EAWAIIAN BIRDS. lt)5" 



IBID^E. IBIS FAMILY. 



Plegadis guaranna (Linn.). Glossy Ibis. 



The occurrence of this ibis in the Hawaiian Islands has hitherto 

 rested upon a single specimen obtained by Mr. Knudsen in 1872, 

 upon Kauai, and identified by Mr. Ridgway as of the above 

 species. Mr. Newell informs me that in 1873 Mr. Wilder of Ho- 

 nolulu shot a second specimen of this ibis on the island of Maui, 

 and sent it to him for preparation. It was probably of the above 

 species, though this is not definitely known. 



Description. — Adult. Head, neck and lower parts chestnut; upper parts- 

 metallic green, bronze and purple; lores lake-red; feathers at base of 

 bill white. Length about 22 inches. 



Young with lower parts grayish brown. 



ANATID^. GOOSE, DUCK AND SWAN FAMILY. 



Bernicla sandvicensis (Vigors). Nene. Hawaiian Goose. 



The nene is now found chieflv, if not wholly, upon the island of 

 Hawaii, although it is said to have nested in past times in the 

 crater of Haleakala on the island of Maui and, occasionally, to 

 have been seen on the islands of Kauai and Niihau. At the pres- 

 ent time, however, there is no reason to believe that the nene is 

 found upon Maui, inquiry in 1891 failing to disclose that it has 

 been seen there for several years. Its occurrence upon Kauai 

 and Niihau, was probably in the nature of an accident, if indeed it 

 was not rriistaken for one of the species of American geese which 

 are now knov/n to visit the islands not rarely. 



Upon the island of Hawaii the haunts of the nene, for the 

 greater part of the year, are the uplands from about 5,000 feet 

 upwards. At or about the above elevation the range of this goose 

 is quite extensive, and it is found from the district of Kona to the 

 northeast flanks of Mauna Kea. It would be an easy matter to' 

 introduce the nene from Hawaii into the other islands, especially 

 Maui, and no doubt the bird would thrive, if properly protected. 



The region it affects is open, and, in general, as barren as can 

 well be imagined, consisting for the most part of lava flows, naked 



