Tahiti

New Birds For

Interesting and Valuable Experi ment in Aviculture

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Sept. 20.

OUR island of Tahiti is particularly fortunate in having as residents men and women endowed with special knowledge and of that quality of spirit which inspires them to apply their know ledge to the welfare of the colony.

A great deficiency, in otherwise ideal surroundings, is the poverty of bird life in the islands.

The Itatae, which fly in pairs and look like seraphim against the sapphire of our southern sky; the Rupe, our handsome mountain pigeon; the Uupa, the dove of Tahiti; and even the dismal Upoa, which flies by night crying the wail of a lost spirit; have been decimated almost to extinction by gunmen who slay for the de light of killing, and by predatory hawks introduced many years ago.

Mr. Eastham Guild, of Paea, Tahiti— for many years a serious student ol avi culture—has been, for seme time, carrying on experiments to remedy this deficiency.

In the Journal of the Avicultural Society of Great Britain, Mr. Guild has given a most interesting account of his under taking;— “Since the climatic conditions were fav ourable, and the profusion of grasses, weeds and flowers provided a variety of foods, I could see no reason why certain small birds from other countries of similar climate should not thrive here, and I started the experiment with a few Fire Pinches and Cordon Bleus, which I per sonally brought with me from Dakar, West Africa.

“The French Government has been very sympathetic in my experiments, giving me necessary permits to import birds, and has passed local laws prohibiting all shooting and trapping. Likewise, the British Con sul-General has aided me considerably to obtain permits to secure some of the ex quisite and rare Australian Finches.

“I am just now expecting, through the courtesy of Mr. H. B. Brown, Secretary of the Taronga Zoo, of Sydney, a ship ment of about 500 birds from Australia, including Gouldian, long-tailed, and Star Finches, all to be liberated as soon as they have been properly conditioned.

“So far, I have liberated about 6,000 birds of fifty different kinds. As to re sults, the species may be divided into the following classes:— Birds Which Have Nested and Reared Young Gouldian, Double Bar, Zebra, Masked, Long Tailed and Fire Finches; Euphonia, Mrs. Wilson’s, Maroon and Black Tan agers; African, Orange-Breasted, Orange Cheeked and St. Helena Waxbills; Gol den and Ringneck Pheasants; Cordon Bleu; Indian Amaduvade; Magpie Man nikin, California Quail and Mallard Duck.

Birds Which Come to be Fed, But Have Not Nested Rufous-Tailed, Blue-Faced and Tri coloured Parrot Finches; Diamond Spar row; Yellow-Winged Sugarbird; New Zealand Zosterop; and Pekin Robin.

“Gradually, through the presence of the birds I have imported, people on the is land are becoming bird-conscious.

“His Excellency, Monsieur Chastnet de Gery, has established a feeding-dish in the grounds at Government House; also Mr.

James Norman Hall has put one up on his property to attract any birds that may wander to his side of the island. Mr.

Charles B. Nordhoff, who is keenly in terested in water-fowl, has done a great deal to promote this interest by liber ating Wood and Mandarin Duck, as well as California Quail and Pheasants, “We are receiving great help and en couragement from France through the un tiring efforts of Monsieur Jean Delacour who is doing everything possible to pro tect birds throughout the French colonies.”

Mr. Guild’s handsome estate at Paea is ideally situated for the successful carrying out of his objectives in aviculture, and is thoroughly equipped for this purpose.