Report of a Mission to Guam. 



BY ALVIN SEALE. 



Part I.— AVIFAUNA. 



The Marianas or Ladrone Islands consist of twenty-one small 

 volcanic islands which extend on a north and south line for a space 

 of about 400 miles. They were discovered by Magalhaes, March 6, 

 1 5 2 1 . For the most part they present a bold rock}^ coast line with 

 high hills or low mountains rising in the interior. The}' are 

 densely wooded, except on top of the mountains, where it is 

 usuall}' barren, or covered with tall grass. 



My actual field work was confined to the island of Guam, 

 which is the largest and southernmost of the group, being thirty- 

 two miles long b}' twelve broad. This island is den.sely wooded, 

 except in the northwest, where there is a small range of low 

 mountains reaching to an elevation of 1800 feet. The general 

 height of the island is from fift}' to seventy-five feet, with a few 

 small fresh water ponds and marshes, and perhaps eight or ten 

 small streams. 



In this paper I have followed as near as possible the A. O. U. 

 code of nomenclature. The key, inserted for the convenience of 

 fellow-workers in Polynesian ornithology^ is chiefly compiled from 

 various works of worth bearing on the subject. The measurements 

 are all in inches, and like the color notes were taken from speci- 

 mens in the flesh, /. c, in all the Guam specimens. Unless a speci- 

 men is marked "' Iinviattire ' an adult bird is to be understood. 

 The local names given in Vol. V., Nov. Zool., all have a curious 

 Japanese twist to them, and with one exception are all incorrecSth- 

 spelled. The native names as herein given were all revised b}- 

 Lieutenant-Governor Safford of Guam, who is the best living 

 authorit}' on the Chamorro language. 



O. p. B. P. B. M.— Vol. I., No. .:;. (17) 



