

the mamane, and have found the seeds of that tree alone in its crop. My friend 

 Mr. Francis Sinclair tells me that the Sophora of New Zealand (S. grandifiora, the 

 Kowhai of the natives), which bears a strong resemblance to the Sandwich Island 

 species, is a great favourite with the Tui (Prosthemadera novce-zealandice) and other 

 birds ; and Sir W. Buller, in his ' History of the Birds of New Zealand ' (2nd ed.), 

 informs us that the Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) feeds on the pollen of the same plant, 

 and figures the Tui on a branch of it. 



The Palila, as far as I know, has no song, but merely a very clear whistle-like note, 

 which, when often repeated, is held by the natives to be a sign of approaching rain. 

 While at Waimea, a specimen of Loxioides was brought to me alive though injured ; 

 it lived a few days, during which it constantly uttered the clear whistle without giving 

 evidence of any further powers. On June 14th I found a nest from which I 

 saw the bird fly ; it was placed in the topmost branches of a Naio tree (Myoporum 

 santalinum), about 35 feet from the ground, but contained no eggs, and when we 

 subsequently revisited it we found it deserted. It may be briefly described as cup- 

 shaped, 4 inches in diameter, and very loosely constructed of dry grass, among which 

 is interwoven a considerable quantity of grey lichen ; the inside being composed of the 

 same lichen, with a few slender rootlets added. 



Description. — Adult male. Entire head and neck deep gamboge-yellow, the remainder 

 of the upper surface ashy grey, slightly inclining to whitish on the rump ; wing-coverts, 

 wing-quills, and tail-feathers dusky black, edged externally with olive-yellow ; throat and 

 upper part of breast gamboge-yellow, the rest of the under surface dusky white ; irides 

 dark hazel ; bill and feet slaty-purple. 



Adult female. Differs from the male in having the yellow of the head and neck 

 washed with brown, which gives it a very dusky appearance, while the yellow on the 

 under surface has a distinctly greenish tinge. 



Dimensions. — Total length 6*5 inches, wing from carpal joint 3*55, culmen '5, 

 tarsus -95, tail 2-65. 



