144. specimens. Natives know of and speak of its habit of being controlled by the moon and say the best time to collect it and when it is most often seen is at the full moon. Though not seen by me alive (1 far decomposed dead one seen in the bush) during my stay, I believe the species is plentiful on the island and from native accounts it is very common and plentiful in the latter half of the year, becoming active and noticeable in August. From what I could gather it seems identical in habits and economy to elsewhere in the Loyalties. (Only 2 weeks before my arrival, a trader shot one in a tree within 50 yards of my camp). This would be probably one of the last of the ones seen about at the common season before retiring, the bulk of the species having already retired by then, February 1st. On Uvea as elsewhere, this species seems to suffer from some plague at wide intervals, numbers being found dead about the place for no apparent reason. Observer believes if careful note is take on the weather before and during such times it will be found that not a plague is responsible but rough boisterous, rainy weather coming at the time of the full moon so that birds have bad hunting for 6 weeks instead of only 2 weeks (new moon) and simply die of weakness and starvation. The condition of the birds, amount of fat, increases and decreases with the moon (proved by actual observation) and I think it is very probable the margin of reserve is insufficient to carry the bird through the longer period of poor and bad hunting because of bad weather. This would account for the apparent irregularities in the occurrence of this apparent plague and the times of finding of birds dead for no apparent reason.