NATURAL COLONISATION METHODS 299 



mystery, and he was not seen again after a cyclone had swept 

 over the group. His coming was mysterious, his going was 

 mysterious, yet his visit is well authenticated, and it was one 

 Avhich lasted many years. 



With the introduction of birds, man has been much more 

 successful, and some of his proteges are among the most 

 , thriving of all the atoll fauna. Three species have multiplied 

 greatly, and have become quite permanently settled in the 

 islands ; one has a somewhat insecure foothold ; and one is by 

 now practically extinct as far as this atoll is concerned. Un- 

 fortunately it is the most valuable of all the birds that man 

 has attempted to bring to a new home which has now practically 

 ceased to exist — and this is the Pergdm {Carpophaga Whartoni), 

 the fine fruit pigeon of Christmas Island. 



From Christmas Island also came the little "love-bird," 

 Burung chinta, and though it exists as numerous little com- 

 panies upon one island, it has never spread beyond the limits 

 of that island, so that it is easy to live in the atoll and to be 

 unaware of the existence of Zoesterops natalis. It is a wonder- 

 ful thing that, after colonising Christmas Island in the distant 

 past, it has never had the adventure of crossing the mile and 

 a half of sea that separates its home in the atoll from the 

 other islands where suitable food exists in plenty. 



The Christmas Island Ground Thrush {Merula erythro- 

 pleitra) has, however, shown far more enterprise, and has 

 made itself at home on every island of the atoll ring — but 

 always preferring those in which the vegetation is most 

 varied. It is one of the very tamest and most trusting of 

 birds ; it will come quite freely into a bungalow when it wants 

 a drink of water, and it seems to have no fear of man what- 

 ever. As it has a song which is reminiscent of the blackbird's 

 and a familiar and attractive way in all its doings, it is a 

 very welcome addition to the live-stock of the atoll. 



From Singapore came the familiar Java sparrow — the 

 Burung glatek — and he, having all the sturdy insolence of 

 his more homely relations, has become, I should suppose, the 

 paost nunaerous l^ird of the soutl^err^ islands. He, too, is a 



