778 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
difficulty, found a number of stone shrines. It is believed that the native Hawaiians 
visited the islands periodical^ long ago for the purpose of performing religious 
rites, involving sacrifices. 
The following were either collected or positively identified at Necker Island: 
Sterna fuliginosa. 
Sterna lunata. 
Anous stolidus. 
Micranous hawaiiensis. 
Procelsterna saxatilis. 
Gygis alba kittlitzi. 
Diomedea immutabilis. 
Diomedea nigripes. 
Puffinus cuneatus. 
Bulweria bulweri. 
Phaethon rubricauda. 
Sula cyanops. 
Sula piscator. 
Sula sula. 
Fregata aqui'la. 
Heteractitis incanus. 
Arenaria interpres. 
We remained on Necker only a few hours, but long enough to gain some idea of 
the profusion of bird life which characterizes it. Without doubt we were the first 
naturalists to land, else Procelsterna saxatilis-, one of the distinctly noteworthy 
birds, would not have remained so long undiscovered. 
Early in the afternoon of the following day, June 1, we sighted Bird Island, 
rising like a citadel into the hazy slyy line, and the Albatross came to anchor at dark 
off the south side. Although we could see nothing of the island, birds were much 
in evidence by their cries. An Oceanodroma fuliginosa flew aboard, attracted by the 
glare of deck lights, and on the following evening Bulweria and Puffinus cuneatus 
were similarly lured in some numbers. 
From our anchorage Bird Island appeared like a veiy steep, half-funnel-shaped 
hillside, with several bold rocks and cliffs rising from the general slope. Two 
sulcuses, on the east and west halves, divide the slope into three ridges, and in each 
little valley there is a group of palm trees. The peak to the west rises 903 feet. 
The whole of the south side is covered with a growth of bushes and rank grass. 
This portion of the island suggests half of an old crater. The west, north, and east 
sides rise as a wall of naked rock, straight and sheer to an imposing height. The west 
face is black and menacing and perfect^ perpendicular. 
We were in the vicinity of Bird Island two days, but the sea was too heavy for 
landing. In fact, a safe landing can be made only in very quiet weather. The shore 
on the south side is so rocky that even a small swell causes considerable commotion. 
Birds nest all over the island. Those species which love the cliffs find a congenial 
home on the precipices and in the escarpments of the south side, while the boobies 
and man-o’-war birds live among the bushes on the grassy slopes. In fact, the whole 
mountain seemed alive with Sula cyanops , Sula piscator , and Sula sula. The last 
species lives along the top of the low escarpment which rises out of the sea along the 
south side. These three species and man-o’-war birds wei’e continually flying around 
the vessel, as were likewise the various terns, We noted with pleasure Procelsterna 
saxatilis , which was common. We saw only one or two Diomedea immutabilis west 
of the island some miles, but a number of nigripes. Birds collected or otherwise 
identified are: 
Sterna fuliginosa. 
Sterna lunata. 
Anous stolidus. 
Micranous hawaiiensis. 
Procelsterna saxatilis. 
Gygis alba kittlitzi. 
Diomedea immutabilis. 
Diomedea nigripes. 
Puffinus cuneatus. 
Puffinus nativitatis. 
Bulweria bulweri. 
Oceanodroma fuliginosa. 
Phaethon rubricauda. 
Sula cyanops. 
Sula piscator. 
Sula sula. 
Fregata aquila. 
Charadrius dominicus fulvus. 
Arenaria interpres. 
We left Bird Island waters on June 3, and late at night, some 35 miles south- 
west of the rock, heard many Sterna fuliginosa, which were thus scouring the sea at 
