I quickly got in touch with natives who admitted its existance in certain areas, but all said it was extremely rare and doubted I could get one, and certainly not a series. On my first real day's shooting I saw one and actually because of close range used a 32 caliber cartridge on it, but failed to kill the bird. It was certainly a good augury for the status of the species and later investigations bore it out fully. Unfortunately my work on the island has reawakened the natives to its increasing numbers and it may suffer some persecution from now on. A factor in its favour is that it is not easily collected and, numbers being not as plentiful as before the cyclone, natives may get discouraged after 1 or 2 attempts proving fruitless. Also a further factor in its favour is that in the area where it is most plentiful the natives have now more money than heretofore, as further areas of coconuts have come into bearing, and their money needs are better supplied. In the northern area there is still considerable poverty, amongst the catholic natives princi- pally, because of lack of coconuts and other causes and doubtless these natives will persecute the species somewhat in their own area. Actually the five specimens sent off Uvea during my stay there all came from that district. Fortunately I was able to get an oar in in both cases of birds (young birds) for sale (3 in one case and 2 in another) and persuade local whites to pay no more than 10 francs (40 cents American) for them. This naturally suited whites as profits were larger for them and both missed seeing my object which was to discourage native catchers by the low figure and as both were native lads of 14 years or so of age neither voiced any protest but doubtless on returning home would air disappointed feelings in their villages sufficient to