Some Birds of Molokai. 



Bv "Wm. Ar^ANSOx Brvax. 



With a view to securing suitable material for the series of 

 Hawaiian bird groups being assembled in the Bishop ^Museum, the 

 writer spent two months (April 15 to June 15, 1907) colledling in 

 the mountains of Molokai. The collecting of the skins and the 

 necessary material required in the Museum's work afforded a favor- 

 able opportunity for making some detailed field observations on 

 the nests and habits of many of the birds found on this seldom 

 visited island. In addition to a general report of the expedition, 

 the Molokai Olomao (P/ia-om/s nitha) is herein described as new 

 and shown to be a species closely allied to P. lanaicnsis with 

 which it has formerly been united. 



The popular and, in a large degree, the scientific interest in 

 the expedition centers about the securing of specimens of the Hoa 

 or Black Mamo {Drepanorhamplms fuiiereus) which is one of the 

 rarest of living birds. The search of the forests was made with a 

 view to securing specimens of this species if possible. As a con- 

 sequence the collecting of other mountain birds was in a sense 

 incidental to this main endeavor. Locating the present haunts of 

 the few remaining examples of the Hoa, made frequent change of 

 station necessary, and, as a result, practically the whole forest area 

 of the island was visited before the coveted locality was finally 

 found. The most extended stay, however, was made at Kamoku 

 camp, and it was at this place that most of the material here re- 

 ported was obtained. 



Kamoku camp is a shelter cabin belonging to the Molokai 

 ranch. It is located on the southwest side of Hanakalilolilo moun- 

 tain, near the head of Waikolu valley, and it is well suited to the 

 requirements of the collector. It is about 4000 feet elevation and 

 on the edge of the great bog forest at the head of Waikolu and 

 Pelekunu valleys. In this vicinity have been secured most of the 

 specimens of birds of the island, now in museums. The region is 

 also important as the type locality for the Hoa and certain other 

 birds peculiar to Molokai. 



[133] f43) 



