96 HAWAIIAN BIRDS. 



Schauinsland saw this species upon the island of Laysan. It may- 

 be found that, like the sanderling, this phalarope visits the islands, 

 annually in small numbers. 



Description. — Adult. Underneath purplish cinnamon; sides of head 

 white; top of head blackish. In winter under parts white; occiput and/, 

 about eyes plumbeous. Above pearl gray. Length 7.50-9 inches. 



« 



Phalaropus lobatus (Linn.). Northern Phalarope. 



So far as known, only a single specimen of this phalarope has; 

 ever been found on the islands. . This individual was shot by Mr. 

 A. F. Judd on Kauai during the winter of 1892-93, and is now in. 

 the Bishop Museum. The bird summers in Alaska, and migratedl 

 in great numbers down the west coast, so that occasional strays 

 are to be looked for m the islands. 



Description. — Adult. Above dark plumbeous, the back striped with buff;: 

 greater wing-coverts tipped with white; lower parts white; chest and sides, 

 rufous. The female much brighter than the male. 



In winter chiefly white; upper parts grayish. Length about 7 inches.. 



RALLID^. RAIL AND MUD-HEN FAMILY. 



Pennula millsi, Dole. Moho. 



There is a popular impression that this bird was wingless. As;- 

 a matter of fact the moho was as well supplied with wings as most 

 of the rail family, though it may be doubted if its wings were of 

 any special use to it after it reached the islands. Obtaining its 

 food solely from among the weeds and grasses, having no migra- 

 tion to perform, and at first having practically no enemies to^ 

 escape from, the wings of the moho doubtless in time came to be 

 almost useless. Nor would serviceable wings have long availed 

 to preserve a bird of its secretive habits from the enemies des- 

 tined, to work its extermination, the domestic dog and cat (es- . 

 pecially the latter) run wild in the islands. These wild cats have- 

 abounded in the woods from an early day, living upon rats, mice, 

 and such young birds as chance throws in their way. The mon- 

 goose usually receives the credit of exterminating the moho, but 

 it may be doubted if a single moho was alive at the coinparatively^ 



