Some Birds of Molokat. 83 
frequenting the same sections throughout the year. ‘They never 
seem to range very far from any particular locality where they have 
taken upa residence. If they do go afield, it is always by short 
covered flights. For the Olomao is by nature a shy, timid bird, 
and for that reason, instead of exposing itself in the open it prefers 
to proceed from place to place by short low flights, usually through 
the shade of the forest. Again, a flock of Olomao, even a flock in 
the most restricted sense, has, I believe, never been seen. When 
they rove about at all they are alone, or at most in pairs. In my 
experience with the genus on Kauai, Molokai and Hawaii, I have 
never seen them high up in the air, and sustain a flight of any 
distance above the tree tops. Their buoyant spirit not infrequently 
lifts them into the air in a prolonged burst of song, but when they 
have finished the effort they drop back into cover and if so minded, 
work off through the trees to some other favorite retreat. In 
marked contrast with the habits of the wide-ranging Apapane or 
liwi, I have never witnessed a bold flight of even a solitary indi- 
vidual from the high forest-clad palis where it abounds. 
It would be perfectly possible physically for the Olomao to 
readily pass back and forth from Molokai to Lanai, or to Maui, or 
Oahu, so far as the inter-island distances and its power of flight 
are concerned. But I am convinced that its habits are such that 
it does not venture voluntarily on such flghts. Furthermore, by 
rarely exposing itself in the open or getting far from cover, it re- 
duces the possibility of such migrations being accidentally made 
through the agencies of wind and weather to the minimum. 
Hence it is highly probable that the inter-island migration and 
breeding of sufficient numbers of the two forms to influence the 
mass of individuals on both islands sufficiently to keep them breed- 
ing to type does not occur. 
The general habits of the Molokai species coincide very closely 
with those of the other species of the genus. Berries are by far its 
commonest food. While insects were found in the stomachs of a 
part of the birds examined, they occurred in no considerable 
quantity in any of them. Several times I came on the birds feed- 
ing on berries and had an opportunity to watch their behavior 
at close range unobserved. It was thus possible for me to settle 
some minor points as to their behavior, particularly as to the 
bras 
