92 HAWAIIAN BIRDS. 



main all summer, but this fact by no means gives positive assur- 

 ance that they breed. Both the kolea and akekeke leave a con- 

 tingent in the islands when they go north to nest in Spring but 

 none of the stay-behinds have been known to breed. The curlew 

 that remain all summer doubtless consist for the most part, as the 

 kolea and akekeke certainly do, of the young birds, too immature 

 to breed, and the old and the cripples. For all that, it is difficult 

 to understand why the curlew and the other migrating species do 

 not, in the course of time, settle permanently in the islands, where 

 there would seem to be all the requisites. 



Description. — Adult. Above dusky brown varied with buff; upper 

 tail-coverts and tail ochraceous, the latter barred with dark brown; top 

 of head dark brown with a medium stripe of buff; beneath dull buff; 

 cheeks, neck and chest with brown streakings; side barred with same; 

 thigh feathers with bristle-like points. Length about 17.25; the curved 

 bill from 2.70 to 3.70. 



Heteractitis incanus (Gmelin.). Ulili; Wandering Tatler. 



The ulili is a permanent inhabitant of the. Hawaiian Islands, 

 frequenting the rocky shores of all the members of the group as, 

 indeed, it does of the Pacific islands generally. Solitary or in 

 pairs its ringing note may be heard summer and winter as, dis- 

 turbedj jt flits from rock to rock. It feeds upon minute Crustacea 

 and small- crabs and to obtain these follows the receding waves 

 with nimble steps, running quickly back to avoid the incoming 

 rush. It also follows the fresh-water streams a mile or two from 

 the sea, and I have seen them feeding in pastures by the side of 

 little rivulets. Nevertheless the sea-side is their proper home and 

 they do not go far beyond the sound of its breakers. 



Apparently the ulili never nests in the islands and, about April 

 or May, the greater number accompany the plover in their north- 

 ern flight. Before they depart many of the outgoing ulili assume 

 the barred plumage whicfa is characteristic of the nuptial season. 

 While most go, many remain, the latter being the immature birds 

 and the weaklings. At all events those that remain retain the 

 immature or winter dress and show not the slightest inclination 

 to breed. 



Aboiit the middle or the latter part of August the return 



