192 



AVIFAUNA OF LAY SAN, ETC. 



Rcctrices coloured like the remiges. Chin and upper portion of throat golden yellow ; 

 rest of under surface pale greyish olive-green, brightest and most greenish on the sides 

 of the body, whitish in the middle of the abdomen and on the under tail-coverts. The 

 feathers of the underside are grey at base and on the shaft, those of the chest more or 

 less washed with grey. Under wing-coverts greyish white, washed with yellowish green 

 towards the bend of the wing. Total length about 7 inches, wing 3*8-4 # l, tail 2'4, 

 culmen 0*75, bill from gape to tip about 075, tarsus 0'95. 



Bill and feet pinkish or greyish white in life, light horn-coloured in collection. Iris brown. 



Adult female. Head above coloured like the back, hind-neck with a distinct greyish tinge. 

 Underside, including chin and throat, whitish grey ; sides widely washed with olive- 

 green. Dimensions generally less than those of the males. Wing 3 6 to 3*8 inches. 



Young males resemble the adult female, but there is a more or less strong yellow wash over 

 the grey of the underside, which is generally absent in adult females. Young birds 

 have often small huffish tips to the wing-coverts, and their beaks are a little less hooked 

 than in adult birds. 



I have not been able to trace any differences in specimens from the various islands, 

 except in those from Oahu. I have examples from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, and 

 Molokai. The wings of adult males from Hawaii measure 3*8 to 3-85 inches, females 

 3-(3 to 375 ; males from Kauai 3 8 to 41, females 36 to 3*8 (one 39, but this is 

 probably a young male ?) ; males from Maui 3 8 to 39, one female 37 ; one male 

 from Lanai 3*85 ; males from Molokai 385 to 3*95, females 3*65 to 3*8 inches. 



This bird inhabits now the lower portions of the mountain-forests of all the islands, 

 except Oahu. It is commonest on Kauai and Hawaii, rarer on the other islands. Perkins 

 has once seen it in Kona at about 4000, Palmer up to about 7000 feet above the sea. It is 

 a very noticeable bird and not at all shy. Its song is pleasant, and when feeding on guavas 

 they utter at intervals a note which sounds somewhat like the word " sweet." On Hawaii, 

 Palmer saw them rise in a flock, and on Lanai a flock thus rising " began to ring out their 

 call-notes." It often sings while on the wing. 



They are principally fruit-eaters. On Hawaii, Perkins found them very partial to the 

 " kukui " trees. They arc very fond of the guavas and bananas. Upon the former they 

 fall in large flocks, when their fruit is ripe. They bite open the ripe oranges, and smaller 

 birds of the genera Chlorodrepanis and Oreomyza then feed away at them. 



Nothing seems to be known about the breeding of this bird, but from the end of March 

 to the middle of May females were procured with greatly enlarged ovaries. 



These birds have a strong and peculiar musky smell, which they have not even lost in 

 the drawers in the Museum. 



They arc generally known as the " Ou," but Mr. Gay informed Mr. Perkins that on 

 Kauai the male is called " Ou poolapalapa," the Female "On laevo," which means the 

 yellow-headed and the green Ou. 



