make a sudden dart, sometimes even taking an insect on the wing, and, after swallowing 

 it with evident satisfaction, return again to its labour. Its song is short but rather 

 pleasing, and, as one would expect from its habits, full of life and energy. 



"The long-billed species [H. obscurus] is also an interesting bird, as in its habits it 

 is intermediate between Himatione and its short-billed relative. Himatione mainly 

 feeds on insects amongst the leaves and flowers of the forest trees, but not infrequently 

 pecks at the bark in true Woodpecker style. In the long-billed Hemignathus this 

 mode of feeding becomes much more usual, and its tapping may often be heard in 

 acacia and other trees ; still it feeds largely on insects amongst the leaves of the lehuas, 

 &c, while the short-billed species has almost entirely assumed a Woodpecker's habits. 

 This bird is by no means confined to the lower forest, but extends its range right up 

 into the haunts of the short-billed bird, where they may be seen even in the same tree. 

 I rarely heard it sing. Its song reminded me somewhat of that of the yellow Himatione, 

 but was distinct enough." 



Mr. Rothschild's original description of this species is as follows : — 

 " This bird is very closely allied to H. hanapepe, of Kauai, but differs in having the 

 head, throat, and upper breast more golden yellow, and the back, rump, and upper 

 wing-Coverts dull olive colour instead of greenish yellow. Moreover, in H. affinis the 

 yellow of the head terminates abruptly at the occiput, while it gradually passes into 

 the colour of the back in H. hanapepe. The anal region and under tail-coverts are 

 yellowish green, whilst in H. hanapepe they are white. Total length about 5 inches, 

 wing o'OS, tail 2, tarsus - 85, culmen 1-2." 



The female is greyish above, with pale yellow lower parts and superciliary streak. 



