AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, P:TC. 



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GENUS PALMERIA. 



Bill strong and round, about as long as the head, resembling that of Viridonia, but somewhat 

 slenderer and slightly curved. First primary quite rudimentary; third, fourth, and 

 fifth nearly equal and longest; second and sixth only about one-tenth or one-eighth 

 of an inch shorter than the longest three. The long scutes of the metatarsus more or 

 less fused. Tail almost square, the central and lateral rectrices very little shorter. 



The most remarkable peculiarity of this genus among the Brepanidm is the structure and 

 coloration of the plumage. The feathers of the forehead are erect, elongated, and narrow, 

 those of the crown narrow but not erect, those of the underside all more or less pointed. 

 The grey and scarlet tints of the plumage are very singular. 



The sexes do not differ in colour; but the young birds are almost deficient of all scarlet and 

 silky-grey colours, and the feathers of the head are much less modified, although the 

 frontal crest is just indicated. In the structure of the feathers this genus resembles 

 Rimatione more than any other. 



When I first described the genus in 1893 I hastily concluded, from some superficial characters 

 of the plumage, that it belonged to the Meliphagidm ; but in 1894 I noticed my error, and 

 corrected it in a preliminary note in the Bull. Brit, Orn. Club in February. This note was 

 published over two months before part v. of the ' Aves ITawaiienses ' appeared, in which 

 Dr. Gadow corrected my original mistake of the position of P aimer i«. 



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