Illiugworih — Early references to Haivaiian entomology 7 



Lord Byron, though on a mission of mercy to the Hawaiian Govern- 

 ment, spent some time during 1825 in exploration. In his narrative there 

 are a few interesting references to the fauna and flora of the Hawaiian 

 group. Andrew Bloxam, an enthusiastic student just out of Oxford, was 

 naturahst on the voyage and though a botanist by preference, he collected 

 many zoological specimens during the eighteen months spent in Hawaii. 

 This material was deposited in the British Museum. Probably based on 

 information supplied by Bloxam, Lord Byron (10, p. 252) states: 



We met with only one Papilio, which Kotzebue has described under the name 

 Vanessa tamehainelta (tameamea). We caught one sphinx moth; brown, with a 

 purple stripe on each side of its body, which glitters in the sun. There are several 

 minute moths, several varieties of Libeilula (dragon-flies), one species of Cicada, 

 a black earwig, a wood spider and innumerable fleas. 



It would be interesting to know what the cicada mentioned is, also the 

 sphinx ; no moth answering that description is in the Hawaiian collections. 



Captain F. W. Beechey (14), an English explorer, who visited Hawaii 

 in 1826 and 1827, apparently made no reference to the insect fauna, though 

 his remarks (14, Vol. II, pp. 100 and 112) on the first export of a cargo of 

 sugar to California are of interest, considering the prominence which the 

 sugar industry has now attained. 



In the Reminiscences of Rev. Sereno Edward Bishop I found two inter- 

 esting references. Describing the customs of the chief. Bishop says: (16, 



P- 30) : 



Objects much in evidence among the natives, when visiting or at meetings as 

 well as in their homes were their fans, and their fly brushes or kahilis. The fans 

 were made from the ends of young coconut leaves. The broad end being elastic, 

 threw the air far more efficiently than the stiff fans now commonly braided. Get 

 an old-fashioned native fan for comfortable use. Small fly-brushes were used by all 

 the people. They were about four feet long, the upper half of the stick having the 

 tail feathers of fowls tied on. The kahilis of the chiefs were larger and more 

 elaborate. The long handles were often beautifully encased with tubes and rings of 

 human bone and whale-tooth, also turtle shell, all finely polished. .A. high-chief 

 always had two or more attendants armed with such fly-brushes. 



In discussing (p. j,y) the destruction of the trees of the islands, Bishop 



remarks ; 



About i860, a minute insect called "red spider" came to infest the under-side of 

 the leaves to such an extent as in the course of a year to destroy every kou tree, 

 not only in Lahaina, but throughout the group. The timber of the dead trees was 

 cut and used for furniture, much being sent to Germany. The chief's great cala- 

 bash bowls of kou are now rare and choice. Young trees of the species exist here 

 and there. The trees have always succumbed to the insect pest before attaining 

 any considerable size. 



"Moolele Hawaii," written about 1832 by David Malo, a native, has 

 interesting references (17, p. 65). Malo says: 



The following are the flying things (birds, iiuiini) that are not eatable: The 

 o-pea pea or bat, the pinao or dragon-fly, the okai, (a butterfly), the lepe-lepe-ahina 

 (a moth or butterfly), the pu-lele hua (a butterfly), the nalo, or common house-fly, 



