304 • NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



abundant, though seals are reguhirly reported from Laysan. Lisiansky, Pearl 

 and Hermes Reef, and are occasionally seen at Midway. In Januaiy. 1912, 

 the U. S. Revenue cutter Thetis returned from a cruise to Midway and L;iysan 

 and brought a seal-skin back which was presented to the Bishop Museum. Haliy 

 seals were seen at that time, and it is quite prob;ible that, if not interfered 

 M'ith, the herd will increase in numbers. 



ciiaptp:r XXII. 



INTRODUCED BIRDS. 



The nature-lover visiting Hawaii for the tirst time is sure to be disaji- 

 pointed by the limited number of species of birds to be seen in Uniidhilu and 

 along the main traveled roads about the islands. Were it not for the presence 

 of the dozen or more species of birds that have been introduced into Hawaii by 

 accident or design, it is doubtful if the average tourist would see or hear a 

 single bird during his stay in the group. It is unfortunate that of the One 

 hundred and twenty-five or more species enumerated in the list of birds in the 

 islands, not more than half a dozen will be seen within the city of Honolulu, and 

 all of these are iiitrodneed from other lands. 



The English Sp.vrrow. 



The English sparrow' is perhaps the most abundant bird about tlie city. 

 This pert, saucy and industrious Britisher is six inches or so in length, and has 

 a brownish back, streaked with black. In the adult male the eonsi)icuous black 

 throat patch makes it a species easily recognized as an old aei|uaintance of a 

 distant land, and serves to distinguish it from the house finch nr the "rice 

 bird,'"' the only other species with which it can be confused. The latter 

 species is about the size of its English cousin, but is light ashy-brown, streaked 

 with dai'k brown above. During the mating season the male has the throat 

 and breast a crimson color. The English sparrow's eggs are always spotted, 

 while the house fincli's eggs are smaller and are a very pale liluish lint. 



Rice Birds. 



Thei'c is also another rice bird, much smaller than the California hoiise 

 finch. It is usually seen fiying in small, compact tlocks. In I'eaiity it is a 

 weaver bird and belongs to a different family from that of the two sjieeies just 

 described. Doubtless it arrived in Hawaii many years ago as a cage bii'd that 

 came originally from the Malay Peninsula. As so often happens with pets, it 

 probably escaped from captivity and has since become common throughout 

 the group. AVhile it is called a I'ice bird, it is better known locally as the 

 Chinese sparrow.-' It is about two-thirds the size of the larger rice bird, and 



'^ Passer cloiiiesliciis. ^ Cariindariis nii-.ru'inius ohsriirriis. ^ Munla nisuriu. 



