150 



AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAX, ETC. 



sometimes some of them only, have white tips, and the red spots of the back and rump 

 are in a few specimens less in extent. 



The young differ very much from the adult birds, but the curled feathers on the forehead and 

 the peculiar plumage is recognizable even in the youngest specimens. The head is 

 greyish brown, slightly tinged with red on the sides of the crown. The frontal crest is 

 brownish grey. Back and rump dark dusky brown, washed with huffish olive. Below 

 buffy olive, more grey towards the throat, and passing into pale grey on the under 

 tail-coverts. Feathers of the shoulders with dull red tips. Greater wing-coverts with 

 brownish-pink edges. Tail black. 



All intermediate plumages between the young and old are represented in my collection. On 

 the Plate I have given figures of a fully adult male of the type of Wilson's Kimatione 

 dolei, kindly lent me by the author, and of an intermediately coloured bird. 



The length of the adult bird, as measured in the flesh, is given by Palmer as about 7^ inches, 

 but skins are only about 6§ inches or little more. The wing measures 3 5 to 3*7 inches 

 (fifteen adult specimens measured), the tail 2'7 to 2 95, the tarsus 11 to 125, the culmen 

 0-75 to 84. 



The specific name of this bird was first given by Mr. Scott Wilson, who referred his very 

 young example to the genus Ilimatione. I received at first some perfectly adult males and 

 females, and, comparing their description with that of " Bimatione dolei" 1 , no one could 

 tell that they refer to the same bird. Mr. Wilson, however, most kindly lent me the type 

 specimen, which at once revealed the truth, when being compared with the adult birds. 



Palmer obtained a large series on Maui and Molokai, and afterwards Mr. Perkins collected 

 many more specimens. They were found by Palmer only at considerable altitudes, but were 

 said to shift their quarters with the flowering of the Ohia-trees, on the flowers of which they 

 feed. The food consists of nectar and insects. 



Palmer described the call-note on Maui as a hoarse " O-o-o," while on Molokai, he says, 

 it was a clear flute-like whistle, commencing shrill and becoming lower towards the end. On 

 Maui he heard also another note, somewhat like a long " tee-ee," and the males very often 

 produced a kind of chuckle, which may be their song. I am, of course, not able to find out 

 whether Palmer's memorandum about the different call-notes is correct or not. The alarm- 

 note is, according to Palmer, a shrill whistle. 



1 The original correct spelling of the name dolei — named in honour of Judge Dole— was afterwards altered by its author 

 to " dolii? 



