128 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
we offered a small gratuity after which they all departed leaving 
us for another night’s rest on Mecuisela’s couch. 
Next morning we went about the village visiting the natives and 
taking photographs. Most of the native Fijians are very glad, 
indeed, at times anxious, to pose for their photographs. The Hin- 
dus, on the other hand, will not permit it. At eight o’clock the 
whistle of the ‘‘Tomy’’ warned us that she was about to leave. 
So, escorted by the ancient Mecuisela and most of the villagers we 
descended the slippery bank up which we had come two days be- 
fore, to the wharf. Again we boarded the decrepit launch and 
with the farewells of the natives in our ears and Mecuisela almost 
in tears we chugged away leaving behind these simple people and 
taking away pleasant memories of our visit with them. 
BIRDS 
In accordance with expectations, the species of birds of Fiji are 
quite different from those inhabiting North America, though repre- 
sentatives of certain families are common to both regions. 
The following characteristics of the Fijian avifauna as I have 
observed them from Vitilevu and the near-by islands and seas 
seem to me to be worthy of mention. 
The total number of species on and about the island is only 
about seventy-five, of which less than twenty are ‘‘water birds.’’ 
The surprising paucity of marine forms was constantly brought 
to my attention. 
No one species of native bird is markedly abundant. The dense 
bush offers a comparatively safe retreat for some species but even 
here the number of individuals falls below what one might be led 
to expect. There is present a goodly number of introduced spe- 
cies which thrive well. 
The small number of nocturnal and ecrepuscular birds calls for 
special mention as well as the limited number of strictly raptorial 
birds and the total absence of woodpeckers. 
As the steamer approaches the entrance to Suva harbor through 
an opening in the great barrier reef, one sees a few crested terns 
(Sterna bergii) perched upon the floating buoys and signal posts. 
Perhaps also a bluish dot here and there along the shore proves 
to be a blue heron or ‘‘Belo’’ (Demiegretta sacra), a species which 
I found later in the marshy mangrove swamps. An occasional 
tropic bird (Phaethon wthereus) may have been seen a little far- 
ther out to sea. With these exceptions water birds are not plenti- 
