Lakes brackish and almost fresh appear and are often fifty to one hundred yards long and twenty to thirty yards wide, or where occurring in outcrops these are generally roughly circular and about thirty yards across. Nearly all types of birds appear in this type of area and at times a Bittern appears. Ducks are numerous and nest there only one species, Anas, being present to my knowledge. ISLANDS TO THE WEST OF THE MAINLAND ON THE SAME CORAL CHAIN All these islands are coral rock and only one, Theigh Island, rises more than a few feet above sea level. Theigh Island rises about forty to sixty ft. All are flat topped coral stone with a scanty soil, mostly sea sand, and none of them grow very large trees except to such water born species as beach trees, (Barringtonia etc.) which reach thirty feet or so occasionally but even these are lower and smaller than usual for their species. One island has a considerable growth of New Caledonian pine and all have a fairly large percentage of their vegetation composed of coconut palms. By far the greatest part of the vegetation is the low type of ti tree and other shrub types which grow to 10, 15, and 20 ft. occasionally in the center of the larger islands. Some small ones are bare rock. All show a stunted margin of shrub subject to salt spray burning. Almost all the types of bird life found on the mainland exclusive of ducks, rails and parrots appear on these islands. Pachycephala being common on the furthest west island (Amata Is.). Zostcrops, Gerygone, Myzomela, Lichmera, Pachyaphala, Myiagra are all common. The three kinds of pigeons and Aplonis are rarer, Ptilinopus being the most common. Hawks especially Falco are present though Accipiter is a rather rare visitor. Pandion is a visitor though I doubt it ever remains there any length of time.