li HA WAIIAN BIRDS. 



in pursuit of the flowering trees. The ou seeks the fruit of the 

 ieie vine wherever he can find it. 



That at least one of these species possesses unusual powers of 

 adaptation to new and strange conditions is attested by the fact 

 that the akakani, in somewhat changed form (Himatione 

 freethii), exists upon the rather inhospitable island of Laysan. 

 This island is some 600 miles to the northwest of the main 

 group, and the transferrance of the bird thither was, no doubt, 

 due to accident, as a heavy wind storm. In Laysan its environ- 

 ment is markedly different from that which surrounded it on the 

 islands of the main chain. Yet the bird, though said to be the 

 rarest of the Laysan land birds, exists in some numbers and 

 seems to thrive fairly well, despite the necessity of continuous 

 inbreeding. The entire lack of competition may, however, make 

 partial amends for this disadvantage. 



The several species of 0-0, living and extinct, and probably 

 also the extinct mamo, are to be classed with the above species 

 having comparatively wide range, and there is no reason to be- 

 lieve that these latter birds would not still abound in the Ha- 

 waiian forests if they had not been pursued to the death for the 

 sake of their feathers. 



In connection with the probable future of Hawaiian birds, 

 and aside from the question of inbreeding, it may be added that 

 as new and less favorable conditions prevail, the more highly 

 specialized forms will naturally be the ones to suffer first and 

 most, since they will be the least able to adapt themselves to 

 changes, more particularly those involving the food supply. 



The probable extinction of the koa forests, for example, at no 

 distant day is likely to be followed, even if all other conditions 

 should remain unchanged, by the extinction of such birds as 

 Pseudonestor and Rhodacanthis, because of the extreme de- 

 pendence of these species for food upon this tree. 



Such birds as Chasiempis, the several forms of Chlorodrepanis 

 and Phceornis are much more likely to survive new conditions 

 indefinitely, if for no other reason than that less specialized habits 

 endow them with larger resources in the way of food and also 

 with greater adaptability. Even the honey-eaters, the most 



