Recently published Ornithological Works. 4G7 



in Laysan in May 1902, while on a cruise in the U.S. Fish- 

 Coramission Steamer ' Albatross/ He now gives us a most 

 interesting series of notes, on what he truly calls " one of 

 the most remarkable bird-islands in the world ;" these make 

 up the greater portion of the present report, the remainder 

 relating to some of the other " Leeward Islands " of the 

 Hawaiian group, which were also visited. 



The number of species of birds found on Laysan and its 

 adjoining islets is not great, there being only 18 sea-birds 

 and 5 land-birds. But the birds are very remarkable for the 

 multitude of individuals and for their "surprizing tameness." 



" The effect of this is at first nearly overpowering. Birds 

 are everywhere, and the noise is sometimes deafening. When 

 we made our way through a populous colony of Sooty Terns 

 we had to exercise much care to avoid crushing their eggs 

 and treading on the birds, which struggled panic-stricken 

 before us. If we would converse it was necessary to shout." 



Many of the species are restricted to definite localities. 

 Thus Diomedea n'ujripes breeds on the sand-beaches on the 

 north, east, and south sides of Laysan, but not elsewhere. 

 Sula cyanojjs is restricted to a narrow sedge-covered slope on 

 the same sides. Sterna lunata chooses the summit of the 

 littoral slope all round the island. Sterna fuliginosa encircles 

 the islet in a wide band, inside the ring of S. lunata. (Estre- 

 lata hypoleuca burrows in the deep sand throughout the 

 area covered with tall grass down to the open plain, where 

 in favourable places it is replaced by Puffinus cuneatus, which 

 encircles the central lagoon in a ring inside the enormous 

 colony of (Estrelata. 



Only three Passerine birds are mentioned — Himatione 

 freethi, Telespiza cantans, and Acrocep)halus familiaris, all of 

 which were found breeding. 



The memoir is illustrated by a coloured plate of the new 

 Tern (Procellisterna saxaiilis) discovered in Necker Island 

 (see 'Ibis/ 1903, p. 41G), and by a scries of photographic 

 views of the bird-life and scenery of the islands visited. 



