A Bird's Nest of Pele's Hair. 



WM. ALANSON BRYAN. 



The nest here shown (Figs, i and 2) was deposited in the 

 Museum by Mr. F. J. lyvman, and may be regarded as an exceed- 

 ingl}^ interesting example of the ease with which birds adapt them- 

 selves to their environment. The material used in its construdlion 

 is of volcanic origin, being formed from drops of molten lava which 

 are thrown into the air when the volcano Kilauea is in a(5live erup- 

 tion. As the drops rise the}^ leave behind them fine glass-like 



Fig. I. NEST OF PELE'S HAIR : SIDE. 



fibres which, when cooled, are broken up and carried away b}' the 

 wind. The name "Pele's hair" is commonly applied to this pro- 

 duct since the Hawaiian goddess Pele is supposed to preside over 

 volcanoes, and the vitreous fibres are not unlike fine strands of hair. 

 The specimen, which is regarded as a family treasure, was 

 secured on the island of Hawaii about five miles south of the crater 

 of Kilauea, in November, 1881, while Mr. layman and his father 

 were making a "short cut" journey from Kapapala Ranch to Olaa. 

 Stopping for lunch almost in the centre of this barren plain, which 

 in this region is covered with a-a and pahoehoe (lava), Mr. L,yman 

 says: "I began to amuse myself by gathering bits of Pele's 



[249] (^^7) 



