338 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



led to some most remarkable changes. From the firm, straight bill of the 

 genus Oreomystis — the genus supposed to most closely conform Avith the an- 

 cestral form which may have come from America in very remote time, and the 

 form from Avhich all other genera of the family are supposed to have evolved — 

 we have widely ditferent types of bills developed. 



In one branch of the family the bill passes through several genera, each 

 slightly modified, initil the normal straight bill becomes an unusual one, very 

 long and slender and singularly curved, w^ith a tubular tongue, especially 

 adapted to securing the nectar from long tubular flowers. The opposite branch 

 leads off by gradual degrees to wdiere a short thick bill of astonishing strength 

 terminates the line of evolution in Chloridops koiia — a grossbeak-like bird that 

 confines its food habits to cracking the flint-like seeds of the bastard sandal- 

 wood. Between the long, slender, curved honey-eater beak and the heavy finch- 

 like beak are all manner of special forms. In one the bill is parrot-like-, in 

 another it is suited to a fruit diet, so that many forms of bill occur. 



Hawaiiax Birds Becoming Extinct. 



"With th(^ high specialization of the l)ill these birds have lost their 

 power of adaptation. As most species are confined to but a single island, and 

 in some cases to n single district, and there to a single species of tree, we can 

 see how difficult it would be for them to adjust themselves to any sudden 

 change in their environment after they had gradually become fitted through 

 countless centuries for the conditions that existed in any particular locality. 

 Developed under conditions most unusual and peculiar — each within its own 

 chosen and restricted sphere — change of any sort, and competition however 

 slight, is likely to find them unprepared to compete, though some species are 

 better endowed to take part in the struggle than are the majority. In the 

 light of their own past history, they seem strangely susceptible to any change 

 that may occur. When the few remaining species are gone there will be left be- 

 hind them, as tokens of their existence, only a few dried skins in the museums of 

 the world and a few meager pages in such books as this, telling too little of their 

 life historv and habits. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

 HAWAIIAX FISHES: PART ONE. 



The waters of Ilaw^aii have long been celebrated for their fishes of many 

 peculiar habits and characteristics, odd shapes, and remarkable size and color. 

 As a result, so much has been written in a popular and scientific way con- 

 cerning them that they are perhaps better known than any other form of life 

 about the islands. 



