46 Director' s A^imial Report. 



ou the lower ridges, where, as in the valleys on the windward 

 side, it grows to an immense size. 



As elsewhere in the group, the timbered area is now more 

 limited in extent than formerly. That this redudlion in area has 

 -worked a hardship on the avifauna throughout the islands is well 

 known. However, on Molokai more than anywhere else, has the 

 change in the forest and its inhabitants been allowed to come about 

 naturally, through causes inherent in the fauna and its habitat. 

 For this reason, fairly reliable testimony, even of a meagre nature, 

 concerning the existence and subsequent disappearance of certain 

 birds, before the introdudlion and spread of foreign plants, animals, 

 or conditions, is of great interest. It may be regarded as suggest- 

 ing what would probably have occured in time from innate causes 

 existing in the fauna or its environment, even though the intro- 

 duced causes with which we are familiar, had never become active. 

 As a matter of fact, the impending extermination of certain Molo- 

 kai birds cannot, in any just way, be attributed to introduced dis- 

 turbing conditions. In certain other cases, however, it would 

 seem to be entirely due to conditions brought about since the com- 

 ing of the white race. 



The weather throughout the trip was, I am told, unusually 

 wet and cold. Heavy rains were of almost daily occurrence, while 

 cloudy, gloomy weather was almost continuous. This not only 

 interfered with collecfting, but caused many birds to abandon their 

 nests — often after they had been completed, and I had marked 

 them for study. 



For much of the success of the trip the writer's, as well as the 

 Museum's, thanks are due to the directors of the Molokai ranch 

 for many special courtesies and privileges. I wish personally, to 

 make especial acknowledgment of the kindness and hospitality 

 extended by Mes.srs. James Munro, C. C. Conradt, O. Tollefson 

 and C. 15 . King. 



[136] 



