers). One
gains a slight impression that Uvea birds seem the most
robus having a slightly louder and more robust song possi-
bly heavier (? doubtful) and fatter, Mare race next and
Lifu the weakest song and less robust bird. V/eights of
males adult definitely show such a tendency; females
probably because of fev/ numbers to a less degree. If
Sarasin is correct, evidently the white on tail goes ir-
regularly to weight. On all islands males appeared to
greatly outnumber females and especially so on Uvea. Ob-
server believes this is not a true picture of the sex
ratio and the reason was that females were much sher and
did not approach so closely to boserver and when two birds
are seen which know of observer's presence if the furthest
away is shot it is generally a female. Results of Lifu
bore this out. Also generally speaking, females hunt very
close to the ground in thickets and are more general 1 over-
looked or manage to disappear more rapidly in the denser
undergrowth, only being visible when at too close range
for shooting. Observer believes there is a slight male
preponderance, but not excessive, on all islands, though
on Mare the position is not normal in many areas and any-
thing is possible in such places.
i'i 4 ' II iJil ' fin
. » •rH Mts .rVfiTil ’? t! ?/>•'"< I
' /’ ii»’iiIao<) l*?*i urt# i'l liii! 'l*^*H*v ulij»
? ) -t »•«•'?■< I> -il'uJi Lfim .•!*>* ^•i «f
''<1 * i» |j) i'iin r'nl .;il #.<r ‘ l«T'i ^:lt nl ?•
iJ r»si'/l* 4I ^ n* to nni24A‘iCo }
.*' n I ff9 Iifjl'** •'ll . Jf t V* ‘»(li:»l V| f''t’ bflO
*i Jr*- 1u
7mj
< * n »rt * -1!
vy-Itt
- - ■ I -r
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itO Hii
4
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nAlfcji Vmi I'll Ih i»<i . '' ’t
. >t| ct>, fU ','tl I.f'>' iVk Uw M vl
., < .xtt )!■ vi*n? •>* >' i ‘1 ••li'' <1 ■ •**11#'' n-
.... — #.# *1*1 .< ejjl.iiii#. ' I- "J
.*«i| iP9i !.. . '1 i’ fv;«n ’1 - M
ii? •.•*^'*1 'ict’f II •* " ’ ''<4 a • »')■ 'M '^’1-' ii ’Ifl’ .''’■Mi
..^1 ■ ‘1«> “ .«! .r "f ' 'M .’1 >1 'I Y‘ '
••*../ r't Vl , 'll ' ’ |I
.1 *1 '■^ ^'i'’ **'' '1’' ' ''Ml'*' .- 'j'i **? "’.'I •
-f ,,I M-J. •; "I ' . <;*.*n - ’ini -V)
. . *<*| 1 U' ' t'- (>• ' ' ‘ ( 1 I** inlW vl< ' »’'
,.| ,. ji > *1 n * Tf-vt. J' l\' . nl ' .w'»l* 'n'l
:^1 If' lv» , ) "’ *'>•* , ‘-'11. T
- nn n* 111 f 'v 1 *1 1 M *>*'
. 1^ »1 nf il '-NI I2i«l il I '•'
153.
On Uvea the species is evenly distributed through-
out the tall forest, a pair being found every so many yards
(5O-6O yards) and it feeds at all heights right up to the
underside of the leaf canopy of the taller trees, but mostly
frequents the smaller trees and shrubs of the secondary
sized trees up to 15 and 20 feet. Generally spending most
of its time 10 and 25 feet (or 10 and 20 feet even more
so) up searching along twigs and under leaves for minute
insects. It is inclined especially in forests to be shy
and possibly creates an impression of being rarer than it
actually is. In low forest it is very much more plentiful
and feeds at much lower levels from the ground or close to
it (much) to 15 feet or so. In low scrubs and about old
gardens in secondary growth it is less plentiful and often
rare and feeds at low levels.
It builds the usual Gcrygone nest, appears slightly
larger than Mare Island, being fatter and more rounded, lays
up to 4 eggs (white) and I believe occasionally two birds
lay togehter. Almost invariably selects a dark close leaved
tree to place the nest in, from within a few feet off the
ground up to 15 feet (one old one seen at 20 feet near a
N\'r.iphicus nest in a clump of suckers on trunk of a teak
tree). Breeds from October to January mostly in November
and December. Is of course paras i ted by Chalcites but to
a very limited extent. (in passing, a native told me a tale.
"Often wviaqra vn 1 1 chase Gerygone"- (natives names were
used of course for the birds.) You have seen it? It is
thus because the man {<S ad) sometimes sleeps with the female
and because if It is a female My iagra she is cross
Gerygone
/••'W T it,'
{lo-jVn nt »i/li mnvli :i>»
iWfcv '//nn oe yii'Vs wnW'l *i ,!Jtn~ I f*i ofU >»i«i
riji 0j rju iHt 1*1 f f > »f tun
VJ1a^c^ jjf MiMfcJ e/U 'nAiiita ' >f >•< *i ]i*««Krf^
' ?h'u*iH« <fi<i , 9^>'iJ 'i ltt,.i4 vfij Ufimitc*'!)
)zm ynlViriiDra? . t ri kn* v*l <'•> V »l#
oc»vo ^ I na rtl Ta, i«i^l 'mi-. il i ul ». >
limln -ffll *-"7»*«>l .fcUnu t' »►- -' Iwt I'Mol jmF*! >><-*» m ^ •*
yria * ♦ -jJ rJ^**o1 nl yJI .liic(iw I riHsuI <f fl . ■;. mI
rtHkWJ ifrtS-*'? V) rii>J 'Ihil ‘«'> /( l<! ^
f*z>t>n y*\<«v »l •*T • -<»'F '«• ."’I
OJ ^<ol» l4t t a.;U w-jr»f fF w .’'*•« r *jr»4
Kl>* M**' An y?j| »i' . *1*) ' F li^utx) i I
OftJ^o lrf»« fi»^lttjt«F^ »•• I e? 1\ - il
«v
' it* ,.» ..« ! 'IW- ' n.*.i ;)
■y\ f .F'^Vimut *'!<-' • ■«a1t'‘»1 v'F “*’ ,^‘'I»F «» i >• ri( »t' ^
tJ . «*'J yl F ..K'lJ/.' . '"■o <»v*Hv- I L'lii I* \t.^ ^ •'J *)t*
h*v w r -V ! ■ ,* t }*Mii'/fll .*i iii»V‘*'i T F
1 a) ,. l.t-rh- rtWn ,'il .'mm <*jJi ► ‘ *■ • ••li
9*' ;'U‘’ F I ' n ' 'f ‘>9 • It ^*K>K.v|
.*# : >*■ nUTi' V» jn** ^ ■' ii({» • m.F
'H't.hitvi' '. ('F •nrt't ’ *► ■
M. ■ .-,?l -I -^r V4 't r . -nU" V> al ,n Siw • ’
Hf f K1 5 vJ *nH - n I ' ^*1,
>j 1| »1 ,, ‘ >vrri M 'f .''••->! ' f'V> V*l ' ‘fucr. 1 . '■ -#»
»J : .-fit fill ■ fi i.fOl‘ »'' 'b»\> *» •isu-'v-rfl Jyrb
•^..1. pi ,f]‘ V!ji.,„Ul »* • ' eJ »l Fl -Miu^o.oJ b,i,.
154.
with the seducer of her husband. This we know because
sometimes the female Gei'V'.ion. : gives birtii to a black egg
quite a new theory on parasitism, though they do not doubt
Lai ages virtue evidently though it is parasited by
Cacomant i s but I doubt they know this or often seen Lai ages
nest. The extent it is parasited by Chal ci tes is quite
normal and not like the absolutely abnormally excessive de-
gree to which it suffers on Mare.
PACHYCEPHALA PECTORAL IS LITTAYEI (LAYARD:- One of
the commonest species on Uvea and has spread even to the
farthest island, out on the chain running to the west. It
is plentiful but regularly spaced in all the tall forest
areas, a pair or party every acre or so, except in the
margins where tall forests adjoin garden lands (and in some
cases short forest) or short scrubs, in such places its
numbers are exceedingly high per acre. In tall forests it
feeds up to 30 feet and occasionally higher and spends 90
per cent of its time within 10 or 15 feet off the ground
and the greater part of that within 4 to 10 feet off the
ground. It will actually feed on the ground, often search-
ing in and about the butts and leaves of the birds nest
rock fern for molluscs (small tree molluscs) and insects.
In short, in forest behave exactly the same except that it
feeds at lower levels generally and seldom goes above 15
feet and never above 20 feet. It penetrates out into low
scrubs but does not remain and is generally scarce in
such areas, except at times of waves outwards. To a limited
extent it inhabits the pole-like ti-tree scrubs of the east
'■ * WM'
f»*. A»iU* 4 'll »••'/{■ f • >•!<'< J
# 'u Vi ^rm <>l. I<|'li.'ifli ,H»I h rtflr J ijn/t *
y<J ,■? t\ )I (Iptjijilj !'>*?» <t>f'»|/ jr I
M»« 'e ^Uy fM *1^4 yiiM 1 lod <1 *^4>. CV3T
iil(.'p al jij' fri > .. •! i{ iM^ijr. dl
-oh -.yr>.* .y-i <^lt ncM '• y( ;ult**d» »r? > 'll 'on Vno j
, — ^ fi"t ^rirVlu* *J fh l/t' fi>
IT, ,isf'/‘i > ii'Uli if'tli k'M>. >'.• /ti l^■‘ K* t • *tr/- r:» rfixi- '7
«4t Vj '■, I -ttlp iPfll 'M' ■*! ,|rt Jll-I ,l« • l#I
ion '* 4fftr
M
III
i?4CP yl'i lup-.*
Ju
|ii*>M «*»[(}
-di I'll
Mi
»'>*/•, '1 /• ;*v <1
•I 1 ■< • , . i.TIrt
» ol 1 '*» •
. l\k‘»
«li IV* i 1 1
J
• T tW »pI. -.4ai
Til ♦i*'.- I« fLiMi III ,4<<U"»0>' rlrf fti*-.'Hi‘l
fl - : < *n'^ Ml ? a! . ' I fiTH
>11 Ti« ' Iri Ml • ** *•" ; i*f W ’V< *,»'i
lb ^ j - Jit ' I 'ti. ■ I ii|(» ' 1 • I t »’l 111 >rt»-
-,U 1>*» PM.»f <^ l »*f >' >ild;} i ' *’ 4< ' > -
. •’ i» rVt ,>»«»• ii:* '» ' '•■>'* .'II t - M I'i *1 . iHnv
• • * I ‘ »*il I > • V. »• I Kn- ♦>'>' fH Wi I <1
ttil •■M. U,^jtMM «i wi* ll'fc-?? «**ul?aiit •»«' ''*»»*» '
*1 Mill if T»x» f«v I »■.»!.> ,'f' ••■* '*.,il» . ?a.-n.j'l nl , iil
• I ivoiirt sm% »•" -M -v v^i-of f C
’•I ^i>fiT ■•u-i n ♦>.''1 *>
,n -livaii yff ttui ?? Imr- nl"ii"*i loii iii't ?iid 9 I'l-'*
-l*'Tt ’ ftT ,a'v* '‘ui* J tvivM h) ”11 IJ I •■ ,» ■ri4 d:i»n
' ■.’i.J' • T>“?} * TU'^rldl M >'i'
coast but does not seem to find it a congenial habitat
except along the landward foots of the coral outcrops of
those areas. In such places it probably really belongs
to tall or short forests and only penetrates these lower
scrubs from there returning to the more normal habitat
regularly. It is definitely a forest bird on Uvea only
going out to the more unusual habitat probably because
of its large numbers. Its greatest densit of population
is in a narrow strip in each between the margins of tall
and short forest, closely followed by all areas of short
forest and somewhat further down the scale, though very
regular in number, the tall forests. Odd ones appear in
mangroves fairly frequently and in quite unsuitable
habitat far from natural habitat at rare and wide inter-
vals. It often appears in unnatural habitat close to
natural habitat.
