132 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
jar (Eurystopus), the morepork (Podargus) and the boobook owl 
(Ninox). 
I strongly advised them to proceed slowly in this matter, not to 
tamper too much with Nature’s balance and not to introduce new 
birds, no matter what beneficial qualities they might appear to 
possess, until complete and exhaustive studies of food, breeding 
and other habits in their native home had been made; careful con- 
sideration should also be given to the practicability of securing 
and transporting specimens as well as the likelihood of their sur- 
vival and relation to other animals in their new home. Importa- 
tion of a new species of animal into any country is a serious and 
often dangerous business. 
Of diurnal insectivorous birds, three species of muscicapids, 
Myvagra sp., and Rhipidura layardi, the meliphagids Ptilotis pro- 
cerior and Myzomela jugularis, the swift, Callocalia spondiopygia, 
the graceful black and white wood swallow, Artamus mentalts, and 
the white-eye, Zosterops flaviceps are among the commoner forms. 
In the higher and more wooded portions of the island doves of 
several genera are to be found, the two commonest ones being the 
Fijian ‘‘Sogi dina’’ (Columba vitiensis) and the ‘‘Coge’’ or bark- 
ing dove, (Chrysoenas luteovirens), whose call is more or less 
resonant and ventriloquial. The former is occasionally taken by 
the natives for food. 
But three species of raptorial birds oeeur on Vitilevu, the 
faleon (Falco lunulatus) and the ‘‘Lulu’’ (Strix lulu) apparently 
being the commonest representatives about Suva. 
Along the beaches and fresh-water streams the kingfisher (Hal- 
cyon sacra) is fairly common. It is green above and tan below 
and although considerably smaller than our own representative of 
this family ona can not fail to identify it by its characteristic 
actions. 
The total absence of woodpeckers in the Fiji bush is one of the 
most notable departures from the usually prevalent conditions 
existing in our own woods. 
As a general proposition, birds on Vitilevu are less abundant 
both from the standpoint of number of individuals and number 
of species than one would expect in view of the seemingly favor- 
able conditions; only about thirty-five forms, both native and in- 
troduced, are at all common on the island and adjacent seas. 
Several species keep well into the bush and so are seldom seen. 
Little if any damage is done to crops or cultivated fruits. 
