Loyalty Islands survey 1938 : Uvea Island summary : original map in file.
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Transcription
Also this species inhabits more or less all types of country except current garden cultivation and old coconut cultivations where only grass or few widely scattered low shrubs only are found. When it does appear in such unusual areas its presence is quickly noticeable and it is very noticeable that at such times as it appears in such unusual habitat it is to be found in all other areas also in unusual habitat. Another noticeable thing is that at such times when it is present in unsuitable habitat its behaviour is unusual. In forest to a small degree, in scrubs more so and in unusual areas to a large or complete degree. The birds appear in unusual habitat to have little or no interest in normal ways of searching for food, but behaves in an excited and agitated way, being very restless and flying in short quick dashes here and there, calls much--not its warbling song but a low excited "chip chip". Here and there it pauses to feed but never for long and quickly returns to its restless behaviour. Early and late in the day it appears calmer. When first this behaviour was noticed observer noted birds were hunting singly and having observed that the species generally hunted in pairs or small parties up to six, I thought the bird had only become separated from its mate or party. But closer observation showed it was general in a greater or less degree to the whole species at such times and could not possibly mean that separation alone was responsible. Definitely food could not be responsible for the out thrust in this species, as in normal or forest habitat feed is shown to be plentiful, because it is in such areas that more nearly normal feeding and habits are maintained. It is noticeable that in areas of densest numbers the out thrust is most prevalent if unusual habitat is present. Gene- rally speaking this species has a regular distribution throughout