102 HAWAIIAN BIRDS. 



Dr. Finsch, who was well acquainted with the bird in the islands 

 further south, is quoted by Rothschild' as stating that he "ob- 

 served the white form once at Kahului, Maui." 



I can add no certain evidence of the occurrence of the bird in 

 the islands, although a large white heron which I am informed 

 was seen in Honolii gulch near Hilo, Hawaii, can hardly have 

 been anything else except the white form of this species. 



Description. — Adult, Above cinereous blue; abdomen dusky; plumes of 

 back and breast white. Length about 17 inches. The young is wholly 

 white. 



Nycticorax nycticorax griseus (Bodd.). Aukuu kahili; Black- 

 crowned Night Heron. 



This heron is numerous on Oahu, and even about Honolulu, 

 being found on the Nuuanu stream quite within the city limits. 

 It is common also upon Maui, and occurs on all the .other islands 

 in greater or less numbers. Upon Hawaii it is comparatively 

 rare, at least upon the windward side, though I have seen a num- 

 ber about the Lokoaka ponds, not far from Hilo. Formerly it was 

 occasionally found on the Waiakea ponds close to Hilo, and I have 

 heard of a number being seen on the upper Wailuku close to the 

 forest. 



The habits of the bird during its residence on the isjiands appear 

 to, have undergone no change. Usually the herons roost by day in 

 the lauhalas, mangoes and other trees of dense growth and, about 

 dusk, betake themselves to feed in the shallow brackish and fresh- 

 water ponds, their chief prey being oopu and other allied small 

 fish. 



Upon Oahu a considerable number of these herons are killed 

 by the Portuguese under the name of "fish-hawks" and eaten, and 

 their rank flesh is highly esteemed. 



Description. — Adult. General color bluish gray ; crown, scapulars and in- 

 terscapulars dark glossy green ; forehead, throat and underparts generally 

 whitish; occipital plumes white. Length about 24 inches. 



Young birds lack the plume, and are otherwise very different. Above, 

 grayish brown, paler below; much spotted with white. 



