38 Director' s Annual Report. 



as a centre for field work in the Waianae Mountains, is on the 

 windward side of the range at the lower edge of the present timber 

 belt, yet within a few hours climb of the summit of Mt. Kaala 

 (4030 ft.), which is the highest point on the island. 



The long knife-like ridges and deep, narrow, intervening val- 

 leys of this group of beautifully sculptured mountains are gener- 

 ally more or less thickly wooded with Koa, Ohia and Kukui, 

 which are the characfleristic indigenous forest trees of the island. 

 An undergrowth of vines, shrubs and ferns which mat the ground 

 in favorable localities make the forest in many places an almost 

 impenetrable jungle. This circumstance, taken in connedlion with 

 the rough and uneven characfter of the mountain side, makes for 

 the ornithologist one of the most difficult coUedling grounds im- 

 maginable. 



From various causes the timber, which in early times covered 

 the mountains and extended far down the valleys, is fast dying 

 out, and yearly the feeding grounds for the nedlar-loving avifauna 

 are becoming more and more limited in extent. I have roughly 

 estimated that today but one-twentieth of the area of the island 

 which was wooded formerly is covered with verdure suitable to 

 harbor and sustain the bird life which is peculiar to these islands. 

 If the mountains are still further denuded of forest the liwi, Apa- 

 pane, Amakihi and Elepaio, which are now far from abundant, 

 must necessaril}^ from lack of suitable food, ere long succumb to 

 the inevitable and add their names to the now too long list of ex- 

 tinct birds of this island. 



The heavy rain and continued gloomy weather which inter- 

 rupted our work was most unfortunate. Appreciating the fact 

 that little or nothing is known concerning the nidification of the 

 native birds our visit had been planned so as to bring us in the 

 field at the most favorable time for investigation along that line. 

 I had succeeded in locating and marking for further study a dozen 

 partially completed nests before the storm broke causing the birds 

 to abandon all of them. However, the results worthy of notice are 

 appended believing they will be found of .some general interest as 

 well as a basis for farther study. 



[230] 