It is a very noisy species calling much, the
usual Pachycephala calls and is capable of a small degree
of mimicry in his softer lower calls. Some days it is
silent or calling very little and other days it simply
makes the forest ring with its calls, at times in areas
of large numbers almost making one's head ache. It loud
call is very loud and can be heard at distances of a
quarter of a mile at times.
Females or sub adult males have a peculiar low
call suggestive of helplessness which is given for long
periods 4 and 5 minutes accompanied with a trembling all
over and wing motions which has an extraordinary effect
on all Pachycephala in the vicinity. The moment the bird
I. jI hrti I if jiwtyj ion i#oi. mm :jfit4iaK
( • 1 !*io3 s&J 10 J «f»7 ) n<;*x*i*
(
?• ttnl'*-' /II ,d*( yJiMdci*»q Ji iioisfq rb»<4 i»l ♦iiftclt
*i »C'l taffH eoioilriwl yffw tm ?^’t>KJ> *»v fl«J ''1
j Jl J .tl l/rnrj/i M Mm »Hi o} j :u*i>«
ylfK* K’VO no >< i? ti'ivi't . J } n I 'I I .ylT/.lu^A">
: ^tk.q»n,' fl te/ »- {•! *1 I ’•Yn#’ ’■ Jl#n rnlo®
i/> ♦I'tf '. *'••11 f f ^'J^l »J) ><■•
lit? ’Icj ’frt.* U«'*'3n*< iH-- «l qli?8 o o1 :t
»•"*(•- If ,• , + ;*n(i1 i*/m
' , ■ I » •»<?> J'» imI ?bHw«W'K. I
nl 1" «i*i;', !«*». ,i»' 'I •! 4l»tJ nl
»f '. luwm* A.ffur> nl 1» l*. */f »*-..» )f» -ml t«*/r->^n»to
-ov I ’ >*•'.» ••‘I'i"' • ill' itl I fnj^n mtjtyl "i»^ '*
'»♦ ' »J< .1. If "* I itw nf not> . I
I t%'tu:i 1 1
<.ttt ,f >t* 1 ■ If '*V I’l y*t»' •' * *1 ’•
n**48 . to ji-i'i 1 ' '»■ ' M*-i' J^* Ji.
<1 if ' , 1 ^ f •♦''iR till it -n-lrU 1'
yl'*.lt it w : f H ) *;i-w . ill! ■« i tirTlf
:. .»T .|| iwitl 'R . M ■»! .I*lw wnt" •- Vit •-'!
tiu.if »| . /* j nt “ Jtt'* I j’lt '^B'Un tj'iHf ' ■
iij ♦♦ Ivin "I fti ? ^ 'iU'>f • <•'/ tl ll'«j
. -It I J I n1 In o r
.. I >,itlO»r . HV .1 4U t .M 'id T' ’* I
.> <1 /I il r‘)l *v n •■ f^t I 1 • ..vU^^'Un M -
ft, • ill ‘‘int IJ ’•■111 H -t 11*1(1'. * l'H<| 'illl'l.q
» *rT ' •.■•.‘(hI* "ti '*-*it'5'> <»■* •' ’ '' l-H/ fiT*‘'li''-T.i ril‘-f *■'0*
•-1 i •» i\i AiiT . 't'-' '?> ■'• '1.—. ■'*
V'
156.
commences it all birds close to it become extremely ex-
cited, father round, and call almost constantly. No
attempts being made to mate with the bird or come closer
than five feet (occasionally 3 feet) and generally most
birds stay in the trees at higher levels than the caller
and within a circle of 20 yards or so. Quickly birds
at greater distances gather and soon anything up to 40
or more birds are in the small area, males generally
predominating, jumping excitedly about, seldom still for
more than a few seconds, and all calling loudly and ex-
citedly, almost deafening an observer. The caller remains
in the one position giving the one call, other birds
often chase each other and apparently savagely fly at
any bird they think they can bully, females being es-
pecially pugnacious. The moment the caller stops, calls
die away and birds begin drifting back to their normal
areas and feeding and calling. The caller carries on
normally as if nothing had taken place. I could see no
meaning to the whole performance, though I several times
sav/ It from start to finish and several times heard it
taking place at some distance avjay.
If no calls are made both sexes are about equally
shy, possibly the male adults being slightly more so than
femal phases, juveniles are generally rather curious and
inclined to come close. if low squeaking calls are made
females and immatures simply flock around one - even perch-
ing on observer if he is very still - the male adults come
fairly close and call excitedly and much, but are very
* I'l'i 1 »<• ■^1* i t} ) f j-nt I »>n { 1 n > "1 1 if •/ffttyr-t/'t *
i . ' if. H .-'. lyr- i**4>*'1
l^xA ' . . I
- •• .I-, rii-*’ TO l-'tlr. rUh/ J‘ 1 t f ^nt'Pt <5
‘ir'*| .'If/rinfiJIi^' h'-tf f ffj»'f ^ yft M f’' I- 1**^ »'Vf? Mlt/}| ■«
•i ll<--.j H' f> i‘ ■ *l«7 I ‘tr/I' i J ■if't :‘il y I’V.'if/
5f, -s’.tM .»'■> TV ‘'J' vUTf''; .» fjhI'F'. 'K«
It Oil trril<:iyrt^ .'jVr, Wtr»» T'.M . -t^j.'I' ri}ii.'tp la ^
yl (nk-t' *1 1 •#► ,1- <■». i i - i ' I u\ ff‘i * ' »"rt.W V* 1
-tu'i oa^Mfk* , > ii )«Ku{ ,>, "I 'n«tr
-•* ^Jh* vMvj«F yjtll'.. FI r HPH * <*t 4t*« ’•I
'■»'• *|4i f ( • ^(tt .1*' it' i.‘'»Fu % ♦*f« ' 't, ,ylU»4|
''-’ll larlit** ,f(‘'. ' ' ' ' <}'^1' #*1 ' F 'irt . III Ti . «!
1 /f: ■'f / - ' rt T m'IIi (iWiil; ■* » .*!..| n> 'ij
■ !t 'I
L j'F-- ' , >(it , ■-, ,'*«+• IrM* y#»-* yrwi "/ij
^ ' f I ,»**'»♦. iFi-' »,♦» "• '«tT .M f niitijVHi .;M
-flntt* j •' »(M ) ‘ I >< *»1 '.*' Jii I ' ■ r' "F^’
' %
nM .JiTi-i tmiM' . *H • I * 7<tF^** "' *»♦» 4v«'m« :?i
Cj
./II ‘ »•* V
„ . }» I •> • I iF • I *' n '.■»^fl ■ Fo/i *iF» (1^? ■
f
}} }•» ♦ -t ■’.»» I'd il Ir-I* t'l 1^ r W*->^ *1 "-•
, ■ .'>ii .- Fi • ».'*-Ft 1 rft '^ *■ I
.f♦#«■*•.• Inn 't- j' ’ t fJ-f* ' '" F F • "''T I
,» i|> I ».'|.J|; »♦+' J nl ..I f ' I l> .. »r. - » “
I .t »!/ Fm4. -i«:i .t ’FF t un- 'T , • rv
•iT -ft 0 iMil '.J' F I .•»’!» ' 'i r.(?l F ml
— ‘I f T1 'V . “ . f)l 1 lim'v'- *>'iF*F ‘F’ * T* * r F ^if>*
to- « V. • FUF: 'I F ir-r r*M ,| ) ynl
./>, .. ,rHV!, hiVi vT' li ivit, Ff T *ol^ yhF-^
much more standoffish than females. Hale adults considei —
ably outnumber females especially if allowance is made for
immatures in female plumage. Generally speaking males hunt
and feed at higher levels than females, the females feed-
ing more in the denser lower scrubs near the ground, seldom
above 8 feet from the ground, thus being less easily seen
and creating an even bigger impression of the lack of fe-
males. A single squeaky call will bring them with a bounce
from all directions within hearing. Both sexes share in
the brooding, though males do little actual sitting on eggs
though they do a little covering of young. Generally speak
ing, males occupy the nest while females are away from it
feeding. Males will often perch right alongside a nest
with young birds in it and utters a low soothing call,
v/hile the female works hard collecting food for the young-
sters. The male does feed young a little, but the bulk of
the feeding is done by the female, the male more often
hopping about in adjacent trees and calling much.
Nest (sample sent) is the usual Pachycephal a nest
generally placed in a clump of vines at the top of a small
tree (secondary growth) 10 or 15 feet from the ground
though often very much lower and even as low as 4 feet.
Generally, a thin 3 or 4 cm. sapling with a bunchy top or
vine entangled, is selected, a tree generally too thin
to support a human climber, though I saw one nest placed
against the trunk of a teak where a clump of sucker growth
occurred. Eggs, two, said to be warm pinkish brown or
chocolate with dark blotches and a distinct zone at the
larger end. Nesting season, odd ones almost all the year
i >f>i» I 1 .aol'Ai'l
T'* ii *>•><. 3I 4JJ/ir Aio J J . 1) y 1 1 •'. I K»<|.*n 5' I ,c«i1 “w# ijqtwi J*»n
}.»U»1 er'Ift^r -Jill ’'-><>4 f •rflp'iHJ . "foiyol nl e'-ov '-n^O
t
O I 31if-'Mll'l rir.rtj afiVdi **■ ti'N
<’3r«^ca'; -•/$# no. H « JtJ*}: j 'I'r-tirtI 1*. wi?’. ♦■O rtJ »}
* i-f^l umI I i.’Ht/ ,SfUJ '•»> -•( i fi'iil J’»' ( f rvi«Jh
•<*1 H' A’^ml :»iii ff» fli^I "If>rl ’ Ml •* y»l< ■ ‘ n
i*^\ i i f (II ■ ( (i*ri ^ /t||iri3i '. . .'ll as
nl / -yt9 Htu- - »nlT' ttir; I j i>«'i M (l^ rtn?Tl
. -iijp® + *I>H( «»(•» ilr I , mI »•(>
I .w 'lUoY T'f ^I'rll * Hi. -r*»rlj 'iffiJoHi
|{ .. -11 ' ■•I'. -1<. »■•.( i..t 4*flil ■ ‘
)»»r« •> !»-}»»*,<(*. (Mj «»f
,((«;> ^ slrftKiU' -«>l ff»- j1 LW»d>if rtJlw
.^Ljipf)4i./ *Tl n.o '■■'»,’! < *»<1M •'.1.^**% *1*1 *lfl^
1'j JifU'.l »• I »rUHif l>K?t '• w’ . fi
lw<' fiir ,<if us'» afi.t »/»'>!• «rl pmI'-v***! •-<>
. ‘ ill tn| l(»,t *'M. oi rt»v»4^ ofil'K'H
t » I, ‘ ^ ( (rt**! *(<■ If*
f» »»a Id ^-'i «:< t r/fy Ji. I' fil'' >0 *tl , ((• i
pl^ f I K’'i^ • {I Cl I (f- ■ '►
I* \>r.| *n n v» T '■* I' '
•V.. t''1 »'3K/ nitl f -t . A . ,'.'n--'‘.nr
iilfl ) noi f 1 1 n M4> >*1 J '■?! .■* ( ■ ♦•■''■ •*!! ''
^^<>^1'. • • 'M »tn»‘ •*»«? I fit'i*./' <yJ
f'.j.p'-. *1* buiJ fu a>(9 a »*i •?(* ‘ «•( *i )•• 'ci'nl J<»>1*4CsA
.i-'ait-J rial '{»lt,‘ »'n • ' * 'i » ' -i 1*^ v
/t 1. » -rMali? 4*rk»:iM| ' ?(■»>.•• •! I-' ilu (I'r-xwfar
't V etCJ n . J’Ki .l'' MiO .miu >fr3 rrrl »*- l, .*(1 n»3f*nii(
158.
round, more than one brood often being reared In a season.
It is rare for it to nest during February-March and April
but odd ones do breed then I believe. The season of most
breeding is from October to December (and very early Janu-
ary a few stragglers may nest, generally having young by
then) .
