IN TROD UC TION xxxi 



comes into blossom over large areas at the same time, presents a really bright appear- 

 ance, and this effect is heightened by the large numbers of the common scarlet and 

 crimson Drepanid birds that resort to the flowers for the sake of their abundant nectar. 

 It is true that there are some other flowers, such as Gardenia, that are conspicuous and 

 fragrant, or showy like the native species of Hibiscus and the begonia, Hillebrandia, 

 but these are too local or infrequent to change the general impression. In open places 

 the yellow flowers of some of the gregarious Compositae attract the eye, but in other 

 countries would hardly be noticed as being more than a rather superior weed. Frey- 

 cinetia in flower or fruit has for a short season a bright appearance, though in many 

 districts nearly every one is devoured or befouled by foreign rats. Perhaps after 

 Metrosiderus, the Mamani [Sophora chrysophylld) which grows gregariously and also 

 attracts the red birds, makes the best show. Of the arborescent lobelias the flowers, 

 though often large and numerous, are rather strange than beautiful; in many species 

 they are hidden beneath or amongst the foliage and often they appear to decay almost 

 before they are fully mature. On the other hand the ferns with a large variety of 

 species, often of considerable beauty, are the more attractive from the absence of con- 

 spicuous flowering plants. Nowhere in the islands will one find any display of the 

 latter comparable with that which is so usual in the meadows or open woodlands of 

 countries outside the tropics. 



Having spoken of the general inconspicuousness of the flowers and the bright 

 colours of some of the commonest birds, we may notice the general aspect of the 

 fauna. The greater number of species of the native birds have green, yellow or oliva- 

 ceous plumage and are not conspicuous, though some of them are of strange or even 

 grotesque form. Here belong the Drepanididae, but five genera (at least in some of 

 their species) have red plumage either in both sexes or at least in the male. The 

 Meliphagine Acrulocerais have mainly black or dark plumage, as do several of the 

 Drepanididae, but none are entirely black, since red, white or yellow forms part of 

 the colour pattern. The thrushes {Phadornis) are of sombre colours, but the males 

 of the fly-catchers {Offl.yz^»?/w) are often prettily variegate. 



The absence of gaily coloured native butterflies or diurnal moths prevents the 

 insects from making any conspicuous showing. It is doubtful whether to ordinary 

 observers there is, excepting the fine Pyravieis tammeamea, a single insect that would 

 be considered beautiful. At least that species only can be said to represent brightly 

 coloured insects in the way that Vestiaria, Himatione and others do the birds. The 

 vast majority of the insects are utterly inconspicuous and unnoticed unless specially 

 sought for. In most places, whether in forest land or in the open, one will observe the 

 endemic bees or wasps, insects of small or medium size, mostly appearing black in life, 

 and the species very uniform in general appearance. Their great abundance in many 

 places, the dark, blue-shining wings of many of them and their activity by day attract 

 our attention. In many woodlands and by the side of mountain streams some of the 



