74 Director's Annual Report. 
as well as the leaves, of the Sczvola, were always carefully in- 
spected by them. 
The nests of this species, of which three fine specimens were 
collected, are so similar z7/er se as to be easily distinguished from 
nests of the other species on the island. Still they differ consider- 
ably, especially in the materials used, from others of the same genus 
now inthe Museum collection. The most definitely identified, and 
best constructed nest (Mus. No. 4696) is one taken May 27, about 
half way down the Pelekunu pali.. It was built in a stunted Ohia 
tree beside the trail and was poorly, if at all, concealed. It was 
placed on a horizontal limb fifteen feet from the ground, which 
brought it on a level with the path on the crest of the ridge. Its 
external dimensions are 5.00 inches across by 2.25 inches in depth. 
The bowl is 2.25 inches across by 1.25 inches in depth. Exter- 
nally, the structure is loosely woven from green moss. Into this 
as a secondary lining, is worked some brown fibrous material of 
the color of pulu but resembling closely the soft inner bark of the 
Ohia. ‘The lining proper is a generous one, composed entirely of 
the fibre of the dead leaves of the Ieie. The nest is a well woven 
compact structure. When first taken it was strongly scented by 
the peculiar drepanine odor, a trace of which still clings to it. 
Though no eggs were in the nest the parent bird was on when it 
was discovered. 
A second nest, taken at Halawa May 24, is a sort of conces- 
sion to civilization, being placed in the upright fork of a Lantana 
bush that was growing among the Ohia trees, a considerable dis- 
tance into the forest. It is substantially the same as the one just 
described though not of as high order of workmanship. 
Oreomystis flammea (Wilson). 
Of this species an excellent select series was collected which 
shows the various stages through which the birds of both sexes go 
before attaining their adult plumage. In the field the flame-red 
males are in a decided minority, occurring in the ratio of about 
one in nine. But in my series of study specimens, they are in the 
ratio of one to three. This is owing to the tendency in the field 
to take the bright colored bird, and not (as might erroneously be 
concluded) because they are easier to obtain than the females or 
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