Some Birds of Molokai. 49 



For the next few days following my Pelekunu experience with 

 the birds, I was camped at Halawa and Moanui. At the former 

 place, although far from any habitation and in a rugged country, 

 I did not hear nor see a single Uau. At Moanui, on the other 

 hand, they were seen each evening at dusk flying over the head- 

 lands close down beside the sea. Three specimens were taken 

 June 5 and 6. It is rather curious that all the birds seen flew along 

 the coast toward the east, against the wind, while later on, on the 

 windward side of the island, the birds were seen to return to their 

 rookeries from all directions. A possible explanation would be 

 that the birds prefer to follow along coast line to their nesting 

 places on the opposite side of the island, rather than to take the 

 more direct route over the mountains through the fog. 



A favorable opportunity for visiting the nesting colonies of the 

 Uau did not come until June 14, when I made a trip down into 

 Wailau — the valley lying next east of Pelekunu — for that especial 

 purpose. On the way over the pali from Mapulehu, about half 

 way down the Wailau trail, a half-eaten carcass of one of these 

 birds was found, under similar conditions to the one noted from 

 Pelekunu valley. 



At Wailau village I rallied a party of these experienced native 

 bird catchers, with their Uau dogs, for a day's hunt on the almost 

 vertical cliffs of Olokui. For there, well down towards the sea 

 end of this great pyramid-shaped mountain, at an elevation be- 

 tween 3500 and 4000 feet, a colony of these birds have reared their 

 young each season for generations. Each year, during the sum- 

 mer months, the natives of the valley have formed hunting parties 

 and have preyed upon the colony in search of the young Uau, 

 which are regarded as an especial delicacy by all Hawaiians. 



Our start was an early and auspicious one. My men were 

 each provided with a bag which was held on the back, suspended 

 from the shoulders, in approved native fashion. Save for my col- 

 lecting gun, we were without firearms and unencumbered. The 

 day was bright, with occasional showers — just sufficient to keep 

 every leaf in the moss-grown forest soaked and dripping. Only 

 the most hardy and venturesome natives ever attempt this climb. 

 For four hours we struggled up the steep ascent, cutting the trail 

 through the tangled undergrowth, helping each other up the cliffs 



Oc.P. B. P. B.M.. Vol. IV.. No. 2—4. [ : 39] 



