

rostra. This, and the differences in the feet, may justify the separation of the two 

 forms into two genera ; but there cannot be the slightest doubt that they are very 

 nearly allied, and must be placed next to one another in the system. M. Oustalet 

 places Loxioides near the Finches and Paradoxomis. But Paradoxomis has, I be- 

 lieve, no near relationship to the Finches. And I adhere to my previously expressed 

 sentiment \ that in all probability Psittirostra, and with it Loxioides, are not really 

 Fringilline genera, but merely abnormal forms of the same type as Drepanis and 

 Hemignathus, either belonging to or closely allied to the Dicseidae 2 . This question, 

 however, can only be satisfactorily determined by an examination of the structure of 

 the tongue and other soft parts." I am happy to say that the valuable investigations of 

 Dr. Gadow, the result of which will be found in the present work, have pretty well 

 decided this question. 



That Loxioides is closely allied to Psittirostra there can be little doubt, and 

 their striking general resemblance often causes the natives to mistake the former 

 for the latter; the two species, however, are, to my knowledge, scarcely ever met 

 with in the same forest-zone — Loxioides being confined to the middle and upper, 

 while Psittirostra is seldom seen except in the lower region. The Palila — to call it 

 by its liquid and euphonic native name — is, as far as I absolutely know, confined to the 

 island of Hawaii, and even there is singularly local, being found, I believe, only in 

 the upland districts of Kona and Hamakua. Few natives recognize it, but as I 

 remarked above — deceived by its general resemblance to Psittirostra — confound the 

 two species. Its chief food, according to my observations, consists of the seeds of the 

 mamane 3 {Sophora chrysophylla), the golden laburnum-like racemes of which tree 

 make such a striking feature of the upper forest-zone during the months of January 

 and February. The upper figure in the Plate represents a bird which I watched 

 at close quarters splitting a mamane pod, as the following extract from my journal 

 will show : — " I shot a Palila to-day, as it was in the act of extracting the seeds from 

 a mamane pod; the bird's method of procedure was to cut the pod off with its 

 beak, and then to lay it on a horizontal branch, holding it firmly with its claws, and 

 pecking out the seeds one after the other. I was a few yards off, partially concealed 

 by a tree." 



As the sandalwood {Santalum album) and the bastard sandalwood (Myoporum 

 santalinum) occur in fair quantity in the region in which Loxioides is found, I think 

 that it very probably feeds on them; however, I have generally observed it in 



1 " Of. Ibis, 1871, p. 360." 



2 " Molwa seems to be a Meliphagine form; but Drepanis, Hemignathus, and the other genera (except 

 perhaps Ohaitoptila) in the list given, Ibis, 1871, p. 360, having only nine primaries, should probably be 

 referred to the Dicseidae." 



3 I observed the mamane also on the island of Maui, and it is reported, perhaps erroneously, from Kauai ; 

 so I think that Loxioides may inhabit the former island; and I am the more inclined to this belief, from the 

 fact that a man but lately arrived in Hawaii from the highlands of Maui seemed at once to recognize the 

 bird, and told me it was abundant where he had been living. 



