AVIFAUNA OF LAYS AN, ETC. 



121 



21. OREOMYZA FLAMMEA {Wilson). 



K AK AW AH IE (Wilson). 



Loxops flammea, Wilson, P. Z. S. 1889, p. 445 (Kalae, Molokai) \ id. & Evans, Aves Hawaiienses, pt. i. text 

 &pl. (1890). 



Adult male. All over coloured with such brilliant scarlet that the artist had immense difficulty 

 in copying the natural tint in the figure on the Plate, and, in my opinion, has not 

 perfectly succeeded. In Wilson's figure the head, neck, and breast are much too dull l . 

 Above the colour is a deep scarlet-vermilion, lighter and more flame-scarlet (Ridgw. 

 Komencl. Col. pi. vii. fig. 14) on the forehead, rump, and upper tail-coverts. Below 

 altogether of a brilliant flame-scarlet. Quills and tail-feathers blackish brown, edged 

 with brownish scarlet on the outer webs. Wing-lining pale scarlet ; quills inwardly 

 edged with reddish buffy white. Directly after being shot the iris is hazel, the upper 

 bill light grey at tip and base, darker in centre j lower mandible light grey at tip, 

 shading to pale yellow at base ; tarsi and feet greyish, with a pink tinge ; soles flesh- 

 colour. 



Young males bave a more or less strong mixture of deep ferruginous brown or rufous brown 

 above, washed with deep brown along the sides of the body, more obvious in younger 

 individuals. 



Quite young males are deep greyish olive, with a slight brownish tint in the plumage, which 

 generally distinguishes them at once from the young of Oreomyza montana (Wils.), to 

 which they bear a very close resemblance. Wing-covets largely tipped with huffish white. 

 Below dusky white, tinged with yellowish and strongly washed with olive along the sides 

 of the body. 



All sorts of intermediate coloration between the brilliant scarlet adult birds and the dull 

 greyish-olive young are met with, and my large series of these birds is the most com- 

 plete that could be desired to show the changes of plumage. It would be most interesting 

 for an ornithological student resident on Molokai to observe how long a period is required 

 to complete this entire change of plumage, for the many parti-coloured feathers of most 

 of the intermediately coloured specimens show that the red plumage cannot be acquired 

 suddenly by one moult. Very likely these birds do not assume their final plumage until 

 they are several years old. 



1 The bird described and figured by Wilson as an adult female seems to be an immature male. 



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