76 HAWAIIAN BIRDS. 



Chaetoptila angustipluma (Peak).. 



This remarkable species was secured by Peak of the U. S. 

 exploring expedition, and was described in 1848. The following- 

 is his brief account of it : "This rare species was obtained at the 

 Island of Hawaii. It is very active and graceful in its motions, 

 frequents the wopdy districts, and is disposed to be musical, hav- 

 ing most of tlae habits of a Meliphaga. They are generally found 

 about those trees which are in flower." 



Mr. Mills, formerly of Hilo, also procured at least two speci- 

 mens of the bird, presumably from natives living in Olaa. I have 

 many times visited the Olaa woods and have spent many days 

 there, always having the bird in mind, but have seen no trace of it. 



Of the several species known formerly to have inhabited the 

 island of Hawaii and now supposed to be extinct, the case of the 

 Chaetoptila is perhaps the most hopeless as regards the chance 

 of survivors. A bird of such large size, of active habits and mus- 

 ■ ical can hardly have escaped attention all these years. It has been 

 seen by no one since the time of Mr. Mills, and the natives do not 

 know it even by name. 



It was doubtless confined to a limited district in Hawaii, for no 

 one has been able to verify the statement of Mr. Dole (Hawaiian 

 Annual for 1879, p. 47) that the bird was fovlnd iii Molokai as 

 well. 



Description. — Top of the head and neck blackish brown, each feather 

 with a greyish white shaft-streak which is strongly tinged with yellow on 

 the .nape and sides of the neck. A greyish-white stripe over the eyes. 

 Wing-coverts and back hair brown, tinged with ochreous on the rump, 

 the feathers of the mantle with a white shaft-streak widening ifttd a tear- 

 shaped spot towards the tip ; remiges and rectrices deep brown, their outer 

 margin yellow, giving a greenish effect to the whole. A greyish-white 

 stripe over the eye. Lores, sides of- the head and ear-coveirts dull black, 

 the feathers immediately under the eye mottled with greyish white. Chin 

 and throat dull white, tinged with yellow, the shafts and the hairs with 

 which this part is beset black. Breast and abdomen dull' white, striped 

 longitudinally with darkish brown; flanks strongly tinged with, ochreous. 

 Length about 13 inches. (Wilson.) 



