332 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



a large sparrow with yellow head and under surface and a rich sprightly 

 song; and the last is the 'Laysan honey-eater,' a minute form with 

 body and head rich, dark red, abundant among some shrubs with red 

 blossoms growing near the lagoon. 



Of course any estimate of the bird joopulation of this remarkable 

 island is little better than guess-work, but it seems safe to say that at 

 least six or eight million make their home on this small atoll in mid 

 Pacific, the total area of which, including the lagoon, is only about 

 three and one half square miles. I know of no more dense population 

 anywhere, although it may possibly be matched on some of the islands 

 in the Alaskan region. But there a vast majority of the birds leave 

 during the winter, while at Laysan nearly all remain at least ten 

 months of the year. 



Much of interest could be said concerning the guano deposits and 

 the operations of the company that leases the island. Thousands of 

 tons are exported annually, and it is entirely possible that this valuable 

 fertilizer is now being deposited as rapidly as ever it was, owing to the 

 wise policy of not disturbing the birds that is rigidly enforced by the 

 company. The excrement is almost entirely fluid, and gradually 

 saturates and fills the thin soil and porous coral rock, thus making the 

 'guano' of commerce. Strangely enough there is no very perceptible 

 odor, even at the rookery. 



The naturalists of the Albatross spent a week in studying the fauna 

 and flora of this exceedingly interesting island, while the naval officers 

 made a complete map, including a chart of the reefs near the anchor- 

 age. Here are found unexcelled conditions for collecting and studying 

 the life histories of birds. All the species are very abundant, and can 

 be seen in a day's visit. Every species can be caught, either in the 

 hand or with a hand-net, and mercifully killed with chloroform with- 

 out mutilation or blood-stains. They can all be studied at leisure, and 

 at close range. The photographer finds himself in a veritable paradise, 

 able to set up his camera at any desirable distance, even to 'pose' his 

 subjects to suit his fancy, and take pictures of birds, nests and young 

 to his heart's content. 



It is simply delightful to find one spot, at least, in this world of 

 ours where the birds are not afraid. So long as the guano holds out, 

 these conditions will probably remain unchanged. If this time comes 

 to an end, the government should see to it that this wonderful preserve 

 of avian life is protected from the ravages of man, the destroyer, and 

 of the rapidly diminishing moiety of his better half that still persists 

 in the aboriginal feather-wearing habit. 



