LOXOPS FLAMMEA. 



KAKAWAHIE. 



Loxops flammea, Scott Wilson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1889, p. 445. 



The new species of Loxops, of which the discovery is related here, was originally 

 described in the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society,' as above. 



It is peculiar, as far as I can judge, to the island of Molokai, and I only procured 

 three specimens during my stay, all at Kalae ; it may not, however, be safe to consider 

 it rare, as my host easily obtained the native name for me, thus showing the bird 

 to be known to the aborigines. I met with all three examples on the same day, 

 killing a male and female at the same shot. It was in one of those penetrating mists, 

 which fortunately we did not often experience in the Sandwich Islands, that I had 

 started early in the morning from Mr. Meyer's residence, accompanied only by a 

 native boy, and till noon the day was clear ; in the afternoon, however, the mist 

 gathered and a cold rain began to fall ; soon we were completely enveloped, and my 

 native, well acquainted with the forest as he was, lost the way. While we were 

 wandering about and searching for the trail, I heard a curious sound, — a continued chip, 

 chip, chip, not unlike the sound of chopping wood when heard at a distance — which 

 at first I did not think could belong to a bird ; soon, however, I was undeceived, as a 

 flash of brilliant orange colour passed us in the fog ; when, on trying to follow it up, 

 the continuous metallic note enabled me to get within range and I fired, bringing down 

 two birds, which proved to be male and female. Soon afterwards I shot another of the 

 bright-coloured males. We had by this time hopelessly lost our way, and the conse- 

 quences might have been serious ; so we were extremely glad to hear revolver shots at 

 no great distance, which proved to be fired by Mr. Meyer's sons, who had come out in 

 search of us. The name applied to this bird in the Hawaiian language means fire- 

 wood ; but whether this is given to it from the note, which, as remarked above, resembles 

 the sound of chopping wood, or from the brilliant flame-colour of its plumage, I am 

 unable to say. 



Description. — Adult male. Front and sides of the head pure scarlet ; top of the head 

 and back brownish scarlet, brightening into nearly pure scarlet on the rump ; chin, 

 throat, and lower surface generally pure scarlet, but paler in hue, brightening, however, 

 on the flanks ; remiges and rectrices blackish brown edged with brownish scarlet ; wing- 

 lining pale scarlet. Bill and legs light pinkish brown. 



Adult female. Top of the head hair-brown, but each feather brownish scarlet at the 

 base, and the shafts of those towards the back of the head grey ; back hair-brown 



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