239 



mals or catching the insects disturbed by them while feeding", 

 principally flies, small moths, and beetles. Like all the fly- 

 catchers, this bird has the habit of watching the insects flying 

 around it while perched on a limb of a tree, or top of a post 

 or fence. Suddenly it darts into the air, and with a vicious 

 little snap secures its prey, returning again to the same place 

 to pull it to pieces and eat it. It has also been seen to feast on 

 ticks infesting cattle. 



Another bird the introduction of which the Board has already 

 approved, is the Meadow Lark {Stiiniclla neglecta). This is 

 an almost wholly beneficial bird with a cheerful whistle and 

 feeds almost entirely on animal food, practically all insects. The 

 insects are ground species, such as beetles, bugs, grasshoppers 

 and caterpillars, with a few flies, wasps and spiders. It is 

 especially fond of crickets and grasshoppers, beetles, and cater- 

 pillars. Professor Henshaw in 1907 stated that the meadow 

 lark may be introduced into these islands with absolute safety 

 and that it would render good service in feeding on dung insects. 

 The chief drawback would be that since the meadow lark in- 

 variably breeds on the ground, it would be subject to attack by 

 the mongoose. A recent communication from the Fish and Game 

 Commission of California states the difficulty of capturing mea- 

 dow larks for shipment. This bird does not flock in the same 

 way that other species do, and it is practically impossible to 

 trap them in any number. The meadow lark would be a dis- 

 tinct addition to our present meager list of sw^eet-singing birds. 



A bird that has already become a delight in these islands to 

 admirers of the feathered tribe is the Chinese Flycatcher or 

 Huamei {Trochalopteron canorum). This is also erroneously 

 called the Chinese thrush. This is a modest small brown bird 

 which may seldom be seen hopping among the bushes but whose 

 clear notes furnish charming entertainment to those who have 

 been fortunate enough to hear it. There is no positive record 

 of its introduction and establishment in these islands, but being 

 a favorite with the Chinese as a cage bird, it was originally in- 

 troduced as such, and is supposed to have become established 

 soon after 1900 when the fire in Chinatown caused their libera- 

 tion from cages. The Chinese flycatcher is insectivorous and so 

 far no complaints against it have been made by agriculturists in 

 these islands. It is now well distributed on the islands of Oahu 

 and Kauai. 



THE FOURTH MAUI COUNTY FAIR. 



By C. S. JuDD, Executive Officer. 



The Board, of Agriculture and Forestry participated in the 

 Fourth Maui County Fair, which was held at the Maui fair 



