208 Recent Literature. [aptL 



and an Account of the Low Islands of the Group; The Inhabited Islands: 

 A description of Kauai and Niihau; Island of Oahu; Islands of Molokai, 

 Lanai, Maui and Kahoolawe; Island of Hawaii; Kilauea, the World's 

 Greatest Active Volcano; Condensed History of Kilauea's Activity; 

 Plant Life of the Sea-shore and Lowlands; Plant Life in the High Moun- 

 tains; A Ramble in a Honolulu Garden; Tropical Fruits in Hawaii; Agri- 

 culture in Hawaii: Its EfTect on Plant and Animal Life; Various Animals 

 from Land and Sea; Introduced Birds; Birds of the Sea; Birds of the 

 Marsh, Stream and Shore; Birds of the Mountain Forests; Hawaiian 

 Fishes; Introduced Fresh Water Fish ; Important Economic Insects; Na- 

 tive Insects; Land and Fresh Water Shells; Shells from the Sea-shore; 

 Plants and Animals from the Coral Reef. 



The long residence of the author in the archipelago, his extensive knowl- 

 edge of biological subjects, and his sympathetic acquaintance with the 

 natives and their ways eminently fit him for his self-imposed task, and the 

 result is a volume which cannot fail to be of great value to the general 

 student of island history, the visitor who seeks for information and an 

 explanation of what he sees about him, and for the residents. Hitherto 

 much of the information in regard to the islands and the natives, especially 

 on scientific subjects, has been locked up in special treatises not accessible 

 to the general public, or in expensive volumes out of reach of all but the 

 wealthy. 



Readers of 'The Auk' will be chiefly interested in the chapters on birds, 

 which fill pages 304 to 338, and contain brief accounts, but no formal 

 descriptions, of many of the islands' native birds and also the seven intro- 

 duced species; English Sparrow, Rice Bird, Chinese Turtle-dove, Mynah, 

 Sky-lark, Pheasant, and California Partridge. 



Under the caption Birds of the Sea and Oceanic Islands the author 

 treats of many of the more interesting species permanently residing on the 

 islands or spending the winter on them. Under this head are included also 

 the Laysan Islands birds, which are of special interest to the ornithologist. 



Under the caption 'Birds of the Mountain Forests' are mentioned the 

 more notable of the native woodland birds, including the famous and now 

 extinct Mamo, and the O-o. 



American ornithologists will hardly be able to understand the statement 

 that were it not for the presence of a 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 journeys through 

 the islands. Nevertheless, the statement is literally true, so closely are 

 the native species confined to the deep forests and steep mountain-sides 

 and so difficult of access are these semi-tropical fastnesses. 



Recalling the roving disposition of our mainland crows, the American 

 ornithologist will be surprised to learn that the Hawaiian Crow {Corvus 

 hawaiiensis) is restricted to a part of one island, and not only has failed to 

 occupy the other islands of the group, but fails to enter even the neighbor- 

 ing districts where vegetation is similar and food appears equally abundant. 