AOKIBUS STRIATA ATRON ITEMS (SARASIN):-
MINOR (SARAS IN);- Fairly
numerous in places on the island, though not exceedingly
common. Inhabits all areas, or rather visits all areas,
but is not as common in coconuts and sv/amps as elsewhere,
unless some trees are in fruit in such areas. It feeds
much on the figs of the small leaved banyan and other
fruits paw paws etc. and so is common about native gardens
and short forests especially, and almost as common in tall
forests. The old teak trees often killed and left stand-
ing in native cultivations are an added attraction to the
birds as they afford many suitable nesting hollows. Unlike
Mare and Lifu Aplonis the birds on Uvea never use a rotten
broken coconut palm trunk to nest in but nest in hollows in
trees of all kinds but generally a teak or banyan (actually
there are fewer broken coconuts on Uvea than on other is-
lands, palms generally simply lying down entire before the
force of the wind rather than snapping as in most cases
their root system is less plentiful or is in sand and has
no grip.)
Aplonis is a dual feeder, feeding on fruit,
berries, insects and molluscs. It feeds much on the latter
in the forest capturing the large indigenous forest snail
(2" and 3" long) cracking the shell on adjacent stones and
ptj -
. '■ K Vi? ft ' I »|n f irt ''(»'• M< t|j ,i!rii»rn
Ji'i . 'j . ik'» y !•» ' >>J *1 (d
?fKf ;j ari f . tVoI f/iil I N- -‘t * ob Ttaw ^''n> i»n*
iff'. ' v'lf'V Un'i) 'ft'- '.iv; -I' i> il
• «»'t» y(f '*1 « ■ ♦•'ll f n'l'J/-: •Jr'l t Y*U
. t!*4j
7AI 7.- f •<n;vn(fc
'f fx'il ** •- <41^ |r ' ..’ iv^ll. rtl
, »-v n- M • »J 1 1 1 y "» 'll I til , ' II H rl»4 . ‘ J
f- s;*. »f ''14: ij1 0>j ut
i| . . , .,J ,1 Ji4*i' <1 ■»«4 5'* ' M ‘400%
v*rf^*» *Mii- f ll-* • ' 7- 'If "H ' t > '*'
eyi .1 ti'/1 : * 'l’'■»/'■ n»>it <*f ■■ V»o , ' i ' »**i »'••. -.••lo'il
ff- ul «• ' I'flf 1 ' Ml* .!«»
.f *-il f • I U-‘ I rf\* ♦ ' t |o t .
r
Wi . ■ .u-li.. '1*4' ? O'- ♦•*»<> I Mvl I fur- trttfrftfi f»l 'iwl
. tU.'.l I .ll /.• .»• i>|. • fliJti fiMr* • v»^l* V. iKi) •
at • •, ■ » • , i" I ' t'HJ ' •■' ■ ’•■■■•
f.f ,.,(|.H.' ,'J '• M >1»|' /iJ f- ' .1<|I''' 'll^ IWI»l-IJl *> '•'
t'M O -' .1 ’ i I ' r HI'! #vfiu If 1' « *1^
- ;1 .'■»• »0 ’!<’ f> •..* ^<N'/lt H" I • * |i' ^*1 f
,1.. f*-v! , jvl ^Uft-ili yll*.' M!»j
.1 J M il <l) ’. ll ‘ 1'»II lo.flf’l ' lt ' *?h 1rt «'•»»'!
U«i f il ) til -'i 1"’! 1 ' ’
1 T V
1 ^1 ■'I'**'!
.t>I'»i- III.
, »|.n i t(^| 1 ‘ *
' r Mf.
.(•l , . • 1 '* !,'i I 1 .
ull
1. 1 |*»l' U 1 * I'tl « '
1 ■- I't’ft 5 Hi »V f P ill
1 irV
.'liij'w, c !?" ni »i’> fil
K„* . , 1 . 1 u. N"|l« . ili v'1>
eating the animal in large chunks. This food and habit
being common to all the Loyalty Aplonis. and forming a
not inconsiderable percentage of their food.
Both sexes are easily lured by squeaking calls
as long as observer remains unobserved, but quickly take
fright on seeing humans. The species suffers some perse-
cution by natives for food, youths usually setting noose
snare for it at a ripe partly eaten paw paw.
Nests from September to December and January and
odd few may nest outside those months. Nests in hollows
and cavities, eggs 2 to 4. (Light blue? native hearsay
only) .
LICHMERA INCANA INCANA (LATHAM):- One of the
commonest species on the island. Anywhere where coconut
palms are its numbers per acre are enormously high. An
exceedingly active pugnacious species, identical in habits
with birds of this species in New Hebrides and other
Loyalty Islands. It feeds on nectar and small insects,
often pursuing a small moth or butterfly or v;inged insect
on the wing and capturing it. It feeds much of nectar
attracted insects with the nectar but entirely non nectar
insects form a large part of its diet. It must do an
enormous amount of good to agriculture in keeping insect
pests in check on coconuts. It also frequents the margins
of forests and scrub lands for a short distance in, but
never very far into such habitats. Mangroves are also a
fabourite habitat and numbers in such habitat are very
high. It will feed across swamps, but not if these have
no coconuts about them. A true and regular guide for its
V
t} -ir' i .irj hfi: ' I ol f nJif -iHJ jiU .g
• ftIn'jo'T •' ft ' I 'i.J fi;*; -'Ur- Ml; 11/ 'li
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V <*’’ H - M 'H i , .*'^*.'•1 • Mh' J| . '
*,H 111 ■■ rfiiJT ' •>.■• 'in
I
160.
distribution except in tidal mangrove areas is the coconut,
if coconuts are present in any type of habitat Li chmera will
almost certainly be present.
some birds rearing as many as 3 broods, most year 2 broods,
one about July or August and one about December. Nest is a
cup-shaped nest of bark and fibres placed invariably in a
close dark leaved tree at varying heights from 6-8 feet up
to 20 feet, but generally about 6 to 10 feet from the ground,
very rarely lower and seldom above 12 feet and very rarely
above 15 feet. Generally the site of the nest is close to
the outer leaf canopy (amongst the small twigs) but v/here
a cleft or indentation appears in the outer contour of the
foliage and thus often well in towards the centre of the
tree thus
PLAN: BIRDS EYEVIEV; OF TflEE SECTION AT 10 FT. ABOVE GROUND.
On the other hand, if the nest is not well in towards the
trunk of the tree it will be seen that immediately above it
an outwards bulge in the vegetation forms a ledge or cover
of some sort. Birds often leave and approach the nest via
the centre of the tree and the opposite side of the tree.
Nest is well hidden and inconspicuous and considerable
camouflage is used to conceal it, it being noticeable bark
and fibres blending with the surrounding twigs almost invari-
ably being used. Eggs 2 White with reddish spots and a
tendency to and often distinct zone at the larger end. Red
This species nests more or less all the year round.
(5^ -i
(%. c (y. s
• J 4-, " I 'll /H 1 'h/''! 1 I * J «
• I
1 1 r ■ •■ f I t '1 1 I ' o-fi yiff, ni 'i •<h tl
. irt V'-n- '»■' Ml* t#4
, fcnu' ‘*J ”1 ■ '* ' ?•>■> il' i.’.ffil *i<? •-» I 3i<-^
' Toy* t^i«i > f t* if^U4* 9‘> tiH*. «' '»] '*' #
•. *I 73 • .• • ‘ rut ‘ i> iwf ,k»\ '*• ^'Im'/
• ■ I /(■ I* iv*il W -'I*' •e<n«<l'r ' . Tt ♦»•»! >*niv ■ i-4 Ui
•■fl I /TuV >■ *«»•«- f ' •I 1
,KiUi - iM M/»n1 ►•-•‘'’f Ol f t»J ,<■■••‘1 '■ 4 '1
pw Ufji, .1 'K,ib(-»r ' •!- irff 'v'ir'i 'rf^f
f
■r - • I .J ,1.1 *;t ,f{,; “I '
V /'nJ -T^I :I4*. </’ I ;r fi rv ' f' -in ' . 'n *• •'.rif
r<] . >ifc; (rv,. n*i * I o ■'■•fin •■
t* ■ tl' fi' il !!>'•/ *tit' t ''ft*' • 1 '
# ‘I* 3 .
tff-X
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n dl
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•
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spots generally not plentiful except about zone if one is
present. Incubation about 8 to 1 1 days I believe.
(SEE ALSO NOTES SPEC. SPECIES AND ZONES BIRDLIFE.)
/■1AYR QUESTION: Habitat. Forest (?)
ANSWER : Only margins unless coconuts are
present when it will be found in them and forest close about.
An almost invariable rule.
Food “Insects and nectar (?). Both in about a
60-40 per cent ratio on Uvea. Nectar is invariably vomited
on shooting and can only be traced in the stomach by tasting
with the tongue, though large drops of it often come out on
feathers. If shot against the sun a glint of light may be
seen on the shower of drops and sometimes even a jet of
nectar as it is vomited at the second of shot impact. I have
seen birds often vomit when suddenly frightened either by
being suddenly attacked by another L ichme ra or by a hawk
passing overhead or by the sudden impact of an arrow or
stone alongside it. I once had a spot of this fall on my
hand and several times on my face or clothes, and on tasting
it was definitely nectar. (Once it was not nectar, but I
didn't tast it that time as it was easily classified). Doubt-
less insects attracted to the nectar and in it are also eaten,
but as stated, the species eats numberless other kinds of
insects providing they are small, evidently because of the
tiny stomach the species has. I am not sure whether it is
an insect eater which has turned to nectar eating, or a nectar
eater turned to insect eating, but think it is the latter.
Probably another case of “hurricane area" bird economics.
Hurricanes destroy all the flov/ers and vegetation which does
*i ^.*<1 *H :iin Uin ’ > IvHiM (r; (on .»f | ' "tfifr,
. /*■ 1 I 'I 37*i^ n II? hui'<*i A* 1 J» II: 1
. j'lijfA ?;;irv u-|f. ,:i' ii ?.; .;i c
c^'
'ti? -iutK --0 ga''ln> aiTTitTf^i 7^»ii
.iuv a >i»«not Vm /n r* ? nl S/ioe?1f /»*| Hi <1 i»-f?i
,*(u*t ^ ('-‘•-l'Ve-v;»i iii mi ' rV'
s ;uo«k nl <1m.- .( . l b ■• - itnf
/ 'Nr ! fl •; .^ji*vlJ /y> oi ?ri Sn ■ C-*‘-*0‘
«
' * *sr* I fli V»n*'»*i 1 ii '■ b<vi r*nH<v^# lui
7 lii w(0 ?l lo uPtnb r^*» i lit u<ifi5 ,fr*?jjaoi smI:? i.jI*
u#../ r»i- 1 1 T' full ' fw ’Uja **rfr I iil*tt-' )vW« , ' *fi'
'•k-i »»[ r a">yi' :»»f>ill£ ■*<>? \in6 **■*.<'>' • n'i i»i-j
•Vfd • *■ fr.iT !?©»•* Yo Wf|OC>t^> I** b* I"M* il *i Bfc Tf t •<»
Y' I 'll >l«w^tv «eJ^o el**i I I rv*i*t
,' I'. Y'> '■*•
1
^.- ‘ . «)»-
*W WO'i't* t]t
!«n IJfeJiPl • >bbi;e •
*<4J
«*il TJi b«i»'f4 1 "W
im ii'> n . I «Jfi
•1 f--.P,U m b'i'4 »
iftC
1 .^1 jii/ljvnnU •itufjf
• i i ."t iKi V'*» «
Iftju< ihrT Yf«
iTv
• ••III f ^ Urw L/1' ^4
4 »i**’ ,*ii***.ii
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Ml
“ * )U' . ■ K* H J ’ - - i
vH j • t 1
. 1 ; »*Mft .i| |«! 1 1’ li r
,. o 'I
nt i'iV '1 ‘j ! 1 ■ ' i' ’
»
iia »'jtT 1 • < !.>'•• 'ill ‘ 1
1 ^ 4l -.1 ' 'uir’ rv
lac H. ■'’'•♦ii ii;?’
