times they thought these gatherings occurred). One native reported that on one occasion very early, he saw about 30 Columba rise in a flock and climb to a great altitude, then turn seaward, sweep far out to sea but wheel in a big circle and return to the coast and alight. Questions as regards visibility etc. were fruitless and brought valueless ans- wers. The most significant fact of all was collected at a later date from the native captain of a small 45 foot cutter which trades generally between Lifu and Noumea, but makes occasional trips between Lifu and Uvea. For- tunately I was able to definitely place the date of this record by looking up the log of the cutter which they have to keep for police records, and by looking up the date of their previous Lifu-Uvea trip. This cutter was chartered by me to come from Lifu and collect myself and my gear on Uvea in June, 1938. When about half way between Uvea and Lifu, slightly north of a line drawn between the centre of the two islands, the native captain, who spoke good English, quite unasked volunteered the following informa- tion, telling it more as a remarkable occurrence. Early on the morning of November 15th, 1937 (date defined from ship's log) while on his way between Lifu and Uvea and just about the spot we then were (i.e., about half-way possibly a shade nearer Uvea than Lifu) three large Columba and a minute later four more passed rapidly over the ship, flying strongly and fast and fairly high up (?40-60 feet or higher) coming from the direction of Lifu and going towards Uvea. Others of the crew verified the incident, all having been able to remember it well because of the unusualness of