SAB 015 1994 P91-102 a Chronology of Ornithological
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Studies in Avian Biology No. 15:91-102, 1994. A CHRONOLOGY OF ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATION IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, FROM COOK TO PERKINS STORRS L. OLSON AND HELEN F. JAMES Abstract. Although ornithological exploration of the Hawaiian archipelago began in 1778, more than a century elapsed before reasonably comprehensive avifaunal surveys were conducted in the 1880s and 1890s. We review the history of early bird collecting for each of the major islands, based on examination of specimen data, archives, and the published literature. An island-by-island approach shows that some islands were more favored for visits by early collectors, while others, especially Maui, were long neglected. Given the uneven collecting histories of individual islands, we speculate that additional species and populations may have become extinct after first European contact, but before specimens were preserved for science. Key Words: Hawaiian Islands; history of ornithological collecting; historical extinctions; museum collections. Compared to many parts of the world, manner and timing of ornithological col- ornithological exploration got an early start lecting in the 19th century. Some species in the Hawaiian Islands, beginning with the and island populations of birds probably third and final voyage of Captain James survived undetected into the historic period Cook in 1778, which expedition marked the but were overtaken by extinction before first European contact with the islands. By specimens could be collected. To identify way of contrast, the first bird to be collected possible biases of this nature, it is instruc- for science in Panama, crossroads of world tive to examine the history of ornithological trade from the late 15th century onward, collecting on an island-by-island basis. was not described until 65 years after Cook In the century following Cooks’ arrival, first landed in Hawaii (Gould 1843a). De- ornithological exploration in the Hawaiian spite this promising beginning, over a cen- Islands was sporadic at best, so that an ac- tury elapsed before serious efforts were made count of these years reads like a litany of to survey the Hawaiian avifauna. missed opportunities, as noted a century ago We now know that human-caused deg- by Newton (1892). Numerous exploring ex- radation of Hawaiian ecosystems began with peditions with naturalists aboard touched the arrival of Polynesians (Olson and James in the islands without adding much to or- 1982, 1991; James and Olson 1991) and nithology. We have tried to list all those that was only accelerated by the increased hab- brought back at least a few specimens (Table itat destruction and introductions of ani- 1). Others that apparently did not may be mals, plants, and pathogens that followed found in Judd (1974). Explanations of mu- with new waves of human settlers from seum acronyms are in the Acknowledg- abroad. The dominant theme in Hawaiian ments. ornithology has therefore been a chronicle In the late 1880s Scott B. Wilson, mo- of extinction. tivated by the interest of his mentor Alfred The present survey, based on an extensive Newton, of Cambridge University, under- literature search and on specimen data from took ornithological explorations of the ma- most of the museums housing significant jor islands in 1887 and 1888. Wilson usually collections of Hawaiian birds, emphasizes based himself in the mountain houses of the degree to which our perception of the island residents (Manning 1986: 13) not number and kinds of birds known histori- necessarily in the best places for collecting. cally (as opposed to those known only from In several instances his activities on a given bones) in the islands may be biased by the island were decidedly perfunctory, so that 91 92 STUDIES IN AVIAN BIOLOGY NO. 15 he overlooked numerous species. The re- went initially to UMZC, he also sold spec- sults of Wilsons’ efforts were published over imens rather widely (e.g., to Rothschild and several years and summarized in his mag- RMNH). Palmers’ specimens went directly num opus (Wilson and Evans 1890-1899). to Rothschild and the bulk was subsequent- His itinerary has been pieced together partly ly conveyed to AMNH with the purchase from that source but mainly from specimen of the Rothschild collection, although a siz- data. Wilson visited the islands in the 1890s able portion went to BMNH with the Roth- as well. Although Newton remarked on Wil- schild bequest. Perkins ’ specimens were di- sons’ apparent lack of interest in further col- vided mainly between UMZC, BMNH, and lecting at that time (Manning 1986: 18) a BPBM. Material of all three collectors has few of his specimens from this period are been extensively dispersed through ex- found scattered in various museums. change and may now be found in many mu- Wilsons’ original discoveries spurred seums around the world. Walter Rothschild to send his own collector, The itineraries of