First Impressions of Hawaiian Birds 



155 



Its name, "Elepaio," is the native interpretation of what the bird itself 

 no doubt regards as its song. It is a loud, clear and insistent call, special 

 emphasis being laid upon the second syllable. Heard from the forest depths 

 it is pleasing, though we may call it a song only by courtesy and because 

 the bird has nothing better to ofier in the way of music. Elepaio's nest is 

 a beautiful structure of grass, mosses and lichens placed in the fork of a 

 shrub, usually within twenty feet of the ground. It is the only Hawaiian 

 woodland bird, the nest and eggs of which are well known. 



From Wilson's ' Aves Havvaiieiisis ' 



OU iPsittacirostra psittacea). See page 125 



In the life history of Hawaiian birds there is at present a great gap. 

 Next to nothing is known of their nests, nesting habits and eggs. The 

 reasons are not far to seek : The forests are high and so dense is the 

 undergrowth that, however bright the sun, its rays penetrate but feebly 

 into the deep forest recesses, which, in consequence, are but feebly lighted. 

 Moreover, the lower levels are cold and damp as compared with the upper 

 heights, and hence are not at all suitable for nesting sites. Except Elepaio, 

 probably no Hawaiian woodland bird builds its nest low down save in very 

 exceptional cases. 



When nests are visible, as they often are, they are far up in the trees 