‘ i
V.. 'rt't ,>.• • «•'
Yu ‘ti '
I'liibJ V’ >11 I'ii
■|^t
;i 1*1 , til' tvo iq • ' I
1 • I ■■ 1 ' h-.(i * •<'
TUi fill ' '
i M . ) f| 1 Y'‘! ‘
»t. taor ,.ni? '
•(.. "l !fl I.I ' '1>f >
li |I, f I v' u > •
.1 ':“.,( '»i:l <i
l! riohl? »»».' ,j }(Ht,
1 1 ,1 1 1 '.• unyJ ' '•
. > -i. I -
• ,.T-| 1 ilT.Ulf
v<?“' n ‘I'l.t'Mi.* yt‘> 'o*»'i
,» ,V i • ..l-.Mii IV b| ‘iM I Tn Y'»*»iJ''’ «**»'■ •
t
162.
not appear again for months, thus destroying natural food
for nectar eaters. Insect life after a hurricane increases
enormously, an ideal breeding ground for them having been
formed in the masses of rain soaked leaves and vegetation
rotting on the ground. Nectar eaters, being starved and
not entire unused to small insects eaten along with nectar,
should not find great difficulty In turning to an entirely
insect diet and be able to exist on such till flowers re-
turned, when it would probably not entirely lose its habit
of insect eating. Coconuts flower regularly every 3 or 4
weeks, a more or less regular continuous cycle, continuing
unless a hurricane damages them, when flower may not appear
for months. As populations in coconuts have increased, the
birds have turned more from nectar to insects till the
present ratio of 60 per cent insects and 40 per cent nectar
is the rule. Naturally when vomiting on shooting (Myzomel a
also does this) insects also may be carried out of the
stomach and In collected specimens' stomachs appear more or
less empty, though if tasted reveal nectar, which if put on
the tickets might lead to the impression that nectar was in
almost all stomachs and insects in only a few. This v/ould
be wrong as eye observation of the birds feeding shows defi-
nitely that insects form the major part of their food. On
the other hand, unless tasted the stomach residue would give
an impression that insects only formed their sole diet, quite
a wrong impression again v/hich is disapproved by eye witness
of bird chasing small moths dislodged from the bark of trees
and fluttering and turning in the air for half a minute or
more sometimes to make a capture. Their clumsy efforts at
V/Ol -llJJAfl J^Ull .'♦.'iJv'' witi ,9!t‘Jnrj4tl ‘in^ nf>gn iOfV
-I -nf ..n..-ii-^’iO)l ft -thi'f ' 1 I .2- lr4> loi
li : nf^fit *»iy> Kflfjmji If ^ I fK» ,it nnfn‘ion0
iir.l ,9V S/v. ^jrvo'vl ho4->o^ ftliJT f oiti hanrriM^
Ki H; v'mHj fjni*' ! Tfj.v' i ,hntK»*rft #>#H no
fhl.t < fiJ i'- '9 &3’»ft^fil MfWk'4 of tT2-,funu rril uu j on
\'i ."illfW tui rt ifnln'UJ) 'll /'. fr.gfM’ ftnn ion ' luofl'J
*irv (<»(■> |(H fli>U4 no J » i I > •’I • -f' !>fl6 i^H?
till ill •'•tf .‘f I* Mkn’i Slinf^T' il ,t*t-iuj
t> ( yn**vv i^It*>Iui'91i in
|,nTJm1 t'i '=* ,'►1 HM'Mtil y I'nn itltio^n ^»*^l ‘jv .infifN •> ,t<t>rvt
»< i( 'ft^n ,IIi> -J(i f . ft J■'l^^Ult A
•♦rf* ^ nl >v»mI n.T.ftH '«6> rtl #r1t‘ I "irt I ci^' .aiflnciia *io1
•fit nil i'l"' ■'. i*H‘J #kTld
t Ht* : t*wi i:»> '..K ioto ?' 1o -•i »**T >fln*«nA
tnf !«’»?' ri« i«il »Inoy ylfanuis-t^ . e-r^f »f
luo* ■ !•. y nil o«l : /• i“4Mi all'll I '»4. t>tl*
<f0 mfwi ■’■-*• •' * All).' j ' ii "ffiJ I •'>9f l».'> f 1 rtootit^t. it
19? tiiA -I '•• ,-»»it *'<i I'MMt-i n I'lcv'i/J ^a- I
r»l »rv' Y’-tvan .f .I’l i«<1 ? f*'lt'|!il s»i)l •'t Ji\ l*i •ft.i
iMV . "■' vl :<> fil sJiAff't >M»* <1*
-I'l b »-.«Kla '1 >lnl - »rll 1o '<»H v* v^o t>. unon.^ -d
' .’ •■ li f'fld -nc^ t’ tfil F .d) ylsiln
ill 1 lu<<< tU' ’‘il ud ’i»liii» tMio jfH
•l^v Tl'fh ’<'V-Tu1 yl I.' It. rr,T F. •' .=>l..‘ •'•>1,^11 m
m. >1 .7 . .* • I i.V iiqb-in* ?l inifl.1 nl i,i. r-%Ul.'*iC|l'l 'I'PT' ®
•T 1 .,, - -v > iH fn.ril ' •.[ ^fll ilS t Mm. I '• •il'* >1
T., nrti.. . 11 (rt *>• I (inr'nw W* "nH d'yn Vnt
W f.Vjvi'l'. • '"• ;ul- *!! ‘tri‘ .''•|-''»«1<' ■ W'l "> '*1"^
such times point plainly to their not being natural feeders
of this sort and their often ungainly antics show in vivid
contrast to the ease with v/hich Rh i p i dura or f iv iagra would
make the same capture. It is not uncommon to see them feed-
ing thus, in fact almost every day several instances of it
may be seen (though often the insect is invisible to observer
unless a moth or some such) and some days hundreds of times,
if one understands what is happening, may be seen and the
persistence of the species in making a capture in spite of
many misses is amazing. The species can hover or dart
quickly in a straight line, but an erratic insect ties it
up and the beak is most unsuitable for capturing insects
thus. Very seldom are large insects tackled, even if
stationary, the minute stomach probably being unable to
accommodate such, and the bird consequently spends most of
the day feeding. Even so, comparatively it must eat a much
small total weight of food per day in relation to its body
weight than most species of birds, the concentrated food
value and energy contained in nectar making up the balance
lacking in the weight and body ratio.
MYZOMELA CARD INAL IS LIFUENSIS (LAYARD) ; - One of
the commonest species on the island in its normal habitat
i.e., tall forest and short forest, about the margins of
natives' gardens and in low scrubs if coconuts are not close
about. This species has been and still is being driven
away from coconut areas by Lichmera. Under some strong im-
pulse it visits such areas at times, but leads a terrible
life, being constantly chased and harried by Lichmera. till
it soon returns to forest areas. It subjects Lichmera to
I 1 ;.jt' I ion TiwfU ^'1 yMI Jo I'll'' ^ ih
'•'Ivlv ..J 'kfii' vl ■ > hii'. j'to^ gti)i
/ 'Ki pn- Is 01m H I ;
ffi‘fti ' if >'i rf'rv « i'JU li 11 . .*[11 li'.'v. ■ imiiv #f! I
H c*>?fir/’ml I:. riv*>? fjyt prv * ^ nt , euiH v it
tt» oi nfltl*! ••1 2t J »?fil .'> nt't^ii ,Ki/tPt‘* -I? V'i;<
,» *1 ♦ B '«!. f»K>B fcNU 'f; jr^»- •>»! 4
*-ff» 1 'nt: '^'rjn **r.H si i il ?' i' Ifj^'uO t'/W
/t f 'M» ' ' I f 1 i l^ I < i t 1 ' ifK ) « 1 .
•*f* If Hit,! ■>']'»• ’H? . ■ '*] ■ ■•'■*> »l
il >*-i t f.-«?<*l 'I ' m ill"' fftpl •i»« i»f i^f+r-huk
ar‘lt»-*-.*l *n#l*u)i»|f -■ •trVj t II- • ' » ■ rl «♦ * '^’i» »M
vW^’ ni A *• IflO 1 H (r 1-*»* fl ic
’■•iVi 1*» i T t»K- (■.'.t -lit .sAtT'i tr,
I • -(<• M' <.*rtl tvM ♦ -it il >^*8
.; ■ 'Vj T ■I't-.f ••( . ' ^ t ■ 1 ■' ■' . ■'
■ f 'if. 4 .<,' *. aitf » twil'f •4'» ,-'<Ti->I"
•>--’ »*I ■^■'‘L':■5l»«fv*'^ 1 -‘-i (I ft i»4i»<wi
f
itv' ^ MiM 1 yl»tvl .1 '.*» ,»'* I'*! '- . ■ i' ^'i-}
n( IU-( l |> . )<|^ nl (*-*l ‘ • f
'' ?TU • - tl 6' ’ 1 1 tit ! 1>»<' 'T: • ' ' '>[<”( J I jl . ■ "41
similar treatment when L 1 chmera comes into its habitat or
near its nest. It is a most pugnatious species and will
chase any sized bird from the vicinity of its nest.
It feeds mostly in the upper leaf canopy, though
it visits lov;er levels to an enormous extent also. Males
generally feed higher than females or immatures, the two
latter generally feeding at levels up to 15 and 20 feet,
though femaleadults go much higher and also feed a great
deal in the upper leaf canopy. In lower scrubs of course
the general height of all is proportionately reduced, but
ratios remain about the same as regards levels of feeding.
Male adults outnumber female adults by about 3 or 4 to one
only, and immature males number about 2 to 1 of female
adults but probably equal female juveniles. Female juve-
niles breed exceedingly early before complete skull ossi-
fication has taien place Male immatures do not, being driven
off by male adults. All sexes and ages may easily be called
even from the greatest heights or distances by squeaking
calls, some becoming very excited and even making darts at
observer if calls are continued, though immediately ignoring
observer and becoming normal and resuming feeding if calls
are discontinued.
Nests during the greater part of the year, the
majority breeding about November to January. More than one
brood a year is common. Nest a neat small cup of fine roots
and fibres placed in a small fork in a clump of leaves, or
amongst suckers on the side of a tree at varying heights
from 10 feet to the upper leaf canopy and often actually in
the canopy if such is 25 feet only from the ground. Eggs 2
V
. J I ;^ii} j.-h j i J. I ^li ‘i.ithlS
I,'] > ’• .■ ■ i l«(/r <0 >3rn /. . ■> 5»l -p rif
. .'.1 i} if^ilV «flt t<irn T 1 'i«r* ojMirl-
- - ’l?r. *3r>Cliqti 7111.1 I'l M ■' 7l
? f . «»!(. >r> ‘p >' '1 '- f »^j?lv 11
• f ‘ , r "K *4«tl
»• n ’•' VI 1 <1^ * yf ir.rJel
'• ), t, T 'ii/Ji «• >*11 1/' f' if ■'•■•«»> rfti'Oitl
^•■> ?•'*•%»« .»•<! 4( . fj* ■ iflJ *•‘1 (x»fc
‘ ' ■> .'fS' •! If I*'' ‘ -f ’< I#'.’ »•'» - ^Ai
.L-ftl', 'l *'* >1- V<»l *,1* ■*.< ' ' tt^ i Ml « rtl.'rt***!,
r.. „• • V y' flno* V* M (*.’.■ tl4i|l’'
, ...4 ( »i# . lArinifn '.•.!/» »n| ' . •
I
— ^ . «• II ( • ' >i I ' ' «1|4/a
-?- e Hu.'fc •'♦tf ■•' >•■) .» ,* I •« > • 1 .fc i
• * '• tt* # 1 'I 'I 't*i > ft.*' 7'ink H
b*lr >- yM- -- *-«i aik*- '■ H ,_.»f •• * •• ■
,, a1,-. uj^i '.j '< Pk>.u-i^ rt t# I" •- - . ^
1 tT’rt* MiW* -I N Vii ^ 'ic />>■'. li ,rll <*
f.li'-M.I yI^J- 1‘ ■• »'l n.p6f!.> ,t. tMlifi - „• fll . “H
n *v V'.i’* l»frMYl -W' '-.rr tcVnKsdn
II , I «*t •
(*•■, ■ ,'. -.11
1 , TT 1,
^ i.' ‘ t i#4ini.tf
.t-3 :
IV- M>. 1 '*1^ ' . '1 ’
•' ' ’ ’1
'■ .1 U*i 1
Ip ■ 'itJ { hu{ yw
y '!** ’ f f
• r
#I nrif \* o 1 K>n 1
)• ,n iVr^'.f f t »y>l ' .
