GRENADINES of ST. VINCENT

65c Green Violet Ear: a widespread hummingbird found from Mexico to Bolivia in open country. This stamp was part of a long set issued for the 500th anniv. of Columbus

HAITI

1.50g: This issue commemorates the 1980 World Conference on Tourism, and shows festival costumes of Haiti

POLYNESIA / Polynesie Fr.

100 fr: The Rapa Fruit Dove, pictured here, is an endemic species with a tiny population known only from the isle of Rapa in the Tubai archipelago.

POLYNESIA / Polynesie Fr.

100fr The Tuamotu Kingfisher is pictured here on a 2010 birds issue. This species is critically endangered and inhabits just 1 island (Niau), having been extirpated from other areas of its range.

ST. LUCIA

30c Wezin, or sea grape is an evergreen tree featured on the current definitive series of St. Lucia, showing fruits and medicinal plants

ST. VINCENT

20c this lovely stamp from 1979 shows the national flag and symbols of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

SEYCHELLES / Zil Elwagne Sesel

R3 The Norden shipwreck of 1862 is pictured on this ghostly issue (1991).

SAMOA

25s This self-adhesive stamp is shaped like a flag and commemorates the 40th anniv. of Samoa's independence (back in 1962). It shows a cricket player and various local scenes.

TAIWAN

$5 The Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha) is pictured here in flight. It is a small passerine native to forests of E. Asia and Taiwan, with a vulnerable population that is in decline due to deforestation and habitat conversion.

AITUTAKI (Cook Is.)

50c: This colorful 1992 issue commemorates the Sixth Festival of Pacific Arts, which took place in Rarotonga in the Cook Is.

AITUTAKI (Cook Is.)

50c: Henderson or Stephen's Lorikeet (Vini stepheni) is a highly endangered parrot known only from a very few islands in the Pitcairn chain

AITUTAKI (Cook Isl.)

40c The Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis) is a widespread species in the Pacific region, with many subspecies specific to certain islands

FR. POLYNESIA

140fr: this 2007 flora issue shows the Bird of Paradise, a species of heliconia widespread in the tropics

Isle of Man

31p Ships and an early colonist are pictured on this stamp, for the 400th Anniv. of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, issued 2007

COOK Is. / Penrhyn

30c: An early painting of the Apapane, a bird endemic to high elevation forests of the Hawaiian islands, is shown on this 1978 issue, which commemorates the 200th anniv. of the discovery of Hawaii

COMOROS

50fr: Anniv. of UN Admission of the Comoros, issued shortly after independence

JAMAICA

$60 Mountain Pride (Spathelia sorbifolia), issued for Christmas 2007

JAMAICA

$30 Poinsettia, issued for Christmas, 2005

JAMAICA

$60 Ferns, issued for Christmas, 2008. This one is most likely the widespread bracken fern, a common denizen of moist hills

JAMAICA

$10 The White-eyed Jamaican Thrush, an endemic species to the island is pictured on this Birdlife Intl. issue; a Liguanea town cancel is legible

MADAGASCAR

500 FMG / 100 Ariary: UN 50th Anniv. (1995) celebrating environmental protection of this island's unique flora and fauna. Species pictured include the Ringtail Lemur, one of 33 species of lemurs endemic to the region. Also shown are the Madagascar periwinkle and the Mad. Tortoise.

MAURITIUS / Ile Maurice

R15, R25: The dodo, one of the most emblematic of extinct species on earth, was a flightless rail found only on Mauritius. With few natural defenses, the bird was easy prey for sailors and predators, and the species was hunted to extermination by the 1690's.

MONTSERRAT

$1.15 Shell Ginger, from a recent island flora set. This stamp was cancelled at Plymouth, the largest town on this small volcanic island

MICRONESIA

45c pair: Whaling Ships of the 19th century; the upper stamp also shows a harpoon, while the lower shows a carved whaletooth scrimshaw. Both stamps were postmarked at Moen on the island of Truk.