4 
Fish 
Fish were collected at all three islands. We tried to sample both the 
inner lagoon and the outer reef on all islands. A total of six drums was 
collected and will be reported upon in a later report. 
Ichthyosarcotoxism (fish poisioning) is not uncommon in the islands. 
Certain areas are known by the natives to produce toxic fish and are avoided. 
One such area was the outer reef near Tokelau Island on Nukunonu Atoll. 
Nukunonu Atoll recently had 60 people come down with fish poisoning but all 
recovered. 
Mammals 
There were rats infesting all of the Tokelau Islands. The specimens 
taken proved to be Rattus exulans. No mice or European rats were taken or 
observed. The natives had a few pigs (presumably Sus scrofa ) on the island 
but we were unable to obtain skulls for positive identification to species. 
A few cats were seen on the islands but probably do not contribute much to 
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the small size of the bird population. 
Birds 
The birds of the Tokelau Islands are little known. Several expeditions 
have stopped there but no one seems to have collected extensively in the area. 
Ramsay (Proc. Linn. Soc NSW, 2:139) mentions specimens of Procelsterna cerulea, 
as being present in a collection of birds taken by Rev. S. J. Whitmee. The 
present whereabouts of these specimens is not presently known to me. Mayr 
(Birds of the Southwest Pacific, 19^-5:44) mentions the presence of Crocethia 
Q-lta and Sterna sumatrana on the "Union Group" but gives no references as to 
where he found his evidence. Munro (Elepaio, x94l:5) lists Anous stolidus as 
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