XXVI 



FAUNA HAWAIIENSIS 



them more or less frequently extend upwards till they form part of the regular forest. 

 The Hau tree i^Paritium iiliaceum) thnve?, equally near the sea-coast and above loooft. 

 elevation in the mountains, where it sometimes forms impenetrable thickets. Akiiritis 

 triloba, the candle-nut tree, and Eugenia malaccensis, the so-called 'native apple,' are 

 most partial to the valleys, the former in some localities extending upwards to an 

 elevation of 3000 ft. or more, the latter attaining only about half that height in the 

 mountains. Both, but the former more especially, may form an important element in 

 the true forest-belt, so as to have the appearance of indigenous plants. Their foreign 

 nature, apart from other considerations, is evidenced by the absence of any special 

 fauna in connection with them. Neither of them are unsuited as pabulum for indigenous 

 insects, since some of the polyphagous species feed upon them and especially on the 

 Aleurites, but they have no special fauna. With these the 'Ki' or ' Ti ' {Cordyline) 

 is often very conspicuous. Apart from these aboriginal introductions, as one ascends 

 the lower slopes or valleys and there is an increase in the rainfall, the introduced guava 

 may occupy the whole soil to the exclusion of all other trees or shrubs. Where the 

 moisture is sufficient, the foreign grass, Paspaliiin conjugahim, commonly known as 

 ' Hilo grass,' from the fact that it first appeared in that district of Hawaii, covers the 

 whole ground ; or in drier localities other equally indifferent grasses are in occupation. 



There is no doubt that what one now sees on the dry lower slopes of the leeward 

 side of the islands is but a remnant of a once more or less open forest land, which has 

 had a very special fauna of its own. In addition to the trees already mentioned some 

 of the more common components of the present continuous forest-belt extended down 

 into this region, Acacia koa and Metrosiderus for instance. Only in special localities 

 can one now get a glimpse of this fauna, for excepting a few wide ranging or hardy 

 species, or such as are specially protected, all the native insects of this region have 

 been destroyed either by imported predaceous insects or by the destruction of the forest 

 itself and the changes of conditions that have ensued. In a few spots there yet remain 

 in Lepidoptera species of Scotoryfhra, Talis, Thyrcopa, Hodegia etc. ; in Coleoptera 

 PlagitJimysus and special species of Rhyncogotms, Proterhinus and Labrocertis, together 

 with some Hemipterous insects, Jassids and Fulgorids, quite peculiar to it. The loss 

 of all but a remnant of this, no doubt, once rich and extensive fauna is much to be 

 regretted, for it may be suspected that here some of the finest native species once 

 occurred. Passerine birds regularly descended into the clumps of trees of this open 

 country, as in fact we have ourselves noticed in special localities in past years. From 

 these, in Cook's time, they passed still downwards, since we are told that several 

 species were found frequenting the coconut palms on the beach. Achatinelline shells 

 as well as other land Mollusca were no doubt numerous, in the upper part at least, 

 of this region. 



It is certain that in prehistoric, but comparatively recent times, the climate 

 and vestiture of the lowlands of some of the dry districts of the islands must have 



