AVIFAUNA OF LAY SAN, ETC. 



183 



38. CIRIDOPS ANNA (Dole). 



ULAAIIIAWANE. 



Fringilla anna, Dole, Hawaiian Alraan. 1879, p. 49; id. Ibis, 1880, p. 24-1 (reprinted). 



Ciridops anna, Scott Wilson, Nature, xlv. p. 469 (1892) ; id. & Evans, Aves Hawaiieuses, pt. iv. (1893). 



Adult. Lores and forehead velvety black, this colour gradually shading into the ashy grey of 

 the crown, nape, and hind-neck, which colour again shades off into the dark sepia-brown 

 colour of the back. Rump and upper tail-coverts dark glossy red. Tail-feathers 

 uniform black. Primaries and secondaries black, only the outer webs of the last three 

 secondaries earthy brownish buff (nearest to Ridgway's " clay-colour " on plate v. fig. 8) ; 

 scapulars and tips of some of the greater wing-coverts of the same colour. Feathers on 

 the sides of the head and neck, chin, and throat black with silvery-grey shaft-stripes. 

 Breast down to the middle of the uppermost part of the abdomen black. Middle of 

 abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts tawny brown. Sides of abdomen largely glossy 

 red. Under wing-coverts blackish. Wing 3 inches, tail 1*75, culmen 0-43, height of bill 

 at base 02, tarsus 8, middle toe with claw 076, hind toe with claw 0*64. 



This specimen is the one described by Scott Wilson in the ' Aves Ilawaiienses,' which was 

 procured by the late Mr. Mills of Hilo. 



Another specimen now before me was shot by Palmer's men. It agrees with the above 

 description, except that the beautiful red has faded away in the spirits and that apparently 

 the head has been darker. The wing is a little longer, measuring 31 ; the other measure- 

 ments are the same as those of the preceding specimen. 



This peculiar bird is undoubtedly one of the rarest in the world. There is no other 

 specimen of it in Europe, and only one is known to be in the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, 

 this making a total of only three specimens known in collections. It was described by 

 Judge Dole, fifteen years ago, as coming from Hawaii, where it was probably discovered 

 by the late Mr. Mills of Hilo. 



Mr. Scott Wilson did not find it, but he says : — "I used to hear repeatedly of the 

 ' Ulaaihawane,' by which name it is Avell known to the natives, who told me that it feeds on 

 the fruit of the Hawane palm, whence its name — Ula (red), ai (to eat), Hawane (the Ha wane 

 palm) ; and therefore I have little doubt that it will he round, perhaps in some numbers, in 

 the upland region of the interior, which I was unable to explore. My friend Mr. Francis 

 Spencer, writing to me quite recently, says that his natives had seen the bird in the swampy 

 forest-region above Ookala on Hawaii, and his description leaves no doubt of its identity." 



