the Study of the Drepauididse. 581 



the almost universal squeak of the call or alarm-uote of 

 the green-feathered section. 



The subjoined list will enable anyone to distinguish at a 

 glance the various genera of Drepanididse. More characters 

 are frequently given there than are necessary for merely 

 separating the different forms, especially where these 

 characters appear to me to be of great importance. It is 

 only necessary to add that the views expressed in this paper 

 on the Drepanine birds have not been formed otf-hand, but 

 are the results of much study and observation^ extending 

 over a period of ten years, six of which have been spent in 

 the islands themselves, for the most part in the haunts of 

 the various species. As the writer has had the opportunity of 

 seeing many of the rarest forms — not a few individuals only, 

 but scores or hundreds — he has had ample opportunity for 

 careful study of the habits, without the need or desire to 

 kill a valuable specimen whenever seen. For this reason the 

 biological considerations may be held to be of more import- 

 ance than would be the case were they based on a mere 

 superficial study extending over a short period of field-work. 



Table of Genera of Drepanididse. 



1 (2). Apices of some of the primaiies truncate, or if not truncate, then 



the front of the head bearing a large crest of narrow curved 



feathers, which overhangs the base of the beak. 

 Plumage of upper parts always partly black, the rectrices always 



black (sometimes white-tipped), the wings always at least 



largely so. 

 White markings alwa3's present iu the adult, either on the wings 



or upper parts of the body, at times confined to the outer web 



of some of the primaries. 

 Young birds with body-feathers always of a black or dark obscure 



colour, either wholly or in part ; when with many pale feathers 



( Vestiaria), then these are spotted with black . . Division I. 



2 (1). Apices of primaries never truncate ; head never with a crest of 



narrow curved feathers. 

 Plumage of adults never in the least black above, not even the 



tail black. 

 Young birds never clotlied Avith black or dark obscure plumage, 



nor black-spotted, but always largely green or olivaceous. 



Division II. 



