

tail-coverts are more or less suffused with light grey, but I have found nothing like the 

 broad median black stripe covering the base of the tail in II. knudseni. 



"The type specimen, having a greenish black back, is undoubtedly a male, while the 

 two Niihau birds appear to be females, having the back brownish. 



"The appended table of dimensions corroborates the deduction previously made as to 

 the relative proportions of the two species. Their wings and toes are of the same 

 length, but H. knudseni has longer bill, tarsus, and tail. 



" Measurements. 



IT. S. Nat. 

 Mub., No. 



Collector. 



Sex 

 and 

 age. 



Locality. 



Date. 



1 





I 

 1 



H 



1| 



110024 .. 



113463 .. 



113464 .. 



Knudsen *. 

 do. 

 do. 



(cJ) ad. 



(S)ad. 

 ($)ad. 



Kauai, Hawaiian Islands. 

 Niihau, Hawaiian Islands, 

 do. 





232 

 227 

 221 



87 

 81 



80 



75 

 80 

 74 



121 

 117 

 113 



47 

 46 

 45" 



: Type. 



Dr. Stejneger, to whom I sent all my specimens for inspection, has recently written 

 to me as follows : — " I have carefully compared them with the type, with which they 

 agree in all essential points. The coloration seems to be most reliable, especially the 

 relative amount of black and white on head and neck, clearly shown in the figure 

 accompanying my first paper. The dimensions of bill and feet give less definite results, 

 as might be expected in birds of this kind, since the individual variation in these exag- 

 gerated parts is so enormous ; but you will find that the length of the tail (middle tail- 

 feathers to base between them) is constantly larger in the Hawaiian birds. Although 

 most of the specimens of the latter are females, the measurements of the tail-feathers 

 average considerably over 80 mm., while in the American birds the average of about 

 an equal number of <? and ? is about 66 mm., with a maximum in the <s not 

 reaching the minimum of the ? of H. knudseni. There is therefore not the slightest 

 doubt in my mind as to the specific distinctness of the latter." 



Judge Dole says : — " Legs very long, and bright pink in colour. Common in ponds 

 and swamps all over the group. Generally wades, but is able to swim. Is not very 

 shy, and often troubles sportsmen by keeping just out of gunshot, and warning other 

 birds away by its peculiar cry of defiance. It carries its legs straight out behind when 

 it flies." 



I obtained specimens near Koko Head, some few miles from Honolulu, also near 

 Kaunakakai on Molokai ; at the latter place in June I found young in the down, of 



