(52) could be heard and I distinguished the green red-crested, the black-bib, and the yellow-bib, although the low, almost single note of the latter may be confused with the call of the more common black-bib. Hornbills and crows are present but were not heard in any abundance. I only heard one crow far away. Small birds, I could not find within range; the small white- breasted flycatcher, the red-breasted, blackheads and fantails, white-eyes and midgets- they were all high and seemed to be feeding with much acti- vity. Everything we have found before on the larger islands appears to be present except the black honeysucker and the pigmy parrot. Two of the ground doves that I saw looked small, swift in flight like quail- with fast wing-beat; and being in low ground of basic coral formation may be similar to the small, chocolate-colored ground dove taken on San Cristo- val and Santa Anna. Mr. Beck shot at one of this species in the rough co- ral up the river at Choiseul Bay. Blackbirds and starlings frequent the iron-wood trees with graybirds; these three species and the pigmy parrot are more communal than any of the other birds. As expected cockatoos, green parrots (female- red), red coconut parrots, and the "kooru" pigeons (red-knobbed and gray) are quite common. When we were walking through the coconuts along the shore we noticed a large flock of frigate birds evi- dently feeding; we remarked it was the first time we had ever seen them so low. Mr. Beck was quick in smelling them out and had put up over a do- zen by the time we returned to the ship. They proved to be lesser frigata. The thickhead of Shortland I., compares to those taken on the small islets Momulufu and Aikiki near the main island; some few of these as has been the case before showed marked whiteness or blackness of plumage, especial- ly around the neck. Probably albinism and melanism resulting from inbreed- ing, such a dominant characteristic prevailing. December 14 The Doctor, G.R., and I tramped out to the same flat behind the plantation. At the first clearing I came upon a host of birds- minas, starlings, blackbirds, and graybirds- most of them in two large iron-wood trees that towered above the surrounding bush, presenting the birds in excellent silhouette against the sky. I managed to get two black and two gray birds; the only black-bib dove I have found in range I blew to bits. The small birds in the forest beyond were all in the branches of high trees; it was all I could do with No. 10 shells to bring down a male and female flycatcher (white-breasted). This thickly wooded country is a chal- lenge to one's sense of direction and can make the compass seem crooked. And there is no water anywhere. After some fruitless wandering I return- to the cane lot and shot several white-eyes, a brown fantail, and a red- breasted flycatcher. Again I saw two ground doves without offering at them. I heard the common land kingfisher to-day; the white-headed "ku-ku" has not put in appearance or call as yet. Coming out we took a few wag- tails and a pair of coconut parrots just for bad luck.