414 THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, 



shoals of Skipjacks {Caranx), as they pursue the smaller fish. 

 The shores are inhabited by several species of Shore birds. I 

 saw on the main island a scarlet and black Parrot or Cockatoo 

 of some kind, which flew out of some high trees on the sea- 

 shore, screaming loudly, like a Cockatoo. The bird was wary, 

 and I could not get a shot at it. It reminded me at the time 

 of the rare Dasyptilus peqiietti of New Guinea ; it was of about 

 that size. Of Reptiles, there are two species of Turtle common 

 here, Chelone inidas and C. imbricata, the latter the source of 

 the principal article of barter of the natives, tortoiseshell. In 

 the swamp pools is a species of Crocodile, of which the natives 

 are in great dread. There are also at least one species of Land 

 and one of Sea Snakes {Hydrophidce), and the natives showed 

 themselves acquainted with the danger of handling Snakes. A 

 Gecko and the small blue-tailed Lizard {Euprepes cyanum) are 

 also present and abundant. 



I was interested in watching the Skipjacks chase small 

 shoals of young Gar-fish {Belone). The little Gar-fish, hotly pur- 

 sued, dashed out of the water, and by violent lashing of their 

 tails managed to keep themselves above the water in a nearly 

 upright position for a distance of several yards, as they moved 

 swiftly from the danger ; their motion seemed a step towards 

 that of the Flying-fish, their close allies. 



The large Gar-fish, when startled, move along the surface of 

 the water by a series of rapid bounds for thirty or forty yards at 

 a time with astonishing rapidity, and are often to be seen dash- 

 ing thus along when scared by a boat. I was told that in some 

 of the Pacific Islands they not uncommonly cause the death of 

 natives who, when wading in the water, are liable to have their 

 naked bodies dangerously speared by the long sharp bony 

 snouts of these fish. The fish merely bound blindly away 

 from danger and strike such an obstacle haphazard, but their 

 weight must render them very formidable to encounter in this 

 manner. 



The above account of the inhabitants of the Admiralty Islands is 

 mostly reprinted from the "Journal of the Anthropological Institute" 

 for May, 1877, where, in a paper on the "Admiralty Islanders," further 

 details, and an account of the language are given. 



Literature relating to the Admiralty Islands : — " An Account of a 

 Voyage round the World in the years 1766, '67, '68, '69." By Philip 

 Carteret, Esq., Commander of H.M. Sloop " Swallow." Hawkworth's 

 Voyages. London, 1773, Vol. I. 



Labillardiere, "Relation du Voyage a la Recherche de La Perouse. 

 1791." Paris, an. VIII. T. I, p. 255. 



The above translated by John Stockdale. London, 1800, Vol. I., p. 296. 



" Voyage de Dentrecasteaux a la Recherche de La Perouse." Redige 

 par M. de Rossel. T. I, p. 131, 



