First Impressions of Hawaiian Birds 125 



have emblems of their rank and authority, and the Hawaiian belles of 

 today covet the beautiful vellow feathers of the Oo for leis for the 

 neck. As a consequence, the Mamo is probably entirely extinct, while 

 the Oo still lingers in certain restricted and inaccessible districts. 



The Oo is a noble bird, with brilliant black plumage and a far- 

 reaching voice, but with no song as far as I am aware. Its activity as 

 it glides over the branches of the tall ohias, jetting its long tail like a 

 Magpie, is astonishing. At some seasons, at least, it is a most assiduous 

 and persistent insect -hunter, and its loss to Hawaii is to be deplored. 



In this brief notice of some of the commoner Hawaiian birds, I have 

 omitted some notable species, such as the orange -colored Akepeleuie, 

 smallest of all Hawaiian birds, the green Akialoa, and the yellow-bellied 

 Akipoloau. The latter species, I may briefly remark, has attempted in 

 a way to play the role of Woodpecker, despite the long, thin, curved 

 mandible. The skull is thick and broad at base, and the maxillary and 

 neck muscles are very powerful, so as to confer great driving power 

 upon the short and blunt lower mandible. As a consequence, the bird 

 can hammer off and wrench away small excrescences from the bark and 

 limbs of trees so as to expose the hidden insect burrows. The delicate, 

 curved upper mandible appears to have a double function: first, as a 

 probe to detect the presence of larva; and beetles in their burrows; 

 second, as a hook to haul them out within reach of the brush -tipped 

 tongue. 



In richness of tone and a certain deliberateness of utterance, the song 

 of the Akialoa suggests that of the Yellow -throated Vireo. It is short, 

 but rich and full, and is frequently- uttered as the bird flies from tree to 

 tree or climbs about the trunks. 



I must not omit all mention of the single Hawk peculiar to the 

 Islands, especially as it is the only bird of prey, except the Short-eared 

 Owl. The latter is so recent a settler from the mainland that it is 

 indistinguishable from mainland specimens. In making the above state- 

 ment I do not overlook the fact that specimens of the Marsh Harrier 

 have been taken upon the Island of Oahu, where it is probable that the 

 species will in time become established and may spread thence to the 

 other' islands. lo, the hawk, is a heavy- winged, sluggish fellow, with 

 much the disposition and man\ of the habits of the Broad -winged Hawk. 

 He shuns the heavy forest and lives on its skirts and in the clearings. 

 He has a liking for perching upon the branches of isolated trees, where 

 he sits and scans the ground beneath for mice anil small rats. Small 

 rodents are his natural fooel, and so heavy and awkwanl on the wing is 

 he that only under exci-ptional lircunistances can he catch small birds, 

 to the presence of whirh, usu.ilK , he pa\s not the slightest atti-ntion. 



I id In- coin III JeJ . \ 



