162 



AVIFAUNA OF LAYS AX, ETC. 



three individuals, possibly four or five. They were flitting silently from the top of one tall 

 Ohia-tree to another, apparently feeding upon insects. The locality was a thick tangle, and 

 a momentary glimpse of a slim, trim body as it threaded its way through the leafy tree-tops 

 was all I could obtain. After about two or three hours I succeeded in getting a shot at one 

 hi I'd in the ve ry top of a tali Ohia-tree. It was desperately wounded, and clung for a time 

 to the branch, head doAvn wards, when I saw the rich yellow rump most plainly. Finally, it 

 fell six or eight feet, recovered itself, flew round to the other side of the tree, where it was 

 joined by a second bird, perhaps a parent or its mate, and in a moment was lost to view. I 

 need not speak of my disappointment, which was bitter enough, for I had looked upon that 

 bird as absolutely mine own. Of the others I saw no more, though I have repeatedly visited 

 the locality again." 



In former times the Mamo was probably a common bird. Its rich orange-yellow 

 feathers were in great demand for certain feather-robes, capes, and wreaths. Most of these 

 feather-robes are made of the feathers of 3Ioho nobiUs, but those of the Mamo were also 

 plentifully used, while one cape examined by Mr. Scott Wilson consisted entirely of Mamo- 

 feathers. 



According to Palmer, the Mamo was very partial to the berries of the "Haha" or 

 Hawaiian mistletoe, a parasitic plant with long oval leaves and bell-shaped purple flowers. 

 Out of the juice of this same plant the old bird-catchers of the kings made a very good 

 bird-lime. 



It is hardly possible to say at present why this bird has become so rare. If its rarity is 

 due to the value of its feathers, then one naturally wonders why the Moho nobilis, which has 

 equally been sought, is still so (comparatively) numerous. In any case the Mamo is one of 

 the rarest birds in collections, being represented, so far as known, only in six museums by 

 eleven or twelve examples. 



The upper figure on the coloured Plate is taken from one of Miils's specimens now in 

 my Museum, the lower figure from the one sent home by Palmer. On the second Plate, 

 with bills etc., fig. 36 shows the bill of the natural size and double size, fig. 56 the entire 

 tongue, 50 a the tip of the tongue ten times magnified, and figs. 57 & 58 the sternum in 

 two views. 



