Vol.XXl Fisher, Birds of Laysan Isla?id. 389 



of the nest, in plain sight, and the operator was seated beside it 

 waiting his chance. The bird in the pictures spent much of its 

 time scratching sand, just behind the grass tussock, and would 

 occasionally hop onto the edge of the nest to see what was 

 happening. 



Laysan Honey-eater. Himatione freethi Rothschild. 



The Laysan Honey-eater is a brilliant little bird, about the size 

 of a warbler, and very attractive when seen flitting here and there 

 in the soft green of chenopodium bushes. Its plumage is of a 

 lustrous scarlet vermilion, brightest on the crown, with wings, tail, 

 and abdomen a dull sepia. 



They are most abundant in the interior of the island near the 

 open plain bordering the lagoon. Here on the extensive beds of 

 succulent portulaca they may be seen throughout the day, busily 

 walking about like pipits, either gathering insects or drinking 

 honey from the numerous half-blown buds. The brush-like 

 tongue of these creatures renders the gathering of honey, and such 

 tiny insects as may infest the interior of corollas, an easy task. 

 In fact it was no uncommon occurrence to see one go from flower 

 to flower, and insert its bill between the petals of a nearly opened 

 bud, with a certain precision and rapidity which suggested a hum- 

 mingbird, except of course that the Himatione was on its feet. 



I also observed them catching green caterpillars from Chenopo- 

 dium sandivicheum bushes, the leaves of which resemble those of 

 its well-known congener — our garden pig-weed. The Honey- 

 eaters are partial to small brownish-gray moths or ' millers ' which 

 abound on the island. While we were at lunch, nearly every day 

 a Himatione flew in and extracted these creatures from cracks 

 between boards. It then grasped the miller with one foot, after 

 the manner of a bird of prey, clinging with the other to the rough 

 board wall, and ate the soft parts of its quarry. After a few 

 moments the still fluttering victim was released, and the destruc- 

 tive search resumed. It became evident that the millers, relieved 

 of important parts of their anatomy, did not thrive after such 

 treatment. We heartily wished the little bird good luck, for the 



