126 



AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



The fourth, fifth, and sixth primaries form the tip of the wing, the fourth and fifth being 

 longest ; the third is only very little shorter, hut the second is much shorter, than the 

 sixth and seventh ; the first is quite rudimentary. 



Total length nearly 4* inches, wing 2'6 to 2*77, tail 165 to 175, eulmen 0'4G to O'G, tarsus 

 0'7 to 0*8. (Measured 20 specimens.) 



Hab. Island of Kauai. 



This species was first described by Dr. Stcjneger from specimens sent by Mr. Knudsen, of 

 Kauai. Afterwards it was collected and observed by Mr. Scott Wilson, who gave a good 

 plate and descriptions in the ' Aves Hawaiienses.' I extract the following notes from the 

 latter work: — 



" It is usually met with in small flocks of from eight to twelve, and is a particularly 

 active bird, continually running up and down the limbs and trunks of the high trees in 

 search of insects ; it is, in fact, the most energetic bird of the Hawaiian forests. Its short 

 tail, in Dr. Stejneger's opinion, indicates terrestrial habits, but I only observed it at some 

 considerable height from the ground, in the lofty Ohia and Koa trees, for the dead branches 

 of which it evinces a decided preference. The note is a simple ' twit, twit, twit/ repeated 

 constantly. Its range seems to reach an elevation of 3000 feet." 



Palmer's notes are as follows : — ■ 



" The ' Akikiki ' (this is its proper native name) is undoubtedly found all over the island 

 at altitudes from a thousand feet probably to the uppermost peaks. They were common on 

 the south side of the island between 1000 and 3000 feet ; the same may be said of the 

 west side ; while they were rare on the north and north-east side at about the same altitudes. 

 They feed on insects taken from the wood and branches. They do not keep so much to 

 the higher trees as many other members of its family, for Palmer and Munro saw them 

 several times very low and flying from low ferns if not from the ground. 



" They go about in small flocks and very often in company with other birds. Its note 

 can easily be distinguished from that of Loxops ccerirfeirostris (Wilson) 1 , which inhabits the 

 same localities, it being a much shorter note and sounding more like ' twit,' while that of 

 the Ou-holowai, Loxops cceruleirostris (Wils.), is deeper and more prolonged, somewhat like 

 ' tweet.' 



" No nest was found, but on March the 5th a female was shot with the ovaries greatly 

 enlarged." 



1 Chrysomitridojps cceruleirostris, Wilson, but a true Loxops in my opinion, as will be conclusively shown in Part III. 

 of the present work. 