» Ml '<
1 !.<>■'• * 111 1'
^V’^^. .-l ;'»] '7 Y
I4lt‘> 1 • '1
: 1 ; ill lY
ins'jiii Iff^nowi
yi ,jT ' > 1 "
1 - -(YIM
i f cl '101^
'l l yl
Ilf 7l 7<^*irl. ‘ iliti
i
v^hite, may lay more occasionally, but that is open to doubt
and is not usual .
Food : - Nectar and insects in a 60 per cent nectar
40 per cent insect ratio, just the reverse to Lichmera. Vomits
nectar on shooting. Appears very similar to all other
Myzomel a known to observer in habits, escept that it is more
silent than usual, though its song (male only) is pretty but
rather weaker than usual; and that the sex ratio is very much
nearer normal than usual in this race and the ratio of im-
matures (of both sexes) to adults is extremely high.
Mare Island is said by natives to have had as
plentiful a population of Myzomel a as Uvea before importation
of the crow, and if so the crow must have killed Myzomel a in
hundreds of thousands on Mare. Possibly Myzomel a ' s pugnacity
was its downfall on Mare. On Uvea Hal cyon will not face its
attacks.
MAYR Q.UESTI ON: - Why is it absent on Uvea and Mare (
ANSV/ER: - KNUTZ (see above) lack of observation of
Saras in as it has always been plentiful on Uvea and was on
Mare Island up till about 1924 or 1925. Mr. Rordorf of that
island (resident there from 1919) noting its gradual decrease
till then and its terrifically accelerated one since then.
(1939, Jan. 1) A recent letter from Mr. R. reports a very
small increase in the last year, but says it is very slight.)
ZOSTEROPS LATERAL IS NIGRESCENS:- A common species
on the island but rather nomadic, appearing very plentiful in
an area for a time then being almost absent and later appear-
ing again. On first arriving on Uvea, I first thought the
- i(r». a ' - f JO '^1
. I to«u lovi 2 1 Wna
' >tkilO I?**) tii !‘fl . 1/ J
frjj.ip/ VJ ** *•*? 'i4Mt • ■> ^
nffi/3 fi . Oi Tt.fJnls ^*.7 «*>•-. . ,ilj</'jrtl <ia
•-ioi; iJ Jl I'V/lj i»v::*iS ' livH oi ■\~'V'Hte.4\ >1
•'»
j«Mf /iS«r4<| el I^i) pri*. ' <: ) I ikjpniii , i ii«M rri/i ^nalli
,^ur» -<wv ?I .-»i i*4?l I'' : I u,«« ir-ili *w»4 ,r '
-»ii ra »1 i.‘.*i i*<4J Hni #I.H (»1 I m»^u r»i rH l•■4^•|uo
firf /I t W(1 >••■ si fi (^9r»» /i fo*4 ^j)
mo. W»if »>/ud ttt i 'It^'l Y*/ *1 •* .'I ’'•n' III ir**-!|»
fl» 1 •- <*. JjiJJitfS «T jBllH'lOC, . Iu>1 J?1->|<}
1 • I - » i>* in 4 leuie jenta <u I i- > , *o> i^fO o
vJp.iipur i l»il?*u' nr* JtKok. nior*^ In e“«rv‘‘
• ■I #, .'■) III** .'ja’£:L-^ ^ fl .KW r;l , .
. ■*' -njjft.
^ ,
* »'w:i Jn: ti* jt vfiy - : W
1- n.»l ' -ueA- >’ • -t-e) VltJH<
»3 < •. h.i. • • -» ' IirJjJrr.lq «inl ll M of 1
’ »;♦ V. tT'»lnr.v . .*'^.1 10 ’ItfKJa I Ml CjU «n*>^
' . r4i f luT'it'Y* »>l ishoti ! I f enurf? ^| 1 lr-04!al
. b .1 *!•" > yfl'-t-M Wta' aJi *-n'. n*»l* Mil
■n*/ ‘ j ■•' . ’•yffimt »n» '11*1 A (! ,fv*t ,i 11 0
II? ;n 'V 1 M lyi:* -ni ,‘u- • ' I arU nl ;nl II* >«
-1 .1' -.T'lo ■ ' i M J
•I I't'i: , Id VIS'- fd*),'' '.'•fi , 'P' ft "1 t ^tltl ’*1 f'lt vH-' »♦»
-*, ->1 F i»(v. •in';'*',' .Mil't' n 'I’l --‘M '' '• '1
•'li n‘, M 'tP I ,n5»vU i! . 'I vt*i*i ■ 'tril'!’ 'P -'ij U'- 5'’^
#
1.
species rather rare then it became very plentiful. Even so
it is not as plentiful as usual for Zos terops f 1 avi f rons ,
though it is possibly more plentiful than usual for
Zosterops lateral i s when such are inhabiting an island with
Zos terops f 1 av i f rons . This is the only Zosterops on Uvea
and natives know of no accidental appearances of any
Zosterops flavifrons at any time. It is found in all types
of habitat though rare in slat pans, only visiting them
rarely. This bird has spread to Beaupre Island and all the
islands of the west chain, and is probably the most plenti-
ful bird of those areas, though it has adopted somewhat
different food habits in those areas to v/hat it has on the
mainland of Uvea. It feeds much on fruit, berries of Lantana
being a favourite fruit, also pavj paws and the small red, and
red and yellow figs of the small leaved banyans. Many other
fruits and berries and seeds are eaten and many insects, the
ratio varying much during the year, but probably being some-
where about 55 per cent insects 45 per cent fruit, though at
certain times and places this would vary to as much as 10 per
cent insects and 90 per cent fruit, and at times of hurricanes
possibly reaches 100 per cent insects. If fruits are avail-
able I believe it very likely the bird would maintain about
a 70 per cent fruit 30 per cent insect ratio in its diet.
Feeds at all levels with a leaning towards lov/er levels.
The race shows great individual variation in the
amount of colour on the flanks and this is no indication of
age, purely one of moult and abrasion, fresh specimens show-
ing more but the bioom quickly wears or fades off. Juveniles
outnumber adults to an enormous degree, 1 adult to 9 juve-
niles being about the average. The species raises 2 broods
r <
'‘t*V •Kiiayiif!- •' i fM»li r ‘Ml ‘1 flio'i
\ S‘. JT '\ l'^u■dl^ a-. ro/i «1 ?)
H T (,..iiei» n-.i't Iu'II^f»4f<| s»‘iriw * xf if r’r^un/j|7
,’-*i ■ .1 I I -I » ,mI/J o-n. rt3i>« I r. .?
4 -VM rwt yI.io t.ili af Sfif/i 4'v^^lyiit
*,i If'. nl ^l ?1 .'int/ 'tvH >'> 1 1 /'ll ktfic'ry.i »?‘t^
-< ' yojjl’fv ff.tr) ,9nt‘*i }r) ' <»1 ♦'j’St itikJfdAil
I f . ■'• ;iE» ’• ,•'■ f*{ “iT-inut ^f{ ■y t '«tin*tcta bi 1 ‘■^ fliM
9<U yf ■ .1 i »tt» ,nThJb J»j"w h> 4t#j) f«f
•»*»ii-v »- 4 1 1 it'-ii -i /'»’ "V UtI t lo^
«■!.* » f :ri ll fji rfti rtl iMo»/r t . I*
lU -,t. y^*lTi=#d 4>l»n> iio f+-»iw> r* ' I . •- t* ! > fnl
• ., II ,>.» m4*.i K,(„ Aft* •♦JMK'V'''' ■
■ #, i'\ >' • i .' ■ 1* • ' »l II . ' ..■ oH in t I I t»'» • 'lO
♦ a/* , ; yr-^t ♦» * i ■ *•» . *’•■ « I V»- ' Wu* 1
• | .. • .»■ > ■.»>»>- ' ■' tt-'t'y.ll 'Irfo ‘t-r*' ’ It#*. d»
.,1 .* t , • -• • y'lu'"' I IK I #%'< lit h<‘'_ 99^} J
y.<* ,rt rfc.?*‘ ♦# ' ',ii , ' l*»t^ I I ’. '4MP Ifni' A*
fftMl'tf'7 ' hn * '*i!i ft\f I n n*' -' i1 ‘'V*IW*<i I flilw
, • >il rif nl • I > .1 if tu* ' T'*, '■ iftn'^ i.i'o 0^ •
.•f V I V >1 tf* 1 ■" ’ f II ^ tl - v/lf III* »*
»♦!' • I -Ml / It'V 1/uVi|vI' /i1 v.*wtJ oj- 1 ♦ilT
’(.. .ivli tUwiI ii *1 ilt^l ' t. ^.*'1. ll i-/'t iTfi nM'*lcr to
I ' ' fli nt ,ni..|-<Kn,h ' Mi'-if' fi'tt ' yl niiq *
SjII.U^VII'. .'It*' '».1 n«U*# *fl. ’l l »KJmI • fl.l luO f-IStl r><)
’If lo r.o I (>4* Ll'jO' cro Vti ■ \m ! i#'/llno l-rta
■'f' ;* i»i» I «► ? filiu'* ll I Ti
, ,>nnl ll 1r«) ITl *«(♦>«< t <lyl t'-<3
- \*)*( #-
iIm* . I , i'» i»n j*»* H ' '1 Tovffii'n'iij
I • |l '’.It ■ *HT . •! I ' • >fl‘ **ll‘l
167.
a year normally and many raise 3 or more broods. Breeding
continues throughout the year though to a less extent during
February, March, April. May and June show a fair number
breeding and January slightly more. The last six months of
the year being the main breeding season with the peak
during Novembei — December probably.
The species suffers somewhat from natural enemies,
snakes, hawks, etc., and from cyclones. Another persecution
it suffers is from natives who hunt it with flaring coconut
torches at night. It roosts much in low shrubs and bushes,
and one native goes on one side of the bush v;ith a torch and
dazzles the bird while another passing behind the bush sees
the bird outlined and catches it by hand. Men, women and
children all do this. V/omen to a fair degree, but the
smartest catchers and most frequent hunters are youths of
14 or 15. All natives relish a feed of these and consider
a nice fat Zosterops a toothsome morsel. Fortunately, the
increased capacity of the species protects it from serious
depletion.
A1 1 hab its are similar to Zosterops 1 ateral i s else-
where except that here It inhabits forest and dense scrubs to
a larger degree and shows no definite preference for more
open types of country. Nesting habits are usual, nests in
many places, low bushes, etc. generally below 12 feet.
Eggs 2-4, pale blue, incubation, 8-9 days. Usual Zosterops
nest.
NOTES ON SPECIES NOT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED FROM THE
LOYALTY ISLANDS.
CIRCUS APPROX I MANS V/OLFI (GURNEY):- None were
collected on Uvea though several were seen. It is not a
^ . J’ <yt^i ' nt‘) .'I •}!>>. i»ri« yff rfiwt
f. J Z..< i ‘j njr, rl: 'Ituf.* MMjRtplJM’Ml) $*Urtfifir*i
•»' -run if *1 ti yjoi'l ■ v-HjU '■'iV iA/< . I l'<n . jfon i. , i(<i|
‘l.t ifh'j., i.: ij» / ■ <1 nT-iyfi^.l, t>«-
!► • ri. :‘/l ; i*n>.' ; j <iii *•, nl yi wH-J , *» .■•V t^fU
, ■• 5 ‘ '/ tif* f wiTi'i'y j' t<4 #'!«■*• *w<* r*
«W1a • .Ti-i;. ■». <t , q*.rjr |-*' . ►»!* t -
'»• f * H ? inr' *nh<> * ji.'iV ■#) jvf’M I
, , !»r1 'wj. I ii] r^. * * . frt' Iji f*- flu ’. 3
>4 r . -, rt ■ rfll i »«j t*’ l ^nu >i» MOj* v| f .» s,iu hn*
' -mI*.. c; •Ih'^ ^‘1^- ^ ' A
Wi# iT«* ,l i’ y ■’I f‘ • rtll/(i » I )i4t
* .'i nti ^ri •, J J A • ; . l O ' tK
f >■»,■. -i* • t*. •■*• •«y>v -’I’ t
• *•■.} 1 \ !■ ft i »' I V vt 1 * •' 4
».•'■' ,v( .f-’’ . . il t • ij n. . i^4f Tj 1 »'l • «
<1* I » « ♦! ?'iy »=• iifij V) Willi:!! jJI
/J L. ' /-M* I'.vo I r I'tnufc
,1 » l« 4|.
