A WET CLIMATE 227 



Tutuila is apparently of volcanic origin, and the 

 harbour is the centre of an ancient crater. From 

 information given to us I imagine that the highest 

 point in the island, the whole of which is covered 

 with dense forest, is about 2500 feet above 

 sea-level. The climate is very hot and damp, 

 and the annual rainfall is considerable. During 

 our stay rain fell heavily and without intermission, 

 so that collecting under these conditions was by 

 no means easy or pleasant. A butterfly net was 

 soaked through in a very few minutes, and 

 cartridges swelled to such an extent that shooting 

 was almost out of the question. I managed to 

 keep a few dry by carrying them in a sponge-bag 

 a most useful plan in a damp climate. 



Butterflies and moths were extremely numerous, 

 and a considerable number was obtained in spite 

 of the wet weather. A large sphinx moth was 

 hovering round the flowering bushes, apparently 

 undisturbed by the rain, and several smaller 

 kinds of moths were continually beaten out of the 

 soaking wet grass. Birds were fairly abundant ; the 

 most numerous being a small greenish-coloured 

 species, with a moderately long curved bill, the 

 gape of which was adorned with two orange- 

 coloured wattles which extended over the cheeks. 

 This bird Ptilotis carunculata is peculiar to 

 the Samoan Islands, though other species, more or 

 less closely allied, are found on the Fijis and in 

 Australia and New Guinea. 



