bird with local French because able to talk) and for re-export overseas. There actually was and still is a law prohibiting the live export of the bird from Uvea but this was not enforced and at the present date even the local resident (resident gen- darme) does not know there is such a law in existence and even government officials in Noumea knew nothing of such a law. On my arrival and request for special permits to shoot a series, officials were amazed on looking up the ordinances to find such a law had been enacted. In the face of the known numbers in captivity in Noumea, some even in the aviaries of prominent officials, authority quickly re-interred the knowledge and to the best of my knowledge nothing further has been done about the law. During my stay on Uvea I knew of 5 young live birds going to Noumea but I know positively these are the first which have left the island since the big hurricane early in the 1930's. I knew of 4 specimens in captivity on Uvea, all having been in captivity all having been long in captivity, and during my year in the Loyalties 4 of these died. Before the big hurricane natives on Uvea were paid 5 and 10 francs and up to 25 francs for each bird which survived a week after arrival in Noumea. The franc was then worth about 4 cents, American). I was told on first arriving in Noumea that prices then offering to natives for a single bird alive ranged from 150 francs to 250 francs and even more (franc worth about between 10 and 12 cents American) but birds were absolutely unobtainable. I was advised that it was probable I wouldn't find the bird, as all Uvean natives declared it was extinct. On arrival in Uvea, passing through that island enroute to Mare, inquiries from white residents and natives seemed to bear this out. On arrival 4 months later to work on the island