Sydney Porter—Notes on Birds of Fiji



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thrilled beyond measure to find that a specimen of the very rare

“ Personata ” was being sent to Auckland for me. Alas, owing to

lack of attention on the boat, the bird arrived dead. I felt heart¬

broken as I handled the beautiful body and thought of the wonderful

might-have-been. As there seemed not the slightest chance of ever

getting another of these extremely rare birds, I determined to go myself

and try to secure another specimen if not a pair.


Preparations were made to have certain Parrakeets collected in

Suva to await my arrival, but unfortunately we did not appreciate the

local conditions. Upon arrival I found that four specimens of beautiful

Kandavu bird, known in this country as the Red-shining Parrakeet, and

which is the most plentiful of the six forms inhabiting the Fiji group,

were waiting for my arrival. There were also two baby Kulas or

Ruffed Lories. There were also three other Kandavu birds belonging

to Indians which it was thought I might be able to buy, also an odd

bird of the Taveuni form.


The birds mentioned had all been brought up from the nest, as

the Fijians know nothing of catching any birds. The only way they

ever obtain them is to mark down the tree where the nest is and

eventually take the young which are hand-reared. After some days

in Suva I heard of a specimen of the very rare form from the island of

Ngau. It belonged to an Indian and, needless to say, I soon took a

taxi and arrived at the very filthy abode of the vendor. It was a

splendid specimen, a hen, and was confined in a miserably inadequate

cage, in the bottom of which were a quantity of stale crusts, its sole food.

With little bargaining the treasure was secured and I bore it away in

triumph.


At first sight Fiji is like New Zealand, rather a disappointing place

to visit for the ornithologist, in spite of its luxuriant tropical forest.

Yiti Levu, the largest of the Fijian Islands and once the home of some

of the most brilliant feathered creatures, is being sadly denuded of its

extraordinary bird life. On every hand one hears of depredations of

the imported mongoose which has overrun both Viti Levu and Yanua

Levu, where it has played havoc with all bird life.


Originally imported to combat the rat menace in the sugar-cane

fields, it soon turned its attention to easier prey. In the smaller



