1769 Transit of Venus observed from Tahiti search for the alleged southern continent. HMS Bark "Endeavour" was chosen to take the astronomers and other scientists to Tahiti. James Cook was commissioned as Lieutenant and appointed to command the vessel. Cook was the obvious choice as he was an outstanding seaman with navigational qualifications, a capable astronomer and had observed a 1766 annular eclipse in Newfoundland that was communicated to the Royal Society by John Bevis. Once the "Endeavour" arrived on the island, Cook decided to set up the Venus transit observatory on shore. He required a completely stable platform which the ship could not provide and plenty
Tahiti monarch in only four valleys in Tahiti. It lives in the canopy and understory in forests among mara trees ("Neonauclea forsteri"). Threats to the species include the degradation of its forest habitat by the invasion of exotic plant species, including "Miconia calvescens" and "Spathodea campanulata". The forest is also degraded by goat activity. Predation by rats and cats is a threat. The Tahiti kingfisher ("Todiramphus veneratus") is a competitor. Tahiti monarch The Tahiti monarch or Tahiti flycatcher ("Pomarea nigra") is a rare species of bird in the monarch flycatcher family. It is endemic to Tahiti in French Polynesia. There are fewer