INSESSORES. 



201 



of the Expedition in reference to this curious and apparently common 

 species. It appears to be, at least to some extent, an insect-eater, 

 though perhaps not exclusively. 



We have seen this singular little species only from the Society 

 Islands, and almost without exception from the Island of Tahiti, 

 though we have occasionally seen it cited as an inhabitant of the 

 Sandwich Islands. It may inhabit the latter; but specimens have 

 never come under our notice. 



This species may be regarded as the type of a peculiar group, pro- 

 bably subgeneric in its character. It is one of the smallest, as well 

 as plainest colored of the birds of this genus. 



The figures in our plate are of the size of life. The adult male and 

 female are represented in figs. 1 and 2, the young in fig. 3. All are 

 from specimens in the collection of the Expedition. 



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