104 HAWAIIAN BIRDS. 



•except for very scanty grcvth of ferns, ohelos, puakeawe, and a 

 few other lowly shrubs. Except for the temporary rain-water 

 pools this region is entirely devoid of water, and it is doubtful if 

 this goose drinks, or indeed cares to drink, any other fluid than the 

 •dew it may find on the grasses and berries it eats. The bird has 

 lived so long amid its novel surroundings that it has become en- 

 tirely weaned from the habits of its kind, and never enters water, 

 ibut is in all essential respects a land goose. 



The food of the nene consists of pnalele (Sonchus oleraceus), 

 tender grasses and several kinds of berries, especially the ohelo 

 (Vaccinium reticulatum) , puakeawe {Cyathores tameiameiae) , 

 and the strawberry (Fragaria chilensis) . In summer when the lat- 

 ter abound in the upper districts, the geese become very fat, and 

 ■are then fine eating. The young birds, however, and the old ones 

 too for that matter, are said to be more fond of the milky juiced 

 -weed called by the natives pualele than anything else, and to live 

 largely upon it from their adolescent stage onwards. 



When captured young the nene are rather difficult to rear, but if 

 they live are readily domesticated, and eventually become exced- 

 mgly tame, following their owner about and permitting them- 

 selves to be freely handled. A pair kept for several years by Mr. 

 Walton of the Pahala plantation, Kau, were very playful and, 

 when invited to a romp, would chase a lad round the enclosure 

 with every manifestation of delight. In some districts I am told 

 they breed rather freely in confinement, but such it not always the 

 case. Numbers of these geese have been taken to England from 

 time to time, where they have been successfully kept for years 

 and, in some instances as I am assured have reared young. 



That the mongoose, to some extent at least, have invaded the 

 upland homes of this goose there is only too much reason to be- 

 lieve, and it remains to be seen if the bird can long maintain itself 

 ■against the attacks of this fierce marauder. The barren flats near 

 'the sea where this goose nest would seem to be entirely unsuited 

 to the mongoose, yet in riding over these flats looking for geese 

 I saw mongoose, which doubtless are ever ready to plunder an 

 unprotected nest or to seize an imprudent young one. A goose, 

 however, with its nest to defend, or its young to protect, is no 



