BIRDS - NEW CALEDONIA L. Macmillan Page 10 not come above the train except at considerable altitudes, and if the train came into a place where a number were congregated feeding they would become very upset and begin to disperse. Plain du Lacs. This plain is really a plateau or wide valley which, owing to a land slide or volcanically moved rock - bar has formed in the valley from the denudation of the surrounding hills. It is irregular in shape having long arms running up the valleys of the mountain ranges which surround it on all sides except in the place where the land slide occured and the Pirogues River which drains it flows out and the Yate (?) River which drains it also. It is at an altitude of about 600 ft. above sea level. It is subject to inundation and much of it is often under water, in places as much as six feet deep, which quickly drains away. There are always ponds or holes called lakes in it as for much of the year it is more or less water-logged. The vegetation is very stunted and scanty and is 90% swamp grasses, a foot or two in height. As the soil is very minerally and is mostly composed of sub-soil (?) it is not at all fertile. The fertile surface soil is probably at great depth below the present surface. There seems to be little bird life in the area apart from a fair number of COLLACALIA SPOD. LEUC. which seem to find it a suitable area for feeding. There is probably some bird life in the area but till I can examine it without the noise of the train I cannot say what will be found here. I doubt there is at any time much bird life there as it is a rather bleak and desolate area and few species would find it a congenial habitat. Original Forests: These forests are in the valleys running back from the plain into the ranges of the Chain Central, or main mountain backbone of the