

HIMATIONE AUEEA. 



Hypoloxias aurea, Finsch, Ibis, 1880, p. 80 (nee Drepanis aurea, Dole) . 



In 'The Ibis' for 1880 Dr. Finsch described two examples of this species, which he 

 procured at Olinda in Maui, and referred them to the genus Hypoloxias. On exami- 

 nation, however, I find that they undoubtedly belong to Himatione, while care must 

 be taken not to confound the bird, as the above author has done, with Drepanis aurea 

 of Dole (Hawaiian Alman., 1879, p. 45), by which may possibly be intended Loxops 

 coccinea from Hawaii. 



1 regret that during a short stay on Maui I did not procure specimens, not having 

 collected at Olinda or having met with the species when exploring at similar elevations; 

 but I am enabled to give a figure, thanks to the kindness of the authorities of the Berlin 

 Museum, who forwarded the two examples obtained by Dr. Finsch for my inspection. 



The adult is very dull orange above and below — the colour somewhat that of the 

 breast of the young in Yestiaria coccinea, but more dingy : it appeared, however, 

 much faded, and would probably be a bright golden yellow in a freshly killed 

 bird. 



Dr. Finsch's description of the type specimens is as follows : — 



" Uniform orange ; quills blackish brown, margined externally with the same colour, 

 but more sordid ; covers of primaries and secondaries on the outer webs broadly 

 margined with dull orange. Bill hornish-blue, tip blackish ; iris dark brown. Stomach 

 containing nests of insects (caterpillars). First and third primaries longest, first 

 scarcely shorter. 



" Young (just able to fly, and fed by the former). Upper parts dull olive-green, the 

 outer margin of the dark brown quills and tail-feathers more vivid, the same as the tips 

 of the secondaries, which form a pale cross band on the wing ; lower parts pale olive- 

 yellow, chin passing into whitish ; bill horn-blackish, tip darker ; feet black ; third and 

 fourth primaries longest, second equal to fifth, somewhat shorter, first a little shorter ; 

 tail twelve feathers. Tongue ordinary, bifurcated at tip." 



