198 Mr. H. W. Heiishaw on the 



hunting, rather than in the smooth shallow waters of the 

 sheltered bays. In short, it appears to shun the places 

 where Terns are generally most at home. 



It fishes most actively in the early morning and late 

 afternoon, the interval being passed at rest upon some 

 favourite ledge. 



The T^oio is gentle and sociable in disposition, as indeed 

 are most of its kind, and the members of a colony seem to 

 dwell together in the utmost harmony. It appears to have no 

 natural enemies except man, and, as its nesting-sites are rarely 

 accessible, or only so under certain unusual conditions of wind 

 and water, they are not often disturbed even by the natives. 



In the olden time meat was very scarce in the Hawaiian 

 Islands, where the largest wild animal was a rat, and the 

 only domesticated species were the dog and the pig. I 

 understand that then the natives used to make raids upon 

 the Noio at night by the aid of torches, and plunder the 

 nests of both eggs and young. Bewildered by the light, the 

 old birds flew round and round and were easily knocked 

 down w^ith clubs. The flesh is tender and, notwithstanding 

 the fish diet, is said to be not unpalatable. When molested 

 by day, the members of a colony circle wildly about their 

 threatened homes, uttering' a harsh crik, crik ; but if no real 

 harm is apprehended, they soon recover their equanimity, 

 and in a few moments return to their nests or percliing- 

 places. The Noio possesses the confidence born of long 

 immunity from danger. 



The writer's own experience is limited to the Island of 

 Hawaii, but there is abundant evidence to shew that the 

 bird is generally distributed throughout the group. 



Mr. Palmer found Anous stolidus on French Frigate and 

 Laysan Islands, but that bird appears to be absent from the 

 coast of Hawaii, and may not occur, except perhaps casually, 

 anywhere in the Archipelago. Mr. Dole's references, as 

 indicated by Mr. Wilson, apply solely to the Noio. 



I have spoken above of the nest, but in truth the little 

 collection of rubbish gathered from the sea hardly deserves 

 that name; it is always damp, sodden, and foul-smelling, but 



