Some Birds of Molokai. 65 



served in alcohol for anatomical stud_v. The series of three, so 

 far as coloration, cur\-ature of the beak, etc., are concerned, are 

 identical. Their measurements, carefully taken, are : 



The chord of the largest of the curved tubular flowers of the 

 lobelia on which the birds were feeding, is over two inches in 

 length. After repeated inquiry among the oldest and best informed 

 natives on the island, I was unable to find one who knew or had 

 ever heard of the Black Mamo under the native name "Oo-nuku- 

 umu." I did, however, find a few who knew of or identified the 

 bird under the name Hoa. 



Vestiaria coccinea Forster. 



A series of ten carefully selected birds and three nests of the 

 liwi were secured, which in themselves form a valuable set. 

 Taken in conuecl;ion with the Museum's long series they assume 

 especial interest, making it possible, in another conneclion, to dis- 

 cuss intelligently from specimens in hand, some of the interesting 

 problems connedted with the evolution and development of the 

 species. 



Xext to the Apapane and Amakihi, the liwi is the species 

 most commonly met with on Molokai. They generally frequent 

 the Ohia forests, but occasionally they will extend their range 

 down, in certain seasons and under favorable conditions, as in 

 Wailau and Pelekunu valleys, so as to reach the sea.shore. They 

 are strong flyers, often mounting high in the air. In small loose 

 flocks they will thus fly from one valley to another. Their flight 

 over the tallest forest trees can be heard and easily distinguished, 

 owing to the whirring noise of their wings, which is supposed to be 

 produced by the peculiar truncated form of the primaries. Other 

 species of the family, as the Himationc, having the same shaped 

 primaries produce a similar though less marked whirring sound. 



On June 10, while colle(5ling on Wailau pali, I saw a parent 

 bird in the brilliant plumage of the adult, feeding an immature 



Oc.P. B. p. B. :m., Vol. IV.,Xo. 2— 5. [i55] 



