44 HAWAIIAN BIRDS. 



differs markedly from many Hawaiian birds which inhabit only 

 restricted areas specially suited to their habits. 



The amakihi loves the nectar of flowers, and is frequently to 

 be seen in company with the iiwi and the akakani rifling the 

 ohia blossoms of their sweets. It has learned also that the im- 

 ported nasturtium secretes a fine quality of honey and, however 

 close to the house the flowers may grow, it pays them regular 

 morning and evening visits. As the amakihi has a comparatively 

 short bill it is quite unable to reach the nectar, deep down in the 

 long spurred corolla, and, like the iiwi, it has learned to pierce 

 the spur with its bill just over the nectaries, and in this way easily 

 reaches the coveted sweets. 



It is the amakihi also that pays so much attention to the ba- 

 nana blossoms, and daily visits them for the sake of the abundant 

 nectar. This bird hunts, too, all over the broad leaves of the 

 same plant for minute insects which no other bird does. But the 

 amakihi spends most of its time hunting for insects in the foliage 

 of the ohia trees and among the low shrubbery. 



It is to be remarked that this species confines its search for in- 

 sects almost entirely to the foliage, and spends very little time on 

 the trunks and the larger branches. Exactly the reverse is true of 

 the Oreomyza, which frequents the same localities, and rather 

 closely resembles the amakihi in size and general appearance. 

 Bearing this difference in habits in mind, the two species may 

 almost always be distinguished at any distance. 



The call note of this species is a low sweet "tweet" which is 

 frequently utteired. Its song is a low, simple but, withal, a rather 

 sweet trill which is repeated at rather frequent intervals. 



The nest of this species seems to be placed at various heights 

 in the ohia and other trees. It is composed of roots and bark, 

 lined with rootlets. The eggs I have not seen. 



Description. — Adult male. Above oil green; beneath greenish-yellow; 

 lores black; wing and tail brownish, edged with green; lining to wing 

 whitish. Bill about .65 long; slightly curved; grayish plumbeus; legs 

 plumbeus. Length about 4.50 inches. Female similar but duller. 



