228 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



A fine kingfisher,* apparently restricted to the 

 wooded] hillsides but common there, was feeding 

 entirely upon insects, especially the larvce of some 

 species of moth. In the coconut palms a small 

 paroquet was seen, but not obtained, and a little 

 sunbird,f of a vivid scarlet and black, was feeding 

 among the blossoms of the trees. 



The most striking mammal was the fruit bat,{ 

 numbers of which were seen flying about over the 

 trees even in broad daylight, while at dusk so 

 many of these huge bats came down from the high 

 forests, that we judged there must be a large 

 colony of them at no great distance from 

 Pago-Pago. 



Dr. Macdonald and I climbed a pass between 

 two high peaks. For some distance the path led 

 through a plantation of coconut trees, where 

 one of the natives engaged in gathering the fruit 

 offered to climb a tree and procure nuts for us. 

 Armed with a huge knife he approached a coco- 

 nut tree, and with a sudden downward and side- 

 ward stroke cut a small notch in the bark, into 

 which he put the toe of one foot while he cut another 

 notch with great rapidity a little above the first, 

 then cutting notch after notch with marvellous 

 rapidity he ascended the tree. 



While drinking the juice or " milk " of the 

 coconuts, we entered into conversation with this 



* Halcyon pealii. f Myzomela nigriventris . 



J Pteropus ruficollis. 