- *iii, i4. I .<1 >4, f 1 Mf I ■ t» t r.!« -* I f*i
li • ;rt; * 't't Ml f .> .l I - ^ ■ :'cj
7P*(i; ' *}•• ‘>1' -> '•'it' if ■' ‘I* n*r { •
• n't - jt I 1 .il ^ fll <
lyi iWi' '>
• ‘it ,#*• ■•I'- -'n^
J »*il' I 'M I*
^*'*^^1*1 I-”'* • '*
'* : ,1> I ' '■' 'll I 't ' • I
w. « .* I , I V I
I - [ to>
very common bird on the island and when seen Is generally
flying very high, soaring. I doubt it breeds on the island,
though odd pairs might. It appears to obtain most of its
food on Uvea from amongst the flocks of migrant waders
(Pluvial is. etc.) which frequent the mud flats in the tidal
lagoon arms In north and south of the island. Very rarely
does it attack domestic chickens. I never was within gun
shot of one and only saw about a dozen on Uvea and many of
these were probably repeat sight records of the same birds.
Definitely it does not favour the island as a habitat.
FALCO PEPvEGRINUS ERNST I (SHARPE):- None collected
on Uvea though it is fairly common and breeds about the
cliffs of the abrupt coral outcrops in the east of the is-
land. (One was collected on Beaupre Island). It does not
seem to feed to any extent on land birds on Uvea, but attacks
ducks (Anas) large waders including Demlgretta and all species
of sea birds. It is common about the islands of the western
chain, but probably does not breed there except on High Island
and feeds much on the seabirds which come to the islands to
roost for the night. It is also very common on Beaupre Island
but I doubt It breeds there, vjhere it lives on the seabirds
of the nesting and roosting colonies on the sandbanks to the
north. It will kill birds as large as the Blue-faced Booby
and manage to carry them off. It is generally exceedingly
fat from living on these fat seabirds. It commonly flies
from Uvea to the seabrrd colonies and back in a day, arriving
at the seabird colony vnth the first streaks of dawn. Gene-
rally go to Beaupre to rest and digest a kill. Generally
speaking, it looks on Uvea as a place to breed and roost and
t
^ .tj 1'<I./ Uiiri|>| ‘.,>J no !.nl I f|i»f . r>oV>
;
Ijf '.y’j% > . ,(kilil ^f»V };ii}yl>^
■I ^ ^ Ut Viil-ti l^bo (1^juo/<>^
' ?T->I. Iroi'i' I' I • • ‘ vjf»n *if»nf'>'tiv r^ift '-tr/U no l.nrf^-
Igs. { .M ' ) nJ 43 ■ ‘“'O' I ■A) ii:>?j|«i' t.*)' <?J (, ?,vol;*j
7>f
.^i i'#‘!’: .%i/t>>l«] f'flj It) djuw.') Uif rt3'ictfi nl tvm u i I
^»TJ , ’ 3'.' 'r /-<! ‘ .ill v.*;: 1 1'.* .■ 1 .ij' J -j 3l
^ Vi %r»»' u» Ai ry'j +iK*i4ri wr.-» *t» ' ^ JoHa
. ’b" J “< >^D4 Ml 4lrio »-'i J!.!' 3iVi»ij- 1 y •>«** ■*»-w*3
‘'faNil li ■} /' I *.if..7'.l i«ii trtob il
/ ^ -1? • k:\^.^:.
K “
1^ »nj JO! ■:• *' '*,4 'Ill'll ‘1 tl ••v() no
!i -yf t'i V' ■i^-n i'. iJ *«io'fj3i»t» )• 0'nl“» Mi *'Ji< 11 '.
^ >w. 1 . r#i iK> frMW »'/ . *1
g.-* ?♦.; >y.< -.j >1 Uruf O' I J .■> Vn« ••'7 Jtf M«^3i
eml n <» (I j Sm r -UaniJiU.- ' I <?>•!►*'■ j/vV *
** ' .f!* ♦« «|i»)',|i!| •1*1 iiiirll# o.wnsKU .} »l ,::tTlJ f tt-
{ ■■ I ,1, r w> 3'0* ■* fe vt<) * *ri •♦Ui' ,nl
r»j n»):i .-; Ml; tHllvii 4)t't{<V%r-. »/<} ,vj H.ur' '“^■» ) !>•♦«.
r-mfi hi M** Y'»l*v i.: I j1 1 .N^lri -.1* tol 1*'.*'*')
|j| jrt-’it t »■• i#f*' »h- *% /I f II ,• 1 oi ’ <1 I ^*n .'I 1 »Jo*' 1 3i«f
K, »M .< -1 t.i.. ii ' It I ( tf > iT‘ " I Vt| -III’ 14I
P — yv'ii> nl’. »off • f f NIt- I .!•' <>t
lyoI'l» na'*' "K ••' '• il M . : I • ;-it • »i 4^ %<M«f Snt
M' .'liriJiHw 1 .st’jll ' . - . ( ,, 1 , olvH «it^^l '•
■IvT^i 'll '1-'^ ’i0‘‘ ’^I^^ f "' ‘-'i'’ ’ "‘f
. ' Ui iii 'Tfft ii*»;n ' •l ;(»'•! I‘» > I' '1 . '.) M»Jj ♦#.
/(f •, •, .fif^ J ’> •=*'■*’1 ****'•*" '■' > '■*
■io'! ■ ' *>.< ••Ilf ■I -I'l • I •'’VU rt.J 7 'Ul| .»! ,:'ril
1
not as a hunting ground, unless seabirds fail it. Not
known to attack domestic poultry on Uvea and seldom seen
within gunshop, mostly seen playing on updrafts of wind
on the east coast, soaring high, or travelling high and
very rapidly to the west (Beaupre Island) or returning
from there. Nests during August to November in holes in
the coral cliffs of the east and south of the island, gene-
rally inaccessible places, though sometimes conspicuous
with white dropping streaks from them. Probable popula-
tion of the island 35~50 pairs of birds.
PANDION HALIAETUS CRISTATUS (VIEILLOT):- Only a
casual visitor, though it has been known to breed on the
western island. Generally only appears for a day or so
in clear weather (from New Caledonia) feeds on seasnakes,
which swarm in the lagoon, and disappears again. May be
a more frequent visitor in the lagoon than is thought, as
little observation is done beyond 2 or 3 miles from land
within the lagoon and most of this is by fishermen and fish-
ing is done mostly at night. A pair did nest, but v/ere shot
by a native (1921) both being killed at nest while feeding
young. Young were taken but died in captivity.
HIRUNDO TAHITI CAL SUBFUSCA (GOULD):- A common
species on the island, exceedingly common in and about the
tidal lagoon arms nesting on the coral cliffs and caves
there about, on ledges mostly. Is also common about the
saltpans and sv/amps at certain times. Appears identical
with birds from New Hebrides and has the usual Hi rundo
habits, perches much on bare sticks and limbs of trees
1
. i '
•iflf; .'1 tJ 't fiinnuU j. j.jj
^ V»t >:V*' 'lO jlay*>3‘. *u FNQa|j|
• f,i ,' . » ?• n’.QU >iy jn>' 1 /hut^.i ,cart!j/itt» FilfijtV
.!. Jfi iCil f Uv >1^ ol’)i aa iu>
. ’» ■<•» ' •;•_ I M n
.j si-fnl iiF ’jJ miNu'' i
- •, , fl' |«J rf r Mir. 4 111. #v^ ^ I I
e«/.->L> •»' .aii^V .v>rtl (1H,I , •’■*:>; le •. I'.ltar' il yII&I
pj j* VtJ« ;t' th ytffV rtJJv
, »1 ' Tto i'.Hfli ■' -• ' * .)'Af f( iiMl TO Kil3
<!»' -dVAlLiL'fl &0.J21U. TJ .ISa
.ni f *|f> K»i*T»1 04 -t« ' <• < Tl
>o ’fiS » vini- ,' t f i-JiT, ,„J. fn<**r«i4
, -. •i.i'ir y* rtw i'-* i ^ » . : r I :■ .
/
‘». . |. rffv '■It I -it** Hi imm^* fFpFHW
••» 4 I » .Ji.' i I'll * • f»a» *
Siir« I H ^'l •'ll' r'f' Sf(» >iK4l fl '1'; I 1 ..V'(03
• 4<trf , hr » l' •.'1•il#l^ ‘i ifl’ "• • ?l*4 Krt.< IlCMV- 1 I "fciiT rllrfflv
; •, . fiK’ ,t* 1',J‘ I In >• .•M'V - #1 y#i|
■ . It 1 \ If I .(llfc-f ill#'!' {\lf \ *71- -.1
.- ‘1 fi**'. Ml ii. i: III .) t •■ i;nui’ ' . • "
r^. -» *J.J.Uk^ ■ j,'A'
' ff ' 'tl r^ iF ilWi.'M ' i' T.f»| oOi* K i. I •»!#
■n_ -J *,!' " I^M I lo't * ■•l'"' i‘'!\l t..'l3'»lt . 'l lUVl' ." I f V 1 t
IlhTMi .«•»>»!.> *1 - 't ’ ' i' I ,T>»e|rl, -iiil.t
fotlii f'F -T . «:< .‘till u*'l‘ ■' • ’> i.«
I mT" 'tl* ’ *F Hit- . »'i' !t '' . ' K^'tl tl'il if>t»'
j V, • 1 ',)i f '.) f-lil'4 ‘.T t'i m) »li/). ■ i4*l
A. :
(
I
sticking up out of V’Vater often considerable distances at
sea. Hawks much over open sea, and lagoons far from land
up to 3 miles and even more, a thing Col local ia does not
do (Col local ia spod. leucopygia may go 20 yards out over
sea occasionally and never much beyond that, Col local ia
esculenta uropygialis never approaches within 20 yards of
the sea edge, while hawking for food, though both will
cross sea in seasonal movements). H i rundo is on all the
Loyalty Islands and on Beaupre Island, but is, except on
Uvea and certain small areas on other islands, not plen-
tiful but pairs are found here and there where suitable
nesting material is to be found. True clay being scarce
in the Loyalties it finds material for nesting scarce,
though nesting sites are exceedingly abundant and very
suitable, and has used many unusual kinds of soil Nest
and nesting habits are usual, mud nest lined with fibres
and feathers on a ledge under an overhang in a cliff or
in an open cave (not dark). Eggs 2 to 4, pinkish white
with red spots and blotches. Breeding season very long
but mostly from September to December. Often 2 broods and
possibly more are raised a year 1 believe.
SEA BIRDS:- Apart from a number of species of
Sterna and a very rare visiting Larus no sea birds seem to
visit the Uvea lagoon, though numbers of ocean-birds fre-
quent seas close to the Uvean coast outside the lagoon.
Actually within the lagoon I only saw two species of Sterna
(Sterna bergil and Sterna sumatrana) but others may visit
it. Both these species nest on the western islands of the
, .jilk I /f - Uo Vi... Iw it/Jj} 01/ *.
