Vol. XXn Yis,H¥.K, Birds of Laysa7i Island. 39^ 



1903 J 



120° or 125° east and 120'' or 125° west. Oustalet^ considers 

 that this restricted group, Tariarc, which has only eight oceanic 

 species shows perhaps closer affinities with Bernkra of Mada- 

 gascar, than with the European and Asiatic Acrocephalus (/. c. 

 p. 210). Tartare luscinia is found on Guam and Saipan, T. 

 syrinx in the Carolines and on Pagan of the Mariana Islands, 

 T. rehsei on Pleasant Island, T. aquinoctialis on Christmas Island, 

 T. pistor on the Fannings, T. meiidance on the Marquesas, T. longi- 

 rostris through the Society and Paumota Archipelagos, and finally 

 T. fajniliaris on Laysan. I am not aware with what species favi- 

 iliaris shows closest kin, but a priori one would rather favor the 

 idea that the first colonists to Laysan came from the Carolines or 

 the Ladrones (Mariana Islands) rather than from the south, for 

 the reason that the genus is not present in the main Hawaiian 



group. 



The Miller Bird is one of the most abundant of the species 

 under consideration and is seen to best advantage during the cool 

 of the morning or in late afternoon, for then it is very active, and 

 at times musical. During the heated portion of the day, after the 

 custom of our wood warblers, it retires to remain in seclusion 

 among shady bushes, or tall tussocks of grass where its nest is 

 made. Like most of the birds on the island Acrocephalus is rather 

 unsuspicious, though not by any means so tame as either the 

 Finches or Rails. I have read that its congeners in other parts 

 of the world are quite shy, but many rules usual in bird manners 

 seem here to be thrown aside. That the little creatures are far 

 from nervous is demonstrated by the accompanying illustration 

 (Plate XIV, Fig. i ). The camera was planted about thirty inches 

 from the nest, and when everything was arranged I crouched 

 under the instrument, and waited quietly for five minutes till the 



bird returned. 



Whenever in evidence Acrocephalus always appears busy. It 

 feeds largely on moths and other insects, and receives its local 

 name from a fondness for millers, which, as already intimated, 

 abound on the island. The little warbler drags these insects from 

 their secluded hiding places with much skill. Its dull brownish- 



iM. E. Oustalet, Les Mammiferes et les Oiseaux des Isles Mariannes 

 Nouvelles Archives du Museum, 3rd series, VII, 1S95, 212. 