Wilson, Palmer, and Henry Palmer, to the islands. The indus- Perkins are summarized in Table 1. What trious Palmer, with assistants including follows is a short account of collecting in George C. Munro and one Wolstenholme (? the islands prior to their more organized = Harry Wolstenholme-cf. Whittell 1954: efforts, with notice of a few significant sub- 780) scoured the archipelago with such sequent collections. avidity that he was often accused by Roth- HAWAII schilds’ rival, Newton, of pillaging the avi- fauna during his sojourn from December Cooks’ third voyage brought back a num- 1890 to August 1893. An outline of Palm- ber of birds from Hawaii upon which 11 ers’ itinerary is given in Rothschild (1893) new species were later based. The principal and Mearns and Mearns (1992). natural history forays of this expedition took Meanwhile, Newton and colleagues co- place in January and February of 1779, when ordinated a Joint Committee for the Zool- the vessels were anchored at Kealakekua Bay ogy of the Sandwich Islands that secured on the Kona (western) coast of the island of funding from the Royal Society, the British Hawaii. All Hawaiian specimens from the Association for the Advancement of Sci- third voyage upon which new species were ence, and eventually the Bishop Museum, later founded came from this general area to send another collector to the islands-R. (Medway 198 1, Olson 1989~). Most ofwhat C. L. Perkins, whose extensive labors in both is known of the subsequent history of Cook ornithology and entomology spanned the voyage Hawaiian birds is dealt with in detail period 1892 to 1897, after which his ener- by Medway (198 1). Of the 11 species named gies were devoted almost exclusively to the from this expedition, only the rail Porzana latter. The history of this cooperative effort sandwichensiswas never taken in the Kona and Perkins ’ itinerary are detailed by Man- district again. ning (1986). Although Perkins ’ collections Andrew Bloxam, naturalist of H.M.S. added only a single new species, the Black Blonde (see Oahu account), collected a sin- Mamo (Dre~anis funerea Newton), to the gle Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis)on then known avifauna, he was, fortunately, Hawaii in 1825 and reported the presence a very keen and intelligent observer who of what we now know to have been Dark- worked under field conditions of extreme rumped Petrels (Pterodroma phaeopygia), deprivation and who left us with virtually but contributed little else to the islands’ or- all we will ever know about the habits of nithology (Bloxam 1827, 1925, MS notes). many now extinct species (Perkins 1893, Between 1825 and 1840, only a few spec- 1895, 1901, 1903, 1913). imens of birds, mostly geese (Branta sand- Although many of Wilsons’ specimens vicensis)that presumably originated on the HAWAIIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATION-Olson and James 93 TABLE 1. ISLAND-BY-ISLANDHISTORY OF COLLECXNG TABLE 1. CONTINUED IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS MORE OR LESS CHRONOLOGICALLY ORDERED BY DATE OF FIRST 1895 Apr 3, 8, May 29. Thos. C. White for Flood SIGNIFICANT ORNITHOLOGICAL ACTIVITY. THESE brothers (MCZ) HISTORIES COVER THE PERIOD THROUGH THE 1895 Dee-1896 Jan. Perkins EXPLORATIONSOF R. C. L. PERKINS,BUT ALSO INCLUDE 1896 Mar, Aug-Sept, Nov-Dec. Perkins A FEW SUBSEQUENTCOLLECXONS OF NOTE. EACH ENTRY 1896 May, June. Wilson GIVES THE KNOWN TIME SPAN, COLLECTOR OR 1896. Schauinsland (UMB) EXPEDITION, ANY PERTINENT LITERATURE, AND PRIN- 1897 Feb-Mar. Perkins CIPAL REPOSITORIESOF SPECIMENS (THE LAST Two 1898 Apr 9-1903 Aug 24. Henshaw (resident on Ha- OMITTED FOR WILSON, PALMER, AND PERKINS). THIS waii from Dee 1894 to Feb 1904-Henshaw SUPPLEMENTSTHE TABULATION IN OLSON AND JAMES 1919-1920, Nelson 1932; BPBM, USNM) (199 1:TABLE 1) IN WHICH THE ENDEMIC LAND BIRDS OF THE ISLANDS ARE LISTED CHRONOLOGICALLYBY DATE OAHU OF ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION (WHICH WAS SOMETIMES 1786 May-June. H.M.S. Queen Charlotte (Dixon LONG AFTER THE SPECIMENSWERE COLLECTED) 1789; BMNH) 1825 May. H.M.S. Blonde(Bloxam 1827, 1925, Ol- son 1986; BMNH) HAWAII 1834 Sept. M. Botta (MNHN) 1779 Jan. Cook’s Third Voyage (Medway 198 1, Ol- 1835 Jan. Townsend and Nuttall (Townsend 1839; son 1989~: LIV. RMNH. NMW) specimens not separable from those of 1837) 1825 June. H.M.S. blonde (Bloxam 1827, Olson 1837 Jan. Townsend (Townsend 1839; ANSP, LIV, 1986; BMNH) USNM, FMNH) 1832 Sept. David Douglas sends Branta (Olson 1837 Jan. Deppe (ZMB, ZIL, NMW) 1989a; LIV, ANSP) 1837 July. Feenus(Prevost and Des Murs 1849; 1834. Lord Derby’s Brunta received (Olson 1989a) MNHN, MCZ) 1836 Sept-Oct. Bonite (Eydoux and Souleyet 184 1; 1837 July, 1839 June. HMS Sulphur (Gould 1843b; MNHN) BMNH) Between 1837 and 1848. Rev. Forbes for J. K. 1840 Sept, Nov; 1841 Mar-Apr. U.S. Exploring Ex- Townsend (Peale 1848: 107) pedition (Midshipman Henry Eld; ROM) 1840 Nov-184 1 Mar. U.S. Exploring Expedition 1842. Specimens sent via Chile (Olson 1989b; SMF, (Wilkes 1845, Peale 1848, Cassin 1858; USNM, BMNH) ANSP, MCZ) 1843.