THE ANIMAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 411 



tures of the native fauna, sinee it is one of eonsideratile general as well as bio- 

 logic interest. 



Chab.vcter of the Native Fai'na. 



The number of species even iu the limited and preeinetive area of the 

 islands is so great that it is not possible to do more than indicate in the briefest 

 wa.Y the character and extent of the various orders represented in the group, 

 and to assure those who take especial interest in the subject of entomology 

 that they will find in Hawaii an extensive literature already prepared and an 

 interesting field before them for study and investigation. 



The stranger in the islands, with only a few days to spend in the collect- 

 ing of specimens, is fortunate in that two of the most favorable localities for 

 gaining a bird's-eye view of the native insects in their native environment, are 

 also two of the most accessible. They are the mountains back of Honolulu, 

 particularly the higher slopes of Tantalus, and the region in the vicinity of the 

 Volcano Kilauea, on Hawaii. 



Dr. Perkins, the veteran naturalist of the islands, whose active life in the 

 field of entomology has been largely spent in bringing together the material 

 on which a monumental work, in three volumes, known as Fauna Hawaiiensis 

 is based, has published short papers ^ setting forth bi'iefly the more important 

 and interesting forms that may be met with in the localities mentioned. These 

 siiccinct papers will serve the collector as a field guide to each locality and aid 

 him in his search for the rarer forms to be found in these favored precincts. 



The student will early learn to appreciate the importance of careful and 

 intensive study of circumscribed localities, since each island, valley, mountain, 

 and even limited areas and often certain peculiar plants, have their peculiar 

 forms. It will also be noted that such influences as elevation, moisture and 

 dryness play important parts in the distribution of s]iecies and the establish- 

 ment of their vertical and horizontal range. 



Insects Occitrring on Mamaki. 



The work on the life hi.stories of various groups of Hawaiian insects that 

 has been carried on by the individual members of the local Entomological 

 Society has added material of the greatest interest to our increasing store of 

 knowledge concerning the habits of the native insect fauna. This is especially 

 true in the group of Lrpidoptcra, wherein Professor Otto Sw-ezey, in his study of 

 moths and butterflies, has done much to clear up many obscure relations exist- 

 ing between that order of insects and those insects preying upon them in their 

 early stages of development. The bearing of these inter-relations in their 

 effect on the native vegetation has often proved to be of g:reat biologic interest. 



In his investigation of the insects associated with the mamaki (a native 

 Hawaiian shrub, from which kapa was formerly made), he has indicated the 



> Insects of Tantalus, Perkins, Proc. H,-i\v. Entom. Soc, Vol. I. pt. 2. pp. 38-51. Insects of Kilauea, 

 Perkins, Proc. Haw. Entom. Soc. Vol. I. pt. 3. pp. 89-99. 



