62 Director's Anmial Report. 



The two nests referred to were secured b}- Mr. Blacow on June 

 27, 1904, at about 7500 feet elevation among the Mamani {Sophora 

 chrysophylla) trees growing on Horner's Ranch, Hamakua, Hawaii. 

 The larger of the two, the one here shown, was much fresher than 

 the smaller one, being partly composed of leaves of the Mamani 

 that were still green. Both nests were about nine feet from the 

 ground and placed on the outside of the tree. 



As the cut shows, the nest is a rather bulky affair, 5.00 inches 

 in diameter by 2.50 inches deep ; the cup is 1.75 inches across by 

 1.50 inches deep. The stru(5lure is substantially made, the body 

 being built of the green leaf stems and leaves of the Mamani ; to 

 this is added a generous lining, an inch thick, of greenish-white 

 lichens, such as are common in the Hawaiian forests at higher 

 altitudes. The single ^%%, which unfortunately is slightly dam- 

 aged, is a pointed oval in form, measuring .75 X .56 in.; the ground 

 color is a rich cream ; about the larger end the shell is wreathed 

 with confluent spots of pale lilac which forms the under color ; 

 over the whole surface, but especially over the larger end, are 

 sprinkled fine brownish freckles. 



The second nest was similar in structure to the one figured, 

 but differed in being somewhat smaller. The eggs measured 

 .76X.53 in. and .75X.54 in., and were marked similarly to the 

 ones before me. 



All the colledlors who have worked on Hawaii have found the 

 Akiapolaau frequenting the Mamani, and have remarked on its 

 curious woodpecker-like habits. It was therefore to be expe(5ted 

 that the nest when found would be placed in the Mamani thickets. 

 Since both the bird and the ^"g^ of the Palila are much larger 

 than the Akiapolaau, or its eggs here described, there seems ever}- 

 reason to accept the foregoing as a correct description of the nest 

 and eggs of this interesting species, the habits of which have here- 

 tofore been so little known. 



[254] 



