312 Dr. P- H. Ralir: Notes on the 



in Vitilevu, in the months from September to December. In 

 Taviuni flocks were seen visiting the clearings in the 

 bush. I managed to shoot several, which were much prized 

 bv the planters as a welcome addition to their larder. 



Demiegretta sacra Gray. 



Ardea sacra Gmel. 



The Fijian " Belo " is an extremely common bird in the 

 mangrove-swamps and on the coral-reefs of every island I 

 visited. Many individuals in the white and in the transi- 

 tional stage to the slaty-grey mature plumage were seen. 

 The natives consider this bird sacred, and I failed to induce 

 a Fijian who was carrying a gun to shoot a specimen for me. 

 He told me that the fine, according to Fijian law, was £Q. 



Anas superciliosa Gmel. 



The Fijian " Ga" has fallen an easy prey to the Mongoose 

 in Vitilevu. At the mouth of the Rewa River, where until 

 comparatively recently it existed in great numbers, I only 

 saw a pair. I was told that it is still numerous in 

 Ovalau. None were seen on the large inland lake which is 

 the pride of the island of Oneata. Duck-shooting as a means 

 of diversion in Vitilevu is now considered a thing of the 

 past. 



1 did not have much opportunity of studying the shore- 

 birds, and the few I saw were so extremely wary that they 

 did not sufi^er me to approach within gunshot. I several 

 times saw a bird like a God wit, probably Lhnosa nova- 

 zeolandice Gray, of which the native name is '^ Dolidoli." 



Of the sea-birds Berg's Tern {Sterna bergii) and the 

 Mutton Bird [Puffinus brevicauda) were most commonly 

 seen. On the whole, sea-birds are extraordinarily scarce. 

 During a sail of three days' duration across the Koro Sea only 

 a few Frigate Birds {Fregata ag-wi/a). Mutton Birds, Boobies 

 {Sula cyanops), and the White-faced Storm-Petrel {Pelago- 

 droma marina) were met with. 



