AVIFAUNA OF LAVSAN, ETC. 



]31 



THE GENUS CHLORODREPANIS. 



Tins comprises the green forms of the old genus Himatione. They are all greenish and 

 very closely allied to eacli other. They differ from Himatione in having a softer and 

 somewhat more fluffy plumage generally, in having no elongated, narrow, and stiff feathers 

 on the head, and in having the primaries more pointed, not at all truncate at the tips. In 

 the wing-formula, shape of tongue and nasal operculum, and manner of nesting, they agree 

 with Himatione. The bill is more curved than in Himatlone. 



The differences from Oreomyza are stated under the genus Himatione. 



Both Simatione and Chlorodrepanis live more among the foliage, while the species of 

 Oreomyza are more particularly found frequenting the branches and trunks of trees and 



feeding among them. 



Key to the Genera Himatione and Chlorodrepanis. 



This key applies only to the adult males, because the young of several of the species are 

 not always distinguishable. The species of Chlorodrepanis are all somewhat closely allied, 

 and should he regarded as representative races of one species. The largest is C. stejnegeri 

 from Kauai, characterized by its large and powerful bill. The other three green species are 

 much more alike ; but C. virens is considerably less yellow and not so bright as C. chloris 

 and C. wilsoni, and of these latter two C. chloris is darkest about the head, brightest on the 

 breast, and a dark shade runs right and left from the throat, thus making the throat very 

 conspicuously yellow. In some species the females differ from the males, while in others 

 they are almost if not quite similar. Thus the females of C. chloris and C. wilsoni are 

 much alike and different from the males, Avhile those of C. virens and C. stejnegeri are 

 almost similar to their males. 



A. Plumage chiefly red, feathers of the head harder, stiffer, and pointed. (Himatione.) 



a. Larger, wing more than 2-8 inches, of a much deeper blood-red colour H. sanguined. 



b. Smaller, wing less than 2*8 inches, of a lighter red colour H.fraithi. 



B. Plumage chiefly green ; feathers on the head rounded and not harder or stiffer than usual. 



( Cli lo rodrepanis.) 



c. Bill very broad and high at base C - stejnegeri. 



d. Bill less powerful. 



a'. Breast and abdomen brightest, and almost pure dark yellow C chloris. 



V. Breast and abdomen with a light but distinct greenish tinge j bill larger . . . C. wilsoni. 

 c'. Breast and abdomen with a much darker olive-green tinge; bill smaller . . . C. virens. 



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