This is the only member of the Hawk tribe peculiar to the Hawaiian group, and, so 

 far as I absolutely know, it is confined to the large island of Hawaii. The first example 

 I obtained in the forest of Kona, at an elevation of about 5000 feet, in June 1887. 

 The bird was perched motionless in a mamane tree (Sophora chrysophylla) and seemed 

 to be on the watch for its prey — consisting of the brilliant- plum aged Iiwi ( Vestiaria 

 coccinea) or some other small forest bird. I have found in the stomach, in two instances, 

 remains of Vestiaria, so the fact that this Buzzard feeds at least occasionally on small 

 birds is clearly proved. On the 23rd of June, 1888, I was so fortunate as to find in 

 the same locality a nest of this species, containing a single young bird in the down; 

 it was placed in a koa tree [Acacia Jcoa) about 50 feet from the ground, in a fork 

 between two thick branches, and was a large structure of nearly circular form, 

 being a foot and a half deep, and a foot in diameter, composed of dead koa branches 

 and twigs. I subsequently obtained several more specimens in Kona, and others in 

 the hills above Puuiki near Waimea. The bird does not seem to be confined to a single 

 district of the island as is the case with the Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis), but it must at 

 the same time be considered rare, as during a long stay on Hawaii I procured but seven 

 examples. The naturalists of the ' Challenger ' Expedition in 1875 secured two near 

 Hilo ; while there are two others in the Mills collection from the same neighbourhood. 

 All the specimens preserved have therefore been obtained on the island of Hawaii, 

 though certainly the koa forests in the district of Kula, on the island of Maui, seem 

 eminently suited to this species ; but I did not make a stay of sufficient duration on 

 that island to be able to say whether it is found there, though I heard reports from 

 natives of a large Hawk to be found " in the mountains," which was probably this bird. 

 Judge Dole, as above cited, narrates an incident which occurred to his brother, Mr. 

 G. H. Dole, on the island of Kauai, relating to a Hawk which I imagine to have been 

 of this species, which surmise, if correct, proves that it is to be found on Kauai. It is 

 true that Judge Dole puts the story under the heading of Accipiter hawaii, which is 

 Circus hudsonius, but I do not think it is likely that it was that bird. The incident was 

 as follows : — " Mr. G. H. Dole while riding one day in Koloa, Island of Kauai, accom- 

 panied by a Scotch terrier, noticed one of these birds and was led by his peculiar 

 movements to watch him carefully. The bird appeared much disturbed by the presence 

 of the dog, and after circling about him a few times flew to a pile of stones and took 

 one in his claws and flew back with it to his old position over the dog and balanced 

 himself in the air as if intending to drop it on to the dog's back, but after some 

 apparent hesitation he gave up whatever he was intending to accomplish with the 

 stone, and carrying it back, he placed it on the pile whence he had taken it." 



There are three distinct phases of this species, differing strikingly from one another 

 in regard to coloration, as my series of specimens shows, and therefore I have thought 

 it well to have a figure drawn of each. Three of my examples, which were acquired 

 by the late Mr. Gurney, are now to be seen in the Norwich Museum, and four 

 others in that of the University of Cambridge ; and Mr. Gurney, in response to a 