' f '* . > 3t>t ■ I '»■ , vjf li*l. 3 t,"'^
.JJ.r .’if.L't; '• 'FjJj ji'i '-ii' jofJ/n " a) f^y
%mV-' . •» r ' •>' / .M \ ,1" t ... y*
. ..ll ’ Ut- , > iU)J.irt n'lW')'’) '.fi ( f ./r*I 1
*1 . }‘*> *Y ’ ^'i' 'I |_ It ln_’..|^
iff' r^Jo? ,' n ') ,.«[ iJfKf e«!»« "f«ti
fl. o tl .ii/iJiJli . 'ariri'j- r/->n f nl ... «zo-ij
-♦t <.ri i'j. ,*nrr\ni •<n«H.. 't rv H-r i' ft. /'I
-rp»(M i'-' , '-».it*f ..(4' . II’ - .,, ft '
• ( • >|; <11.. - s 'r< <•/'•/ "I- f»/^)l
* - !■ i • ' 'll I I. . ’.a'lt "t •” .1 1 I f 1* • 'M n I l«i^
,* -: I -o' fl.:,^•i• 'StilV I I jf i . ■'« J *,fj /if
y'~«.T<y t«.ii ,'J^iiil ” ** '.)>s *<»/f
M ■•• -I iimil ' I ,M.11I I /M-fc '.i:
. . '4 1 . ■*>' »■ ■ :>I f K_.l 'HK» -'r r»ll '’#.»« M*
V4» >\ 1 I 1 .ii'i'i. .'. ■ ^t^^ “• ’•'•lUi •" 'n* I > Jtifrti ■ . ' i"'**
• *f J - i! » ».ilp ,* tyf . .^''^.*<1 < ./' I «l (>> rt, t\|
I*. >
I .( *nj« '^'T- ■ ^ ■* . i'jH.Jti 1>|i'» i1.i»|i» >t '1
'I J. ,ii '* ttj*ir*-tJa*'8 *• ■» • (.♦-I'w* *W
. , < ! *, I , ■- jj ';*; r». H-IIJM* vi O^JHir,
. i-l » • 7*. •*« nun •- i-1. i.v ^i.JL'. ii'-v.
t -M 4iin1ii * 41 ' >' ■ ' t?
-*-! •>' J ;-<i ;i !•■ -vVtui HtiMtM ,m.> f vi' } Jf«fv
. ! 'I or{j l.f • luo fi 'ii fl ' I*! ^Vi'lf t *4t timt!^
i'. •; tn ,• I »■'*', 1 *■»'* a-1 Vfil'i f J '’• ' -/If
■JT^i' %i.i -t !>' ’ll < H’''M J/’’’* ’-V
f ■ V u; I’f ••(!.' MO >* ..1 t'’} '«<'1 ' I'ii .*f
171.
lagoon, as also does Gy q i s I believe. In times of hurricanes,
numerous ocean-birds Fregata and even Pet rel s may appear but
never stay. As Beaupre Island to the west is much more
frequented by sea-birds and has breeding colonies to the
north of it on sandbanks, I will leave mention of sea-birds
to that area. The two common Sternas of Uvea are exceed-
ingly plentiful and give an impression of a great area for
sea-birds, but such is not the case. 1 saw one pair of
Phaethon lepturus over the ocean coast once and it is a
fairly frequent visitor, but does not breed. It is possi-
ble Gyq i s and possibly Sterna nereis exsul may visit the
lagoon at certain seasons in large numbers, but this is
open to doubt, especially in the case of the latter. Non
ornithological observers might think Uvea a good place for
sea-birds (and it is for two species) but I doubt it ever
is from native accounts (reliable as regards the lagoon)
and certainly not from February to June. Migrant waders
are plentiful, but only the usual sorts one would expect,
plus Terekia cineria.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:- It is noticeable on Uvea
that numbers of birds show a tendency towards mimicry.
A certain amount of this may be purely accidental, the
birds really having calls of a similar nature, but certain
definite cases of mimicry occur. Naturally the volume of
sound may be different, but the notes appear to be the same
and the length of call the same. Those noticed and the
species mimicked were as follov/s:
L I CHHERA mimicked calls of Pachycephala . Aplonis
and Hyiagra.
PACHYCEPHALA mimicked calls of Aplonis and Nymohicus .
~l"- III I ;i ^ • f
S’ '
,-.J. ^ ■
'ii ^
.S!"
'A.U ••
*. • I ■ I." I • f
.• J' j I
^ • f - I rn ■ . }
. ■ ,SP»f.
*» ♦ i.H
• if ,
• " ??.i . . f
’l:u. -V.i.’-v,
"'" "• ^
»•'-* ( ffi-/ I ,1j^;|il^4si .. fj ,it^.,.
' I
- » • 3
’i
si'
i' ■*■ • ;
> ■S'J > .’T ., ..,j i , .. .
* • ■' ■ - .! ,' H . 4„il
* " ’•»'< . "f T ■ ’ » ^v--,
V- l>f- ;. ^r.;. I , f ^
■f ’}Hj u, , - u- , t 1 I *
' • ’* 't •♦'•* » . 'fj» f . {
. -n.; -s;i ,„ .,. . , ., ,jt j ^ ^ ^ ^
- t . .V’ .IVi),,. ^ j _ ^
' **J3'C* ' • 1 i; tf vt’.; ,i 'i .4’
f .y e„ ,,
^ • " ’* '■- , h,hfr *i .
'■ *»'*■*•' ■ '•• H. j.MU-r.
•’*' '' '' ' ^ ' -Ml • ttt r *..m
^ ^**** ■ ’‘ f'f t-; ■ 1
“■ ■ < <» ‘‘-'tt 1 ■ - 1 . M . ,1 . ,• .,,,^.j . .,
’ Y* * Mr,-. *. J ,r
'I ' -'fft> >il, ' .
' - wi-.il VtI- > V... s.n. r
'’■ ■' -*l ' 'M . .-- :fMl .. <» . , ft- Mr
■) >» -, * rtlsxirf
X »*f , i f .’J. ff f .’M,,f,,
. -n* I \*. ^^i- "* ■**-'
at I
jI ’ff- ••>'1 ii . ■■ ,>.')• '{15. •
r
172.
ZOSTEROPS rather definitely mimicked My ia'ira and
A,:ilori i 5 .
Geryqone mimicked (and most of the calls very
well), ilyzomela. Zosterops . Ap 1 on i s .
Pachycephala. Lai age, llyiagra and
iiymphicus very well, but softly,
Lichmera. Hypotaenidia and Halcyon
somewhat 1 Ike them,
LALAGE mimicked Lichmera very well, but
appeared to try others and mixed
them up badly.
COLUMBA It is also of interest to note the
similarity in names for this species
on all three islands, possibly
pointing to a comparatively recent
arrival or a spread from island to
island in recent times.
V/IND AND COLD ACTIVITIES:- It was very noticeable
on mornings after a boisterous windy night, even without
rain, that the next morning dawn chorus was not as long
as usual and birds appeared to quickly settle down ap-
parently not feeding for as long as usual irrespective of
the weather being cold or hot. Observer noting the species
most affected concluded that those species which perched
well out in the outer smaller twigs of trees and fairly
high up and in rather open situations subject to wind
movement had experienced such a physical strain keeping
their perch and balance that they were tired out and
after a little feeding and satisfying of their first
hunger quckly retried to sheltered positions to obtain
some rest. The rule seemed to hold good over all species,
high and wide perchers like ilyzomela retiring earliest.
^ btfi}hr 'fl iJliiT'i I- 'tfijh/Ti
'jnft Stan <J je iMhI }in o»l . a1 »1
’" j .hit 'i"*'l itf /jIv.IImI'
'f I i I ? ■* fdJ fr. .t'l
wt -V* J . (1 ”
nf 1-* J 'J (. I -'I t
IM*''’#!"' a I'll*! > «)i(iT '’0«T«'» fv*
tt'H'J > 'M I h ‘-n "H.> ’ 4'
K .1 • ' t** f y!4ij»»p {<1 1) j «(•?*< (r'»*v ««
I . _4 "f4» T<»V» > |( .?■.•!+ '•■'I V*f'> 't'Vli -fl,l
V= 1 (»( • J.M J J<eH
'I . I ) Iwt. J OTJ t T«»f [><(«»( «1KI «* J ol 1‘Mi I j •»»
. |1 ij-'LUfcf -»fi<'|j.Mjjl ; tit 5'/V'* UI ll' lil
t|l J I I<-'1I|I! O'l trfffi ■< 'l^r'.f» flWPlpy
! ,>• III.. r]) ••««# V'Hi InlO Jtw» I Vi d>V'i, vl-.l*
njl ,hiM f t t V..r> il»v (Mil '
ii? - iv; ^HioltMie'r ‘»;»vnii*l
'I ” • V 'V.i i‘Tii M Ujti.l jtM *'r^i «* flfiri dH rvait
»i 1I> ilnl»'*'» . Xil. -C.'C i a'jrtrl.n*>?i «^h» 'i.i* rlld
-p .17 ^ ( •<
• «
.’I
•iff Jit ' rt .‘ If-
i 1*V . J ff
>U'I , 1 I !♦*/ V'l^v ji'V-^IHcie.!’'^'
' If i.llWft yJit
*u<' ,fi''.v r*=''^ -Li/TjtiLl i^'hi .jy'JtJ.
‘1 - ' ftrt ij-l'irt/'. <1 V'T-^yO‘.
. ' f'^ . ♦ «!/
1. 1 1 I
i>
1
^achycephal a which perch lower and generally close to more
or less a rigid trunk or limb later, and such species as
Ap 1 on i s wh ich roost in hollows or large rigid limbs would
be entirely normal and unaffected. Rain without wind
damped all their calls and feeding activities alike. Rain
with cold snap after or just a cold night made all active
and feeding was continued later than usual, even if the
day warmed up rapiidly.
VEGETAT I ON ( I tl ADD.) : - In mention! ng the trees
present I left out mention of sandal wood, this grows well
and is fairly plentiful on the sea deposited sand bank,
and grow fairly well amongst the lower types of scrub here
and there. Nowhere is it as plentiful on Uvea as on Hare
and Lifu is. and it has been subject to much depletion by
unwise cutting in the old days. On Uvea especially was it
cut as generally speaking natives were poorer till their
nevj planted areas of coconuts began to yield and they
needed more cash to supply food needs etc. because of lack
of good gardens. Laterly the administration has brought
cutting of sandal wood under control. Shortly before my
visit all suitable wood had been cut and sold of the is-
land and only small shrubs of it and seedlings were seen
by me. These in course of time will be valuable.
FIRES: - Natives in burning gardens are careful
with the use of fire and nowhere does fire damage occur on
the island. Fires in forests are almost entirely unknown
even in the dryest of times, though they would burn if
allowed to escape.
•Jf-'l I
»?oi' 'm( Wm-nj f < j h^ ' r I'J i ^ *^X'*jr^ijh
^r- ?' I '.ra (J «U4 i"'!'' ,'HjiiI t'-il f in ViuiJ Mf'll *■• ai«t *h>
1 >
■Vfjr f •> :r«n ‘ I 5l 'If-I-I 'K' ' jrilfriff. ^^} ■):> ,,'v, /HJ.M -j | ffcO
*iiJ ' jivjiUjy nl- /i 'J’lafV'frtf *i<«t ( .># io<» ^rnlnH*
lil . ..r.H' ■* 1-mi ifl'i.l llvr'J lln .b
.fVl : 1^. H'i M Im >■ f _■ <1 ijfuf. v.' 1*3 ri I o rtjlw
il ,1.11211 f» i«j'. I t Ifc 1 1v7
!i».-r\j Oflj I ' nl .i.il A 'Xj' JJtiSy.
1 1 » ♦ g'MX'lit ttf'f f <•.♦ .1 1 ft il')J ■/»*'• I'ht ? I i lilwiJf'lQ
, :^v .1 '».'I.K«-t. t^4 •rli iio Im1W»k Jx yliJv^ il i <m
f'tro* »•.•••■■> l-"#nl 'i t fl'W >ffil .1
l.jji 10 Th*. . ■•‘/'I »1' lu'tlnr 'J' »'■■ tl il -'t'-'ii- ^ t
ytl »T)jI £saff<i?T»I( t* »'< T4r< i ' ' -.'1 "^Ij
f Hit I •• t ‘ '•ni *' M ►- *» >
r4»l* *' I I ' •>» ./ >• |r?H fv
>ir»" I »*.'• ' . '■ f* '^rt i-.i'M '>* '>4 W»4»v" '(
■» i ■•-<-* I titfl Tal.*^ 'fit . :.T *n
*i. it*M* . f '*> 1 — *(.aKnt| hi><» I '■<> ■ \f>-
' Oww a nl r'(f ’ 1. **.'»rnU I I '4 ^'Inn ’'tVi ' .ViH
. I',.. 'Ml * fli t I> ’iTi 4*iv ' ' 1} HfJlf , •'•
p'
r«i« * '.'nlo' 'I nl dvII i'i
»' 111 oti “* «>»..>' r < ■/■• t'rri -ill) 1 ti» «•)> t^'tl*
>'»t yT.-iita ft] a: ii .t.lftfti ”f4t
.1 rn* ) Mtf *'’ i lo t • ifH nl lv*Vl
.^flitri HU I •am*’ .vt
f i ^ •» vJ ’ I ■■-■■.•» /
.yji' ■'• I if«* il »| Mo:> ►•lonif
-^1 'm'* 1v> lH»’* '-^s t tut* tv.* • rtr.£} 1 i«r»” f fi il*lv
nc> nt l.'wnH*
NATIVE NAMES OF BIKDS ON UVEA
174.
