1877.] Natural History of Fanning’s Group. 69 
the birds was one species about the size of our robin, with a 
breast of scarlet colored feathers, the under portion of the body 
being finished off with bright red, the neck of a golden color, 
back of a lively green, with a yellow beak, except the very 
points, which were of a bright dun color, the wings and tail be- 
ing both of a jet black, and the last tipped off with white ; it was 
a most beautiful and lovely bird with its brilliant and richly 
variegated plumage.” 
They were reasonably abundant on Washington Island, and 
when I signified a desire to a native of the Kingsmill group to 
have some of the birds alive, he gratified me in the following 
manner: He took two pieces of bamboo, each about a yard long. 
On the end of one he perched a tame bird, and from the extrem- 
ity of the other suspended a running noose. The tame bird, as 
it was carried about among the cocoanut-trees, uttered a harsh, 
rasping sound, and wild birds came out of the trees and perched 
alongside it on the bamboo, when, by means of the other stick, 
they were carefully noosed. 
When caged aboard the ship, they exhibited as pretty a pict- 
ure of love as one can imagine, well meriting their name of 
“ love-birds.” They sat billing and smoothing each other’s 
feathers for hours, and as night came on two would get together, 
and sleep with their heads turned towards each other. They 
lived in confinement but a very short time, and bore it badly. 
Even while we stood watching their lively antics one would tum- 
ble off its perch and die, apparently in convulsions. 
The only other land bird found on Washington Island be- 
longed to the Passeres. It was a flycatcher-like bird. As many 
of these as were seen were procured, but the specimens were 
sent home from the Pacific, and before I arrived east to com- 
mence the work of identification, they were distributed through 
the general collection of the Smithsonian Institution and have not 
yet been found. ‘This is to be deplored, for they would probably 
be as interesting as the other species obtained from the same 
locality. A bird similar to these, but smaller and somewhat 
browner — which I think can be accounted for by the altered 
conditions of its surroundings —- was found on Christmas Island, 
where it was the only land bird. But this, like the previous 
Species, is mislaid in the collection at Washington. 
Christmas Island was discovered by the great English navi- 
gator, Cook, and it has been visited a number of times by ex- 
ploring expeditions. It is therefore not such a terra incognita as 
the ones we have been considering. 
