AVIFAUNA OF LATSAN, ETC. 



127 



23. OREOMYZA MANA [Wih.). 



HAWAIIAN AKIKIKI. 



Himatione mana, Wilson, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, vii. p. 460 (1891); id. Aves Hawaiicnses, pt. iv. 

 (1893) (Hawaii) j Perkins, Ibis, 1893, p. 105. 



Adult male. Above of a light and bright olive-green, shading into ashy green on the hind- 

 neck and top of the head, a little paler on the forehead. Wings and tail greyish brown, 

 outwardly edged with olive-green. A dusky spot before the eyes. Beneath dull 

 greenish buff, more yellow in the middle of the abdomen, more green on the sides of the 

 body, shading into whitish greenish buff on the throat and chin. Iris dark hazel. 

 Upper mandible brown, lighter at base ; lower mandible dark grey, lighter at base and 

 tip. Tarsi and toes greyish brown ; soles pale yellow. 



Adult female. Similar to the male, but perhaps a little more olive above. 



Immature birds have a buffy-white forehead and are more olive above and paler below. In 

 this plumage they closely resemble the white-fronted specimens of Oreomyza balrdi, but 

 they are greener above and below. 



Total length about 4 75 inches, wing 2 55 to 2 76 in adult birds, tail 1*6 to 1*8, culmen in 

 adult birds 5 to 0*55, tarsus 07 to 075. 



Palmer states that the birds with the light mark on the forehead are the young. In August 

 1893, when in the district of Kona, he found all the adult birds in a poor state of 

 plumage, mostly without tails. They were evidently moulting after the breeding- 

 season, and Palmer procured young birds only at this time, with a few exceptions. 



This bird was discovered by Mr. Scott B. Wilson on the island of Hawaii, where he procured 

 three specimens. Its affinity to Oreomyza bairdi is striking, which was at once noticed by 

 Count Salvador! (see Wilson, Aves Plaw. pt. iv.). 



Both Perkins (' Ibis,' /. c.) and Henry Palmer found this bird abundant in Kona, though 

 not quite so numerous as Chlorodrepanis ctrens. Perkins says he " failed to notice II. mana 

 in the lower forest, though it was common enough at 4000 feet, nor did the male appear 

 to assume such a bright yellow plumage as did the curved-billed species." 



Palmer made the following observations : — 



44 This species is quite numerous in the upper forest of Kona, and is generally met in 



T 



