The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-08
THE HAWAII
MOSQUITOES

The following is from the Washing
ton Star:
In connection with that worldwide
topic of present interest, mosquitoes,
1t is usual to regard New Jersey as
their most cherished habitat, but any
one who has spent II week or two in
Honolulu win be inclined to dispute
that conclusion.
While in New Jersey during the sum
mor months the nights rest is sure TO
be disturbed by the music and various
attentions of this tireloss pest in Ho-
nolulu, both by day and by night, At
all seasons of the year, life is made
miserable by their attacks. In thu
daytime species somewhat light in
color ana both males and females,
wearing striped pantaloons, infests the
gardens and verandas, This army is
relieved at Sundown by another Varie-
ty as sOmber In aspect as the night in
which they commit their deeds of dark
ness, and who defy net-proof rooms
and all known oXtermnators.
The reason given why Honolulu s
particularly plagued with mosquitoes
is that owing to its natural situation.
overlooked by lefty hills, the trade
winds that otherwise would carry
them out to sea. sweep them above the
city, leaving them to increase rapidly
in number. BE this as it may, Homo
lulu, Il little paradise in other respects
has been SO troubled by mosquitoes
that To eXtcrminatc them and other
noNious insects the authorities, in an
unlucky hour, We're persuaded to inn
port the mynah bird from India.
In his native land the mynah bird
bore the highest reputation for many
desirable qualities, To which he added
q persistent warfare against pernic!ouS
insects, but after n short residence In
the Islands, when Il sufficient time had
elapsed to enable him TO get a grim
grip with both his yellow feet on the
palm boughs and take good look over
the situation the climate or some 9TH
cr cause seemed entirely to change his
disposition. Instead of setting to work
to rid the Islands of mosquitoes, ha
was 50 charmed with his new sur
roundngs which he found exactly
suited to the requirements of the my
nah bird, that he straightway pro-
ceedcd either to kill or drive out to
sea all the beautiful native birds for
which the Islands We're celebrated-in
fact. to assume the ownership of the
whole of Hawaii as far as brddom was
concerned.
It was still ferVently hoped that
when this brGandage was accomplish
ed he would take up the business for
which his services had been enlisted,
but whether the Hawaiian mosquitoes
have different flavor from those OF
Madras and are unpalatable to the
taste of the mynah bird is not known,
only he soon made it plain that H.
infinitely preferred grain and bananas;
and. in addition to their destruction,
he has SO multiplied in number on
this diet that you may now see his
shiny black coat, with the white tipped
wings, and hear his impudent call
from one of the Islands to the other.
The fact that among the personal ac-
Complishments of this peculiar bird is
a talent for mimicking the human
voice and learning many curious tricks,
is net regarded in the Islands as COM
pensation for his total failure to carry
out the obligations for which he was
brought to those shores, and for his
infamous treatment of the native birds.
What to do with the mynah bird is
a question which has now entirely su :
perseded that of how to get rid of The
mosquitoes,