THE ANIMAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 331 



slightly ill size aud color from island to island, they all belong to one genus 

 and are easily recognized as one of the most common and widely distributed 

 species. The.y are nectar-feeding species and are frequently seen in company with 

 the red species just mentioned. They are also fond of insects and spend much 

 of their time searching through the foliage. The call note of the amakihi is 

 a sweetly-whistled "tsweet," which is easily imitated. Their song is a short 

 trill, and when it is at its fullest is loud and penetrating but not very musical. 

 All of these birds (as, indeed, are all of the birds belonging to the family 

 Drepanidida) are cliaracterized by a very strongly-marked and peculiar odor. 

 This goat-like scent is so peculiar and persistent in this family of birds that 

 often after they have left the spot the air retains a musk-like smell. The nest 

 of the amakihi is a simple .structure of twigs, leaves and roots and is usually, 

 though not always, nciir the ground. 



The Genus Oreomystis. 



There is a small olive-green bird occurring on Hawaii, belonging to an 

 entirely different genus ■"' that is so similar in appearance to the species of 

 amakihi found in the group that the Hawaiians themselves did not give it a 

 separate name. Several species on the other islands, however, are easily 

 recognized, the adult males especially differing greatly in color, voice, habits 

 and general appearance fi-om the species of amakihi to be found on the res])ec- 

 tive islands. 



The difference between the two genera which would serve to most readily 

 distinguish them in the field, is that instead of feeding almost entirely on 

 insects and nectar from the flowers and leaves, as is the habit of the amakihi, 

 all of the species of Oreomystis feed in a large part on insects secured from the 

 trunks and limbs of the forest trees and bushes. They are all expert climbers, 

 working either upward or downward and along the upper and under side of 

 the horizontal branches. The dift'erence in color of the species on the dif- 

 ferent islands is a most remarkable feature, since gray-green, olive-green, 

 yellow-olive, yellow and bright red species occur. 



Thrush .\nd Finch-like Birds. 

 The five genera mentioned above are represented on all of the large 

 islands by one species or another. A large brown thrush-like bird '^ that is a 

 remarkable songster, and the stocky, olive-green yellow-headed on ^ are the 

 two species that are next in abundance. Their representatives on Oaliu have 

 been extinct for many years, but on one or the other of the islands one or both are 

 occasionally seen by the casual observer about caini)s and mountain houses. 



•Oreomystis. ' Phieornis spp. ~ Psittacirostra psitticea. 



(Description of Plate Continued from Opposite Page.) 

 (Ciridops anna) : Hawaii. 5. Kona Thick-bill (Chloridops 'kona) : Hawaii. 6. Nukupuii 

 {BeterorhyncMis }uinapepe) : Kauai. 7. O-o (Molio nohilis) : Hawaii. 8. Maui Parrot -bill 

 (Pseudonestor xanthophry.'i) : Maui. 9. Seterorhynchns hicidu.<i: Oaliu — extinct. 10. Akialoa 

 (Hemignathits obscurus) : Hawaii. 11. Falmeria dolei: Maui. Molnkai, a very rare species. 

 12. Molokai o-o (Moho bishopi) : Molokai, very rare. 



