AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



123 



My collector found this remarkably beautiful bird quite common in all the upper regions 

 of Molokai, chiefly in the districts of Pukoo, Alawa, and Kalae. 



The birds were met with almost everywhere in the forests, from the deeper valleys up to 

 the highest peaks, and were not at all rare, hut were never noticed among the Kukui trees at 

 the bottom of the ravines. They arc fairly active and seemed to have no preference for 

 any particular kind of tree, but were perhaps more often seen on the Ohia trees. 



They were not at all shy, but, on the contrary, rather inquisitive, and could without 

 difficulty be attracted when their call-note was properly imitated. The latter is a short and 

 plain " tweet," not to be distinguished from that of Oreomyza montana (Wils.) from Lanai. 



Their food consists of insects. 



Palmer found that the fully coloured bright red birds were much less numerous than the 

 brownish and dull specimens. The dense undergrowth in the forests made it often very 

 difficult to discover the bird, even when its note was heard close by, and it was equally hard 

 to find a bird when shot, but his good dog retrieved every one. 



Wilson, who first discovered this beautiful bird, obtained only three specimens, all al 

 Kalae. He justly remarks :— « It may not, however, be safe to consider it rare, as my 

 host easily obtained the native name for me, thus showing the bird to be known to the 

 aborigines." lie further says:— " We had lost the way, and while wandering about and 

 searching for the trail, I heard a curious sound— a continued 'chip, chip, chip,' not unlike 

 the sound of chopping wood when heard at a distance— which at first I did not think could 

 belong to a bird ; soon, however, I was undeceived, as a flash of brilliant orange colour 

 passed us in the fog ; when, on trying to follow it up, the continuous metallic note enabled 

 me to get within range and I fired, bringing down two birds, which proved to be male and 

 female. 



" The name applied to this bird in the Hawaiian language means firewood ; but whether 

 this is given to it from the note, which, as remarked above, resembles the sound of chopping 

 wood, or from the brilliant flame-colour of its plumage, I am unable to say." 



s 



