Sandwich-Island Birds. 173 



I have gone at some length into this question, as, by so 

 doing, I may draw to it the attention of the Hawaiian 

 Government, as well as that of the large land-owners, and 

 their combined action cannot be too soon brought into 

 effect if the entire disforestation of the Hawaiian Archipelago 

 is to be prevented. It would be a disgraceful thing if such 

 a Garden of Eden should be bereft of its birds, more especially 

 as I am convinced that these islands have a great future 

 before them as the great health-resort for the inhabitants of 

 San Francisco flying from its unhealthy and treacherous 

 climate, to say nothing of the vast number of tourists who 

 will flock, in yearly-increasing numbers, to see the volcanic 

 wonders of Hawaii, from all quarters of the globe. All these 

 visitors may be expected to take an intelligent interest in 

 the avifauna of the islands they visit or make their home, 

 and on their behalf I appeal to the land-owners and to the 

 Legislature of Hawaii to unite in protecting their country's 

 birds. I would suggest that not only should forest-lauds be 

 fenced in as far as practicable, but that no exotic birds should 

 be introduced. Several species of Hawaiian birds, which 

 were to be found in Cook's time, and others which were 

 obtained even so late as 1840, have become extinct, and it 

 would not be rash to say that ere another century has elapsed 

 but few native species will remain. 



After this exordium, I will now attempt to give my readers 

 some idea of the aspect of a Sandwich-Island forest. I shall 

 enumerate the principal trees, more especially those which 

 are frequented by birds that enliven the sublime solitude of 

 the forest depths with the sweet ripples of their music — music 

 " which gentlier on the spirit lies than tired eyelids on tired 

 eyes." The ohia {Metrosideros polymorpha) is the queen of 

 Hawaiian forest-trees, often attaining a height of from 90 to 

 100 feet, with a bole large in proportion. These giants are 

 generally encircled to the greater part of their height by a 

 climbing tree (Frey cinetia arborea) , which seems literally to 

 coil around them, while its scarlet-tufted bracts and showy 

 red fruit add yet another shade of colour. The ohia belongs 

 to the Myrtacece, but the white stamens of the myrtle are 



