ieee ee a, OrNer belli ign 15 
the birds of Kauai and is not meant to be a means of identification, but is 
merely a list of the birds that I have seen there. 
By far the most numerous species are not native to the island. Some 
were brought in by Chinese and Japanese immigrants, others by the govern- 
ment to control weeds and insects, and still others by sports-minded citizens. 
Native land birds are indeed very rare; in fact, during my stay only three 
were identified. Most of them are on the verge of extinction, or are already 
gone. Of course migratory birds continue to be recorded, due to the regular 
arrival of new individuals. 
The island is covered with tall sugar cane, pineapple plantations, and 
saw grass marshes, and there are many high and inaccessible mountains. 
Some birds believed extinct or not surviving propogation may well be in 
existence. For instance, I heard the call of a rail in one of the huge sugar 
cane fields. All books on Hawaiian birds list three rails for these islands: 
the Laysan Island rail, imported but believed not to have survived; the 
Hawaiian rail, a native, is believed extinct; and the spotted Hawaiian rail, 
which is known from but one specimen. It is entirely possible that some 
unknown person may have brought others in, but it is not probable. 
The cane fields are a paradise for game birds. I know that the Chinese 
pheasant is very common because I heard them all the time; but for as long 
as I was there I saw only a few, and found but one nest. All the native 
birds are very wary. Descriptive material at my disposal was quite in- 
adequate; drawings and written descriptions were neither of the best. 
Of the native land. birds the Kauai thrush is the most common. It is 
hard to study, being very shy and colorless, but its beautiful song will after 
hearing it once identify it immediately. They inhabit the higher elevations, 
3,000 feet, away from human habitations and foreign birds. It is not likely 
that the casual observer would see this bird. 
The ou (Psittacirostia psittacea) will be found in the lower parts of the 
island. When the male is seen its beautiful yellow head and parrot-like bill 
will identify it. It also is a beautiful singer. The coniferous groves will be 
the best place to study it. 
The Hawaiian owl is by no means common, but hardly a week went by 
that I didn’t see two or three. They can be seen sitting on posts during the 
day, or hunting over the field in the evening. The most common of all birds 
there is the Pacific golden plover. It can be seen the year around, though 
I don’t know or have any information that the same birds stay all year. 
(Here is a good chance for some bander in these islands.) 
The only turnstone listed for this territory is the ruddy, but I saw two 
black turnstones in a group of golden plovers. I saw this same bird on the 
western coast of the United States, in the Samoan Islands, and in the 
Gilbert Islands, and it was quite common in all three places. I see no reason 
for leaving it out of the Hawaiian fauna; it is probably more common than 
the ruddy. The white-tailed tropic bird can be seen out over the ocean 
occasionally, or flying up in the cliffs where it nests. Another that may be 
observed in this way is the frigate bird. 
The black-crowned night heron that is found on this island is supposed 