SPECIES
DEMIGRETTA
ANAS
ACCIPITER
HYPOTAENIDIA
PORZANA CINEREA
PORZANA TABUENSIS
u
PORPHYRIO Her
PT III NOPUS GREY I
NATIVE NAME
U
Oi - Oih
u
Eng or ieng
Ding
Bang (short)
Ban or Pan (long)
PHONETICS AND PRONOUNC I AT I ON
REMARKS. ETC.
Something like "yo-yo" with
an oi sound. Only one phase
known.
As in engineer with an in-
definite i before it. All
ages one name and species
even domestic ducks.
As in"Oing-dong". The same
name is used for both phases
and sexes.
As Bang in English. Some
confusion of names for im-
matures is present today,
but was not always thus.
Indefinite P or B. Word
longer but softer than
above. Never confused with
Hypotaenidia
Oih-Nei-Du OIH like exclamation "oih"
of illiterates. NEI as in
neither. DU as in duty.
Often confused with young
of Hypotaenidia now-a-days.
u
Cher or Hir-Cher HER OR HIR said fast and
rather hard to define.
CHER as in "lurcher dog".
Rhymes with /urcher.
Bing Adult BING as in English (Bing
Bing-Leur juvenile Boys). LEUR as in "lure"
with an indefinite 'e'
prolonging the lur sound.
2 phases recognized with
or without crown.
COLUMBA
Me-Ket-Ta
ME-KET to rhyme with
Becket. TA short.
1
i
t V - . .in t'
— ."^Si -—j
.;n ' '*;'/! •iJfiPf-er'
99^P, ’•.V' Vtr-' .' m1X>2 r I
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tl .tl xrt- ' 3
i^'3a. i» ►mv 9WS.A ©no *»»r;
S|^. . -inub r»*/*/'.'
r lt>3 ♦ifT . *.T^ - tifll I (fl ^
:;■ ■> *' **U *3 -fwm
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,V '^'’f trte»®m« si
.i*o4# I'rwfi i&0 a*iw fur'
► *.f nr» i In l‘f I
n Jw«3 *iw*nol
<tt| I *ioV*t- . 'Vo^. o
<-. 31- Irujf.^ooyM
fU” » to i ■*<#'!»» fv-:>. -Hi f 3‘I .
r. 1 » f . »^( ; •^n 1 1 r 13 t
. *5 '•« .*K n«i.»
- I'ftH rf 4J3 *» *> ^ »1f 7^.
, ' '. » .;I’ i (»' uJV’mV'II T'V
'(** ,1' • /.?«
. ■’'■‘t 3''l *il
“'jtoiMl nl /olO
t'. i ■•IfTi f si nl ^ '13 '
n»l i'll 0- . • . I
' ’ »*7!ni^ft-in3 fij’ i3 3 3 'j
.AmW’^ *inf <tV) fll.sK' 3‘'tri
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r
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. nl* ,v . ' ’a< ’
\i
fll'J - l:-s
II
piK^l >• ital.
i»nl
(7*1 jHk;
1: OJ'1
i> >■ I
•mir-'il-' n'-iO-n.
J'l '
I) ><vu| noi'J-^tfil'
ftSTI'UStlA
A| jihj
2 3..i»»- T '.
lYJJW
• T* t
,l>|1> ^ .J
SPECIES
CHALCOPHAPS
MYMPH I CUS
TRICHOGLOSSUS
CACOMANTIS
CHALCITES
TYTO
COLLOCALIA ESC.
COLLOCALIA SPOD
HALCYON
native names of birds on UVEA
175.
(con' t.)
NATIVE NAME
u
Mem-Meh-Loh
Ko-Kot
u u u
Sue-Aht or -Art
DijI-Lan
Gothen
PHONETICS AND PRONOUNCIATION
REf-IARKS. ETC.
MEM-HEH short, LOH long
Sounds as written MEM as in
memorial. MEH as in method.
LOH as long low with H sound
Said slowly they say it KOH-KOT.
Like coconut but a K sound
1 ike KO-KO in the "Mikado"
(G. and S.) with definite
sharp T ending.
SUE as in "Sue" girl's name.
AHT or ART like art with the
word shortened by muting R.
Some natives give an R sound,
but majority give an H sound.
DIJI or DIGI or DEGI all used
by natives, but if said slowly
nearly always Dl Jl. Dl as in
diet. Jl as in Jim. LAN as in
land but longer (as In lantana)
GOTH as Gothic EN as in hen.
the v/ord is not divided.
MUHN A little like moon, but an H
sound. Somewhat like German
Mun i ch but OH sound but H very
i ndef in i te.
UROP. )V/ah-Ha-Lep or Leb Same name for both. Said quickly
) they often say VIA-HA-LEP and
LEUC. ) I ndef i n i te P. or B. even WAR-HA-LEP but slowly al-
ways say V/AH-HA-LEP.
WAH as in Wahroongah (Aust.).
HA as in hat. LEP as in leapt
without a or t. (German LEB poss.)
JIJI or DIJI Both used Jl as in Jim, Dl as
in did. Said slowly a DG sound
appears. Rather indefinite
word and pronounciat ion.
i_: . (■ . ‘ ^ i''i
It "* ^1
I 1 r*t< K La i' « I'f . «>j I
oI i#l ,r." . 1% ' a ih ur*--
. ^ . I ‘ I'lofi i '
y ‘ i ■ >• f fK»f 3
» ti '.’I 3 'f M*.;
f #L' ''J'l’. ’O
! lij . J i-* ■
*• r* > HI f. Vi;. . '
. nl'-.iir- I q*i a4
, ^ ll if-
;’■•? ?“»« n V. V» TfiA
. i ,, 'f'i ' ’T
Ac .vl - »' /Il<n
>i»i; - ^ MvJ -f'HoI i« ti*4
, 'll « ll* ♦ , *» ' I ' t ♦ ;
iBis ' ! a ’ll ih5
I ^ ' » ' V I ■ ♦'■1' I ^ J ■• ■ I
► I* ."'1. n1 - .-“I'
fcfn I tl *>-' -K'l till* ’.n; I
iml ‘1 ’< <■
•
I ■ * *11 ; , ■•••wt f I'* ’ I ? >s
• 'll » A» i,i»* ■
■* ,iu> • >n' ^
. -1 ll . j
U
HoJ-Hsk ;-•»»! 1
-1(1
M O U
t'l ‘ - VI >*■ ■ '» ■
>. in
os»rl?a#
- I »
, r."
• u: fi;^
'•ix *;:jI I
1 1
s Tl OJtl
:m
i " , 1,1 -- ' ! ■«'• n ^ •
Y*' ’ lA^tc
I 1^1 if* II i- it- lin*'
. *•* ,1- .» V. .J , .s:l
I- ■ -■ I't . ' (i! *» i, '
! ;il . r ill li Vi
"7' "• . -i^t . ?ii -'ii
, H. i] M. 1' *»n .M 1-^
• • I .''IV III
'ill* "'ll ll ii.;'! . ■'■ "s '■
. I ■ I 1)0 I' n>- 1-1
. UJi . c . .1
»{wrJ-:. ■’ 'll
f '
(l,( tM tWM-
■4
176
NATIVE NAMES OF BIRDS ON UVEA
(Con ' t. )
SPECIES
NATIVE NAME
PHONETICS AND PRONOUNC I AT I ON
REmRKS. ETC.
LALAGE Goh
GOH as in "go hit him".
MY I AGRA
Whien (d* and $)
(the same)
Word said as written but
sounded long and every
letter sounded.
GERYGONE
Oih-Feti-Gu
PACHYCEPHALA
imm. cT,9
\/hien-Hat or
'Whien -Matt
APLONIS
Dah-Wov/h or
(Dah-Wow or WooW)
OIH short like illiterate
exclamation. FETl like in
confetti. GU as in good.
WHIEN short and H barely
sounded. MAT as mat but em-
phasized and lengthened.
Same for all phases
DAH as written WOWH indef i-
nite but probably Wo
up .
wh IS nearest it.
LICHMERA Bai-Ah-Leur or Pai-or al-
most at times Pbai-lnde-
finite. P. or B.
BAI as in bait but B inde-
finate. AH as "ah" excla-
mation
MYZOMELA c?
Wah-Susu-Dah
u
$ Oark
V/AH as in Wahroongah (Aust.)
SUSU as soo-soo. DAH short
and cl ipped.
u
OA RK as one word. OA like
in oak RK short.
ZOSTEROPS
CIRCUS
Watchen
As in English Watch with
"en" added distinctly.
Bah) BAH as written and used mostly,
BAR as in English bar, often
used when speaking fast but
never when slowly. OH very
short, LAY very long and
accented,
u
Eian or Ian Like Scottish name Ian.
FALCO
“.; ‘k*,.. .*• I71H 'If*;
f - ' J »J . .
I
. r l;"t J iV *J ^ in S . yji'-
»;, j|4 ^ .:••?; 5 *>W V *13 I *||/
-Vn v .1$ I
.V''* ifiri': f
^‘itL ■•‘Jl'ii!
rf'it
'5 Sfc- •' iitirr-;
-.fU)
*.K . - fl«|
3a»-tikj
I *,(r<
' . • i //f )i I h'i ''i¥ 'll '
n\ -ili ! • . i# nr.I : -
,- rCi r.i -i . H^^'iivo
ui - 1
n«f ? 'i : .■* '.u> i
*liigi1ltnr * 1 . ■ 'rU'.n*
_ ^ \t>', V'"' **•%{
E..
*■' Jj/Vl
yi>.’ /f?*- v-n> 'iH ■»})!»
. ? I 1 f I !Ik
*tu t 5^1
tl. 'It I if
IK'UJ
P'l ,_..no (K «'■**' I*
»4‘<
• A'i ■
M
.l.£ t
• . i * a*/ JI. ■ r*I iuf I '
If.
!• 1 * «i
T[
i{ Jil 9», liA^,
.*. ' If. fi >
r t
IV 0 '• '*5
. 't- I ' ^ ^,ll III
if • I \.5 ■ . 1
. : .1(1 »!!?'- '•..sl.'.u ,v
' .•nt U(._ .1
liV)
l.i ,‘i ' '<] I i-.' .il i * I
I , it } >' tl
. ,;1 • I • ■• 1 ' ’ 0
-
■ I ‘i . - i .*■ T ' -im U 'I't -*5
' ‘‘ ‘ ’’jII t-\ V*. II
. V . . I >1’
H, . ,
♦ '• ' • 1-Jj; -I*
tt
)t7?
-. T.Kn
n ' t •
'Hf-iri'
'’Jv'l
'1
■] f
HI f
tl. I T' ilD* '
177.
SPECIES
HIRUNDO
FREGATA (both )
(species)
LIMOSA
STERNA BERG I L
2 Sula’s both had
but only one name
NATIVE NAMES OF BIRDS ON UVEA
(Con* t.)
NATIVE NAME
Wah-Hat-Go )
Wah-Hart-Go)
or
V/aar-Go
Atuah or Atau
or
Ahtau
Deur or Dewer
Maht
PHONETICS AND PRONOUNC lATION
REIV\RKS. ETC.
All 3 used indescriminately
the last the commonest in
conversation, though if asked
the bird's name they invari-
ably give one or other of the
first two. As written all
fully sounded except the R
in second one.
The last the commonest but
said quickly, different in-
dividuals give different
sounds
The first commonest.
Broad and long. This name is
like the Indian Mahatma with-
out the A and MA. It is al-
so used for all Sternas and
an added v/ord such as small
denoting S. sumatrana. All
other Sternas being just the
one word with the word for
foreigner or stranger added,
a rather significant fact.
One other white seabird has
a separate name, this is
probably Gyc i s .
separate names (put on labels
generally used.
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