Sandwich-Island Birds. 193 



elevation of some 3000 feet, I stayed for ten days. It is 

 completely surrounded by forest on three sides, but on the 

 fourth has a fine outlook to the sea, and across a stupendous 

 and thickly-wooded ravine, which separates the mountain- 

 plateau from that on which Mr. Knudsen's small mountain- 

 residence is situated, and where he forms the collections he 

 has sent to Dr. Stejneger in Washington. 



In coloration this species much approaches H. olivaceus, 

 but differs chiefly in the form of its bill. The male, as will 

 be seen by the Plate (Plate VI. fig. 1), shows a very brilliant 

 yellow, and I may say that on this account when I shot my 

 first specimen, which was on a lofty ohia tree, I thought it 

 was a Himutione parva, and was therefore greatly delighted to 

 find, in picking it up, that I had secured a specimen which 

 was quite new to me. It was, however, known to my native 

 guide, who at once gave me his name for it ; and this, as I 

 subsequently learned through Mr. Gay, was correct. 



The female, which I intend to figure in my work, is of a 

 much duller colour, and the slaty colour of her upper parts 

 enables one to distinguish her easily enough even when she 

 is engaged in hunting for insects at a great height from the 

 ground. I am assured by the natives that this species also 

 lives upon oranges and bananas, and I have every confidence 

 in the assertion. 



15. Oreomyza bairdi. " Alakihi." 



This species was first obtained by Mr. Knudsen in Kauai, 

 to which island it is peculiar, and an excellent description 

 given of it by Dr. Stejneger (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. x. 

 pp. 99, 100), to which I can only add that the bill is light brown 

 tinged with pink, and the legs are light pink. It is usually 

 met with in small flocks of from eight to twelve, and is a 

 particularly active bird in running up and down the limbs 

 and trunks of the high trees in search of insects. Its short 

 tail, in Dr. Stejneger' s opinion, indicates its terrestrial habits; 

 but I only observed it at some considerable height from the 

 ground, in the lofty ohia trees, for the dead branches of 

 which it evinces a decided preference. It is the most active 



