AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



83 



8. HEMIGN ATHUS PROCERUS, Cab. 



Hemignathus obscurus, Stejneger, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1887, p. 93 (nec Gmelin !) (Kauai). 

 Hemignathus procerus, Cab. J. f. O. 1889, p. 331; Wilson & Evans, Aves Hawaiienses, pt. iii. text & pi. 

 (fig. S and ?). 



Hemignathus stejnegeri, Wilson, Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 6, vol. iv. p. 401 (Kanai) (Nov. 1889) j id. Ibis, 

 1890, p. 190, pi. vi. fig. 2 (cf ) } Stejn. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 384 (1889). 



Adult male. Above bright yellow-olive (something between Ridgway's « olive-green," 

 Nomencl. of Colors, pi. x. fig. 18, and his "wax-yellow," pi. vi. fig. 7, as justly 

 remarked by Stejneger in Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 384) ; the top of the head spotted, 

 caused by the deep brown feathers being edged with the colour of the back. Lores 

 black. A distinct narrow bright yellow superciliary stripe. Quills deep brown, edged 

 with the colour of the back on the outer webs ; rectrices similar. Below from the 

 chin to the breast and along the sides of the body olive-yellow, shading into bright 

 canary-yellow on the abdomen. Feathers on the tibia dull white. Under wing-coverts 

 and axillaries white, washed with yellow. Iris brown ; bill black, paler at base ; legs 

 and toes dark brown ; soles of feet pale yellow. 



Adult female. Quite different from the male. Above olive-grey, with a shade of green 

 in it ; rump and upper tail-coverts yellow olive-green. Top of the head scaly looking. 

 Sides of the head greyish; lores whitish; a yellowish line above the blackish loral 

 spot. Below from the chin to the under tail-coverts yellow, washed with olive-green 

 along the sides of the body. The bill is considerably shorter than in the male, blackish, 

 paler at base. 



The yowuj males much resemble the females, and the younger the birds are the less of 

 the green and yellow colour is visible in their plumage and they are greyer, the 

 bills also are shorter in younger birds. At an early age the young have yellowish spots 

 t o the tips of the wing-coverts. 



As neither Dr. Stejneger nor Mr. "Wilson measured many specimens, I have thought it worth 

 while to give below the dimensions of eighteen adult males and fourteen adult females 

 carefully taken by Mr. Hartert, after eliminating all specimens doubtfully sexed or not 

 fully adult, or which had the bill shot off, as frequently occurs in all long-billed birds, 

 to the regret of every collector. 



N 



