Report of a Mission to Guam. 



BY ALVIN SEALE. 



Part L— AVIFAUNA. 



The Marianas or Ladrone Islands consist of twenty-one small 

 volcanic islands which extend on a north and south line for a space 

 of about 400 miles. They were discovered by Magalhaes, March 6, 

 1521. For the most part they present a bold rocky coast line with 

 high hills or low mountains rising in the interior. They are 

 densely wooded, except on top of the mountains, where it is 

 usually barren, or covered with tall grass. 



My actual field work was confined to the island of Guam, 

 which is the largest and southernmost of the group, being thirty- 

 two miles long by twelve broad. This island is densely wooded, 

 except in the northwest, where there is a small range of low 

 mountains reaching to an elevation of 1800 feet. The general 

 height of the island is from fifty to seventy-five feet, with a few 

 small fresh water ponds and marshes, and perhaps eight or ten 

 small streams. 



In this paper I have followed as near as possible the A. O. U. 

 code of nomenclature. The key, inserted for the convenience of 

 fellow-workers in Polynesian ornitholog}^ is chiefly compiled from 

 various works of worth bearing on the subject. The measurements 

 are all in inches, and like the color notes were taken from speci- 

 mens in the flesh. /. c., in all the Guam specimens. Unless a speci- 

 men is marked '' Immahirc^' an adult bird is to be understood. 

 The local names given in Vol. V., Nov. Zool., all have a curious 

 Japanese twist to them, and with one exception are all incorrecftly 

 spelled. The native names as herein given were all revised by 

 Lieutenant-Governor Safford of Guam, who is the best living 

 authorit}' on the Chamorro language. 



o. p. B. p. B. M.— Vol. I., No. 3. (17) 



