Some Birds of Molokai. 75 



immature. The fully adult male at this season is usually accom- 

 panied by the female and from two to four parti-colored immature 

 birds of both sexes. Occasionally young birds that have assumed 

 more than three-fourths of the red plumage of the adult will be 

 found in such companies. On the other hand one is rather more 

 apt to find pairs mated and settled before the male has assumed 

 one-third of the conspicuous red plumage to which he is heir. 



In habits the Kakawahia resembles the species of the genus 

 to which it belongs, and from which it differs in color so widely. 

 They prefer to feed over the trunks and branches of the trees. 

 Here they secure the insects that make up almost the whole of 

 their diet. However, they will be seen in the tops of the tallest 

 trees, but apparently paying little or no attention to their flowers. 

 In short, they are persistent and sturdy entomologists, always 

 active and alert, but strange to say, they seldom, if ever, take in- 

 sects on the wing. At intervals moths are taken of such size they 

 are compelled to hold them under their feet and pull them to pieces 

 so as to devour them piecemeal, much after the fashion of the com- 

 mon chickadee. 



When they have once settled on a home in the forest they at 

 once set about to establish their sphere of influence, over which 

 they rule, so far as possible, to the exclusion of every trespasser. 

 On the approach of some intruder, as a man or a dog, they will 

 both set up a scolding "Chirk, chirk", that is no uncertain sound 

 to one familiar with birds' voices and ways. If the alarm chirk is 

 continued long enough, the nearest neighbors are rarely so far 

 away that they will not come in to satisfy their natural curiosity 

 and add the weight of their presence and voice to the protest. 



The Kakawahia, like his cousins, is full of curiosity. The 

 sound of one making one's way through the woods is sure to at- 

 tract the little resident to the scene, when uttering their never- 

 varied "chirk", they will come close enough to the person to take 

 in every detail of his makeup in wide-eyed inquisitiveness. Once 

 satisfied that their show of authority has no intimidating effect, 

 they will resume their feeding close to the observer. One can thus 

 study their movements at close range. I have often watched them 

 under the most favorable circumstances, for an hour or more at a 

 time, but have never seen them paying the slightest attention to 

 the nectar-bearing flowers about them. Occasionallv thev go down 



[165J 



