44 Director s A)inual Report. 



The second camp was at the eastern end of the island near the 

 mountain Kaunapahu and beside one of the many streams which 

 unite to pour their waters into the head of Halawa valley. From 

 this station trails were cut through to Wailau valley and then ex- 

 tended to the left to reach the centre of the Halawa headwater 

 country — a region which had never been thoroughly explored. 



The third, and in many ways the most successful camp, was 

 made back of Moanui ranch, near the head waters of the Waialua 

 stream. The fourth and last station was direclly back of Mapu- 

 lehu, within a short distance of the pali of Wailau valley. From 

 all of these stations, as centres, excursions were made in various 

 directions. By reference to the map it will be seen that the forested 

 eastern half of the island, which is the portion of greatest interest 

 to the ornithologist, was accessible from the stations mentioned. 

 From the different camps referred to I was able at least to visit all 

 of the favorable localities, while the more important collecting 

 grounds were very thoroughly explored. 



What has been said elsewhere' of the difficulties attending the 

 collecfting of birds in the mountains of the Hawaiian group is 

 especially true of the mountains on Molokai. Indeed it is impossi- 

 ble in a brief description to give an idea of a region so varied and 

 broken, representing, as it does, all the main features of a wild 

 semi-tropical forest and a group of volcanic mountains combined. 



For various reasons the wet bog forest at the head of Waikolu 

 and Pelekunu valleys is conceded to be the most difficult colle(5ling 

 ground in the Hawaiian Islands. It is situated at a sufficient 

 elevation to be drenched by almost continuous rains, and as a re- 

 sult the verdure is always most luxuriant. Under foot, at all times, 

 is a perfect quagmire up to one's knees. Overhead the tangle of 

 vines, aerial roots, ferns, bushes, and standing and fallen trees — all 

 completely overgrown with moss and slime — are so woven together 

 as to produce an almost impenetrable jungle. Great palis drop 

 down perpendicularly for hundreds of feet. Narrow, fissure-like, 

 forest-hidden valleys, running in all direcflions, add to the difficulty 

 of getting about, while numerous vine-covered well-like holes, 

 often a hundred or more feet deep, play no small part in furnishing 



'Notts oil the Hirds of Kauai, Brj-aii and vSealc, Occ. Papers B. P. B. 

 Mus., vol. i. no. 3. p. 129. Notes on the Birds of Waiaiiae Mountains, Bryan, 

 Ibid, vol. ii, ]). 2^5, etc. 



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