Vol "wi9 XVI ] MacCaughey, The Hawaiian Elepaio. 31 



Food Habits. — The Elepaio is almost exclusively insectivorous. 

 There is no evidence of vegetable food, save possibly nectar. In 

 its feeding habits it combined the traits of the Flycatcher and the 

 Wren, with strong resemblance to the latter. It catches insects 

 in three ways, — on the wing, from vegetation, and from the ground. 

 It often follows and catches insects on the wing, but does not sit 

 for long intervals and watch for prey, as do the American Fly- 

 catchers. In its aerial chase the Elepaio's beak snaps audibly in 

 closing. The author has often sat motionless in a secluded situa- 

 tion in the rain-forest and observed the Elepaio's aerial maneuvers. 

 The flight is rapid, usually silent, with considerable fanning of 

 wings and tail, and manifest ability in turning sharp corners. 



Most of the insect food is gleaned from the branches and foliage 

 of trees and shrubs, and from the thick envelopment of mosses, 

 lichens, liverworts, etc., which covers the woody vegetation in the 

 rain-forest. Insect larva? comprise an important element of the 

 diet. Beetles, mature and as larva?, myriapods, flies, moths, 

 caterpillars of many species, together with spiders and slugs, are 

 the dominant items on the food-list. ( 



Not infrequently the Elepaio feeds from the ground, — among 

 the dead koa leaves, in the fern banks, and upon prostrate and 

 mouldering tree trunks. Myriapods, larvse, spiders and slugs are 

 gathered in these situations. The author has commonly observed 

 the Elepaio feeding on or very close to the ground on the steep 

 slopes in the montane rain-forests of Oahu and Kauai, as well as 

 on the gentle slopes of Hawaii. He has never seen vegetable 

 food eaten by this bird. 



The Elepaio feeds all day long, from dawn to darkness, without 

 cessation. There is no special feeding time; the bird is apparently 

 insatiable and always on the qui vive for food. Seale found, in a 

 large series of birds shot under widely varying conditions, that all 

 had their stomachs literally gorged with insects and larva?. .The 

 Elepaio is keen-eyed and quick of movement; it catches and 

 devours insects with great rapidity. It holds down large moths 

 in its claws, and tears off the wings, etc., before swallowing the 

 morsel. The author has observed the bird methodically pull off 

 the legs and wings of various adult insects, in preparation for 

 swallowing. 



The economic value of the Elepaio as a destroyer of noxious 



