The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-07-03

power and beauty. The color of the grown bir'
is white, with wings that are tipped with black
} 1t has n long sharp beak which is serrated an,
slightly curved at the end, n formidable weapon
of attack as well as defence. Its wings are of i'm
mense strength, and when fully spread, they spar
about seven feet from tip to tip. In their fishing
expeditions they range for hundreds of miles from
their nesting places, and late in the day ships il
mid-ocean often see long files OF them returning
home like heayy-laden treasure-vesSels speeding
to port. This sight is regarded by seaman as q
sure indication that land lies in the direction Of
their flight, though it may be scores Of leagues
away.
In regard TO moral character, the birds of
Bakers Island may be divided into two classes
those which make an honest living, and those
which are robbers. The gannet stands at the
head of the respectable birds, and is a thrifty
and honest citizen of the air.
The representative of the thievish class is the
frigate-peliean, or man-ofwar hawk, (tachypetes
dq1aius.) This bird has n dense plumage of
gloomy black; II light, wiry body, that seems
made for ~flcetness, and wings ofcven greater spread
than the gannet's. Its tail is deeply forked, its
bill is long, sharp and viciously hooked. AUDI
BON regards the frigate-bird as superior perhaps,
in power of fight, to any other. 1t never dives
into the ocean after fish, but will sometimes
catch them while they arc leaping out of the
water to escape pursuit. 1t is often content to
glut itself with the dead fish that float on the
water, but it depends mostly, for n subsistence,
upon robbing other birds. 1t is interesting to
watch them thus occupied.
As evening comes on these pirates may be seen
lying in wait about the island, for the return of
the heavily-laden fshing-birds. The smaller ones
they easily ovcrtake and compel them TO disgorge
their spoils but to waylay and levy black-mail
upon those powerful galleons, the gannets, is an
achievement requiring strategy and address. As
the richly-laden gannet approaches the coast of
mis- island home, he lifts himself to n great height.
and steadily oars himself along with his mighty
pinions, until he sees his native sands extending
in dazzling whiteness below. Now sloping down.
ward in his flight, he dcscends with incredible
velocity. In n moment more he will be safe
with his afiectiomte mate who is awaiting his re-
turns to the nest.
But at times he is watched by the keen eve of
the man-of-war hawk, who stations himself so rs
to intercept the gannet in his swift course.
With the quickness of thought the hawk darts
upon him, and, not daring to attack boldly in
front, he plucks him by the tail and threatens to
upset him, or he seizes at the back of his neck
and lashes him with his wings. When the poor
ganuet who cannot InanGuvre so quickly as his
opponent, finds himself pursued, he tries to buy
his ransome by surrendering a portion of his fshy
cargo, which the hawk, swooping down, catches
before it has had time to reach the earth. If
there is but one hawk this may be a sufficient
toll. but ii the unwieldly gannet is set upon by a
or these pirates, he utters q cry of real
terror and woe, and, rushing through the air
with a sound like a rocket, in his rapid descent,
he seeks to alight on the nearest point of land.
well knowing that when once he has a footing on
ezra trma not even the man-of-war hawk dare
,ome near him.
The nlan-of-war hawk is provided about it's
neck and chest with a dilatable sack, of a blood
ed color, which it seems to be able to initiate at
On calm days, about noon, when the
rade wind lulls, giving place to a sea-breeze that
GENTLY fans the torrid island, these light, featherv
birds may sometimes be seen at an immense
eight balancing themselves for whole hours
Without apparent motion on their outstretched
ans. {
Whether they are able to increase their specific {
,vity by initiating their pouches with a gas light
r than the atmosphere, or whether they are sus- =,
lined by the uprising column of heated air that t
ONES in on ali sides from the ocean, is a question i
am unable to answer. While floating thus, G
1is bird has its pouch pulled out about its neck, G
wing it the same appearance as though it had /
IS throat muf1led in red flannel. \
The most unique and novel bird on the island i
the tropic-bird or marlin-spike (PGton ~phGnicu- y
ls.) t
Its wings are long and its flight is rapid. 1t is h
stinguished by two slender, tapering feathers, v
rare beauty, which project like a long steering t
II from its wedge-shaped tail. d
l cannot resist the temptation of abiding to a
lie other bird that abounds here. 1t is the G.
other Carey's chicken-(T haIassidroma WiLs- fl
ocean butterfiy-the pet and favorite c.
every true sailor. This bird is about the size c.
a chimney swallow. Its pretty ways and SEEM tt
innocent affections, are enough to win e1
G heart of almost any one. The society and I'll
ldy OF these birds is not without its inspiration. IL
. Y. Times. h