1 YBSSO. 



and bears, find an ever ready meal ; and the way the 

 seagulls just picked the tit-bit from the back of the 

 neck, and left the remainder of the fish, showed how 

 well they knew the supply was constant. The Japanese 

 simply ran a net straight out from the shore, 150 or 

 200 yards along a line of stakes ; at the end of the net 

 is a bag, which the fish, on striking the net and work- 

 ing along it, soon find their way into. When required, 

 the fishermen only have to go off, haul the bag up, and 

 opening the end let the fish fall into their boat. This 

 species of herring is both larger and coarser than our own. 

 The temperature of the water in which they appear to 

 flourish to such an extraordinary degree averages 36", 

 whereas that in which our own fish is found averages 

 54° to 58°. Salmon are not common at Nemero, nor else- 

 where in the east of the island ; and they do not enter 

 the rivers until August. Flat fish are very plentiful. 



The large snipe Gallinago australis was busily breed- 

 ing in June. It was most interesting to watch these 

 birds flying about during the day, sometimes perching on 

 the dead trees, again wheeling round at a great height, 

 then suddenly swooping down, making a loud drum- 

 ming noise with their wings. All this time, except 

 when actually in their swoop, they keep up a constant 

 note, like chuck-chuck-chuck. After watching this 

 bird carefully many and many a time, T consider that 



