Vol. XVII 
1900 
HeEeNsHAW, American Birds of Hawaitt. 205 
The whole subject of the migration of the Plover and other 
species to and from the distant mainland is of exceeding interest. 
Especially interesting would be any book bearing upon the man- 
ner of these migrations and the time taken in the flight. 
As is well known, both the Plover (Charadrius dominicus fulvus) 
and the Akekeke (Avenaria interpres) leave the Island early in 
May in immense numbers and return in August. My friend, Mr. 
Patton, of Hakelau, Hawaii, has several times observed parties 
of Plover making the land, and always in a tired, if not an 
exhausted, condition. Once on land they seem to desire nothing 
but a chance to rest, but soon recuperate and go to feeding. 
Capt. Chas. Watson has captained ships for years between San 
Francisco and Hilo. He tells me that only twice has he seen 
migrating birds, once flocks of Ducks flying north from the 
Islands, and once great numbers of Plovers' taking the same 
course. It is worth noting that in both instances this vessel was 
about 2000 miles to the north and west of Hawaii, and the infer- 
ence is that the birds were steering a straight course for the Aleu- 
tians. I hope to learn of other masters of vessels who can furnish 
notes upon this subject, and especially do I hope to find some one 
who has seen the migrating flocks of Plover resting upon the ocean. 
For it does not seem probable that such good swimmers as are 
the Plover and Turnstone attempt to make so long a flight with- 
out rest, even if their powers of wing are equal to a task of such 
magnitude, which may be doubted. 
In the above connection a note by Mr. Rothschild’s collector, 
Mr. Palmer, is of great significance. He says (Avifauna of Lay- 
san, Pt. I, p. 14), ‘““A Kolea....flew also round the ship and 
considerably astonished me by settling on the water several times 
to rest.” This was in August and the bird most probably had 
just made the downward trip from Alaska. If Plover and Turn- 
stone rest freely upon the oft times calm Pacific, their passage 
over such long distances is more readily comprehended. That 
the Ducks can and do rest upon the ocean when tired, is not to 
be doubted. Even so, however, it is a mystery that birds should 
The term Plover upon the Islands usually includes both the Plover proper 
and the Akekeke, few discriminating between the two birds. 
