302 



AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC* 



ADDITIONS, SUPPLEMENTS, AND CORRECTIONS 



TO 



PARTS I. & II. OF THIS WORK. 



PART I. 



About seven years have elapsed since the appearance of the first two Parts of this work. 

 It is therefore not surprising that additions have become necessary. The most important event 

 during these years has doubtless been the expedition to Laysan of Professor Schauinslancl, of 

 Bremen. His attention was called to Laysan as a perfect egg-paradise, through my book, 

 and he stayed there three months, principally to collect materials for his embryonic studies; 

 but he was wise enough not to neglect other branches, and he brought home a large collection 

 of well-prepared bird-skins, of which I obtained a magnificent set. 



Professor Schauinsland's accounts of the bird-life on Laysan, in his little book ' Drei 

 Monalc anf einer Koralleninsel ' (Bremen, 1899), are among the most interesting and 

 fascinating ones I ever read. I quote here a few of his notes, rather freely translated : — 



" The effect on those who for the first time visit the island of the tameness and absolute 

 confidence of most of the birds is simply stupendous. We always took our meals in company 

 with some of the pretty yellow Telespiza. When Ave took our seats, some of these impertinent 

 little chaps arrived at once and pecked at the bread in front of us, and even sat doAvn on 

 our plates and took part of our rice and bacon, so that we had to remove them with our 

 hands, like so many troublesome flies, if we wished to eat our food in peace. When in the 

 hot hours of the day Ave sat in the shade of .our hut and enjoyed the cool breeze, usually one 

 or the other of the neat grey little Acrocephalus came and seated himself on our knee or the 

 back of the chair, looked at us fearlessly, and sang its lovely little song. Often the Telexplza, 

 the best songsters of Laysan, sang away when Ave had caught them in our hands, though I 

 avouM not like to say if that was really sheer mirth or the expression of a sort of queer 

 feeling and doubt. Our constant companions when at work were the funny little Hails. 

 Immediately Avhen Ave opened the door of our laboratory, some of these little felloAvs entered 

 Avith us and searched busily among our collections for flies, Avhich they caught with great 

 alacrity. It Avas too droll to see them stop from time to time, and to hear them put forth 

 their most peculiar song, which has some resemblance to the noise of a high-sounding 

 alarum-clock. They also tried to hop on to our table in order to snatch a piece of flesh or 

 fat Avliich Ave had put aside when skinning. 



" The sea-birds were equally tame. When we took our Avay through one of the Alhatross- 

 rookeries the birds did not give Avay at all, so that Ave had to be careful if Ave did not wish 

 to hurt them. Often enough Ave could not help coming so near, that they most indignantly 



