586 



KATVnAL n I STORY OF BIRDS. 



few can afford to wear tlicin. Tlie innntlcs made of these feathers were until lately 

 considered the principal treasures of the crown; now they are not to be seen ; the 

 labor of collecting the feathers and attaching thcni to a network base, a labor of 

 years, being too great. Euroi)ean clothing has entirely supei-seded the former robes 

 of state. 



"The 'Oo' is found in most of the woody districts of the island of Hawaii; it 

 frequents the thick foliage of the loftiest trees; in voice and manners it has some 

 resemblance to the oriole of North America (Icterus haltimore). The natives cap- 



^.:w^n^'^^'' 



F]G. 2GG. — Sectarinia mctallica^ siiD-bird. 



ture it by means of bird-lime, .-nid, after plucking the yellow feathers from beneath 

 the wings, restore it to liberty until again wanted to assist in jiayiiig the royal 

 tax." A fine robe made of these feathers is in the National Museum in Washington. 

 The sun-birds, Ne( t.\kimii>.e, on tlie other hand, are more African and Indian, 

 though ranging eastward to Northern Australia. 'I'lii'v are generally small birds of 

 very nnifi'iin shape, and, i>nce si'cii, tlicy inc not easily mistaken for any other bird, 

 except for a humming-bird, with whicli the ]io]iular mind usually confounds them. 



