212 I;ieut. J. R. H. MacFarlane on Birds 



mutineers of the 'Bounty/ in about 25° S., is a thing of 

 beauty to look on after a long sea- voyage, and does not^ as is 

 often the case^ lose its charms on closer inspection. In its warm 

 moist climate vegetation runs riot, which is perhaps rather 

 providential, as, whether from climatic enervation or from 

 finding that food comes without toiling, the inhabitants are 

 a lazy, good-natured, happy people. Landing is generally 

 unpleasant, as, with any swell, there is no sheltered place ; 

 they have, however, two large whale-boats, in which they 

 manage to land the visitor, safe, if not dry. Here, on the 

 18th March, I found Anous stolidus and Gygis Candida, but 

 not breeding. The natives, however, say that both species 

 breed on the island — the latter, which is appropriately named 

 the '' White-bird,^^ in September — and that when the young 

 are strong enough, they all go away till next year. 



Sandwich Islands, September 1884. The Golden Plover, 

 Charadrius fulvus arrives in great numbers about the latter end 

 of August in this group. In the island of Hawaii, on the 

 hills above the renowned volcano of Kilauea, there are still 

 fair numbers of Hawaiian Geese, Bernicla sandvicensis, and 

 I have seen several in a tame state in Honolulu. It is to be 

 regretted that many of the bright-plumaged birds of the 

 Hawaiian group have become nearly, if not quite, extinct, 

 their feathers being not only used as decorations, but some 

 of the rarer kinds forming a part of the regalia. Some very 

 handsome mantles made of orange-yellow feathers of a small 

 bird {Moho) are worn on state occasions, and leis, or garlands, 

 composed of feathers are worn round the neck or as a hat- 

 band. Choice flowers are also used for this purpose, and at 

 entertainments in Hawaiian fashion the guests are always 

 decorated with these wreaths, which are made by stitching 

 the flowers on cloth. It is a very pretty custom ; but as leis 

 made out of valuable feathers, although only about two inches 

 in width, command such high prices as $50, or about £\Q, 

 it is easy to imagine how soon the handsome-plumaged birds 

 have become exterminated. Mr. Bishop, a banker in Hono- 

 lulu, has a case of these birds, some of them now very rare. 



During the months of October and "November 1885, the 



