308 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



ficnlt to tell from wlieuce the Hawaiian stock was derived. The baek of the 

 male is a fine eoppei-y-chestnut color, the neck a beantifnl metallic-green, with a 

 narrow white collar about the middle, and the breast a gorgeous metallic-copper 

 color with purple reflections. 



The Japanese pheasant '^ is about the same size as the Chinese species. 

 The pure-blooded male can be easily identified, as its underparts are dark 

 green ;ind tliei'e is no white ring about the neck. The females of the two 

 species are more tlifheult to identify, esj)ecially in Hawaii, where hybrids 

 between the two species frequently occur that rival the pure stock in size and 

 beauty of ijlumage. 



The California 1'artridge. 



The California partridge i" is well establihed in the islands, especially 

 on Hawaii, IMani and IMolokai. 'J'he pretty black crest and throat and black 

 scale-like markings on the belly, Mitli a central patch of chestnut on the breast 

 of the males, and the prevailing smoky or brownish color of the females, taken 

 together with the habit, size and rapid flight of the partridge, makes it an 

 easy bird to recognize, as they scurry across the road or take flight from 

 under foot and whir through the air like so many winged bullets. 



The pheasants and partridges prefer the open country, the forehills, and 

 straggling scrul) a])()ut the lower edges of the mountain forests, and in spite of 

 the damage to them and their nests that is directly traceable to the mongoose, 

 they are generally believed to l)e increasing in numbers. 



The wild fowl, or moa, was introduced by the natives long before the 

 coming of the white man, but since his coming other breeds have escaped into 

 the mountains and a mongrel HaM-aiian wild chicken has resulted. The intro- 

 duction and liberation of certain domestic birds, as turkeys, pea-fowls, guinea- 

 fowls and the like, have been made from time to time until they are cpiite 

 common in a wild state on the different islands. 



Other birds have escaped and become established, among them a ])arrot 

 on Maui and a Chinese thrush ^ on Oahu ; tliough the latter is not a thrush, but 

 a reed-warhler. It is to be hoped that ere long the scientific introduction of 

 desir;d)le economic species will be undertaken, since there are many species 

 of birds in America and elsewhere that, if brought to HaAvaii. would fill a 

 useful place in the economy of nature, and at the same time add by their 

 presence to the pleasure of life in both cily and country. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

 BIRDS OF THE SEA AND OCEANIC ISLANDS. 



Regular Visitors and Ocean Waifs. 



Of the little list of less than thirty species of sea-birds of which Hawaii 

 can boast, almost half the number are verv rare winter visitors. As a rule 



' Phasianiis versicolor. ^o Lopliurtyx californicn. ^'^ Iroclialopterutii cunorur 



