70 HAWAIIAN BIRDS. 



Description. — Adult male. Above and below bright olive-green; lores 

 dusky; abdomen whitish. Length about 6 inches. Female similar. 



MELIPHAGID.E. HONEY-SUCKER FAMILY. 



Mdho nobilis (Merrem.). O-O. 



Thi,s magnificent species, a prince among Hawaiian birds, in- 

 habits the island of Hawaii where, in former times, it was wide- 

 spread throughout the lower as well as the middle forest. Today 

 it is fast nearing extermination. 



This species, and the much rarer mamo, yielded the yellow 

 feathers so precious in the "eyes of the higher Hawaiian chiefs, and 

 it is to obtain possession of the coveted feathers that the birds 

 have been sacrificed. True, it is said to have been the practice of 

 the ancient bird-catchers to release their captives after plucking 

 the golden harvest under each wing and tail, each bird yielding 

 fifty feathers and upwards. Moreover dire penalties are said to 

 have followed the detection of an infraction of this law. 



It is not to be overlooked, however, that the brilliant shining 

 Mack body feathers of the o-o were also in great demand for mak- 

 ing cloaks and, as remarked by Prof. Brigham, the bird could 

 hardly survive the loss of nearly its entire plumage. It may well 

 he, therefore, that the old bird catchers were not wholly un- 

 acquainted with the good qualities of the flesh of the o-o, which is 

 .said to be most excellent eating. 



The above merciful and wise custom, if ever generally observed, 

 '(there is no doubt that a law prohibiting the killing of the o-o was 

 •made by Kamehameha) died out together with the chiefs with 

 ■whom it originated and with the old race of bird-catchers. The 

 silent snare has given place to the deadly shot gun. Though island 

 royalty is no more, the demand for feather leis continues, and to 

 -meet it the o-o has been pursued till only a few remain in the dis- 

 tant woodland fastnesses— so few and so shy from persecution 

 that happily the yield to the lei hunter no longer repays "the labor 

 and trouble of pursuit. 



The districts of Olaa and Puna are today almost absolutely 

 tenantless of this beautiful bird, where formerly there were mul- 



