10 DR. P. L., SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM HUAHEINE. ([Jan. 12, 
for Sydney, a box containing some specimens of birds, inhabitants of 
this group. It so happened that at the time they arrived from the 
neighbouring island of Huaheine, we were busily engaged packing 
up two boxes of things for England, vid Sydney, and I had no time 
to do more than pin on to each of the birds its native name, reserving 
an account of their habits, &c., for a future time. 
«The ‘John Williams,’ missionary barque, would have had to 
perform a circuitous voyage to Sydney, where the box was to b2 
transferred to a homeward-bound Australian trader. It may perhaps 
reach you a little before this letter. 
“The only birds which will interest you at all will be the rapto- 
rial, but only after a fashion, as their food is chiefly fish. 
“1. ‘Otaha,’ or Man-of-War Hawk (Tachypetes palmerstont), so 
called, as you know, from its swift and dashing habits. The Otaha 
does not alight on the surface of the sea, being neither able to swim 
nor dive; but it hovers over the ocean with unwearied assiduity. 
Sailors believe it sleeps on the wing. Their flight is easy and grace- 
ful, and has the charm of variety. Sometimes the bird may be seen 
balanced in mid-air, its wings spread apparently motionless, its long 
forked tail expanding and closing with a quick alternate action, and 
its head inquisitively turned from side to side to inspect the ocean 
beneath ; sometimes it wheels rapidly, or darts to the surface of the 
water, in pursuit of its prey, and at others soars to such a great 
height that it is lost to sight amongst the clouds of heaven. When 
the ocean is turbulent, they fare well; but when calm, they live by 
plundering other birds, whose ocean-food they compel them to dis- 
gorge by repeated blows, and, when ejected, the Otaha seizes it with 
great dexterity before it falls into the sea. 
«They are very numerous in these islands. The Otaha builds its 
nest on the mous or verdant islets near the reef, amongst the leaves 
of the ‘ wild palm.’ 
**T believe the female lays no more than three eggs 
“The above description of the Otaha is chiefly taken from a book ; 
it is a faithful one. 
«©2. The ‘ Tarapapa,’ or Blue Heron (Herodias jugularis). This 
bird is very common here, and takes its prey after the usual Heron 
fashion, walking along the shores of the lagoon, or, as I have often 
seen them, sitting motionless on a low coral-rock for hours. The 
‘Tarapapa,’ I am told, makes its nest in the low coral-rocks, which 
here and there just show their heads above water, close to the shores 
of the lagoon. 
“3. ‘Otino’ (Sterna poliocerca). White Reef-bird, also a species 
of Heron, as you will have seen. This gentleman passes his time on 
the ‘barrier-reef’ amidst the foam of the broken wave, which brings 
with it from the ocean the small fish which constitutes his food. 
His home is, too, the ‘ wild palm’ of the ‘green motu,’ close to his 
beloved reef, on whose wave-beaten surface he passes his life. I do 
not know how many eggs the female lays. 
4, *Torea’ (Totanus incanus). ‘This bird seeks its food along 
the shore, like the Heron. ; 
