Letters from the Pacific. 247 



songster is so plentiful. As I wrote you in a former letter, 

 this species adapts itself to very different localities. In Po- 

 nape it is a true Reed-warbler^ confined to the reed-swanaps, 

 and building its nest in the reeds, in the same manner as our 

 Calamoherpe turdoides. In Ruk and the Mortlocks Cala- 

 moherpe syrinx leads an arboreal life, and nests in trees, as 

 also is the case on Nawodo, where swampy grounds and reeds 

 are absent. As I have remarked already, this species is very 

 common in Pleasant Island. — as common as the House- 

 Sparrow in England. It lives singly or in pairs, and keeps, 

 like its congeners, hidden in the thick foliage of trees or the 

 bush. But you may hear its song everywhere, both from the 

 highest cocoanut-palms or other trees and in the dense foliage 

 of the lowly Pandanus, or even in the lowest scrub. The 

 singing male loves to rest on a dry twig of a high branch, and 

 is not at all shy. When disturbed, it only takes a short flight 

 to one of the next trees or bushes, where it recommences im- 

 mediately its interrupted song. Although Calamoherpe syrinx 

 is reputed one of the best singing birds of the Pacific, I must 

 confess that I found its song far inferior to what I had ex- 

 pected. It is intermediate between that of the true Reed- 

 Warbler and a Phylloscopus (e. g. P. trochilus) , but lacks the 

 continuous melodious notes which make the song of our 

 C. turdoides so agreeable. On the other hand, C. syrinx has 

 not those harsh- sounding notes which are so significant in 

 our C. turdoides, chiefly at the commencement of its song. 

 C syrinx breeds on the island ; and I got fresh eggs, although 

 the greater part of the specimens obtained by me were in 

 moult. This species feeds on insects, chiefly Libellulidse, 

 which are the commonest among the few insects of the island. 



Gygis alba also belongs to the breeding-birds of Pleasant 

 Island ; for I got a freshly hatched young bird, in the singular, 

 quite Tern-like, down plumage. 



Anous stolidus and Strepsilas interpres I saw only as pets 

 near the huts of the natives. The latter bird seems to be 

 highly esteemed by the natives, who keep them singly or 

 in pairs in nicely made cup-shaped cages. The reason for 

 keeping these birds is very peculiar, and was quite new to 



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