The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-07-28

The Islands Birds, Trees and
Peaks.
Mr.. S. B. Dole, who visited the
island of Niihoa with the excursion
party last week to collect specimens
of the birds of the island and their
eggs, reports that he found a large
number of sea birds inhabiting the
island, and he thinks there is at least
ten varieties to be found there. He
found the "frigate bird;" two kinds
of bOObys; the "Ula." or red tropic
bird-not found on the other islands
of this group, and from which large
number of the red tail feathers were
obtained; the "Noio," large, very
dark colored tern; white tern; the
''wide-awake," or sea swallow;
another much larger tern; the petrol,
or "Mother Carey Chicken" and a
small bird about the size of a linnet,
which is said to have webbed feet.
Mr.. Dole was not able to secure
specimen of this last bird, which, if
web-footed, as reported, he thinks
must be hitherto unknown variety,
and the smallest sea bird known.
Landing upon the island was found
to be quite difficult, and from the re-
ports received, it would appear that
if the party had been all foreigners
some would have been drowned. The
island was covered with bunch-grass
very dry-and with shrubs three or
four feet high. Besides these, there
were groves of the Hawaiian palm, of
the leaves of which the party
gathered a large quantity for hats. A
good deal of the steep slopes of the
island was terraced, showing that in
former years the ground was cult
vatedSas it is known to have been, by
natives from Kauai, who visited
Niihoa to plant potatoes, ETC., and
again, later in the year, to harvest
the crops. A skull and part of
skeleton was found, but the bones
were not disturbed.
Mr.. S. r. Bishop, who visited the
island to take some measurements for
the survey office, was assisted by Mr..
w. E. Rowell, and together they OBJ
tanned data for fixing the area of the
The highest of these was assembled by
Mr.. Rowell, who found it to be over
800 feet in hight by his aneroid barom-
eter. The other peak he did not
think was over thirty feet less in al
titude. Between these peaks there
is valley which has evidently been
cultivated, and there were few ruins
found. Mr.. Bishops report to the
Surveyor General will be made in a
few days.
Niihau were visited. One has a lit
tie vegetation, but the other is de-
void of any kind of life.
When the time came to leave the
island much difficulty was expert
enced by the tourists in getting into
the boats again. III. r. II. Princess
Liliuokalani prepared herself for
springing into the boat by assuming
her bathing dress, and as the boat was
swept in on breaker, the Princess,
assisted by Mr.. G.. B. Wilson, sprang
on board, the boat being instantly
carried out to sea again on the re-
treating wave. It is safe to say that
none but Hawaiian females could
possibly have landed on the island
and gained the boats again. They
are so familiar with the sea, and the
beatmen were so skilIful, that no
serious accident happened to any of
the party. The loss by Mr.. Will
Jams of his Photographic apparatus is
to be regretted, but all the visitors are
to be congratulated upon the success
of the trip.