238 



AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



both dark and variegated examples, all evidently adult, but none with uniform rusty- 

 buff under surface. 



The female is larger. My five females measure :— 



Wing. Tail. Metatarsus. 



in. in. in. 



11- 4 0-7 2'7 



12- 1 M 27 

 111 65 27 

 11-6 6-8 2-8 

 11-7 6-6 2-8 



My four males measure : — 



10-3 60 2-6 



10-25 5-9 2-4 



10-4 66 25 



10-0 0-2 2-6 



Palmer records the colours of the bare parts as follows : — 



d , no. 1366. " Irides streaky grey. Upper mandible black ; lower mandible black at tip, 

 light grey at base. Cere pale greenish yellow. Tarsi dirty flesh-colour with a yellow 

 tinge, toes greenish yellow r , soles of feet yellow, claws black." 



? , no. 1487. " Iris dark hazel. Legs and feet yellow, with a bit of a greenish tinge." 



The iris of other specimens is described as grey, mottled with brown, or brown clouded 

 with grey. 



We have at present no certain evidence of the occurrence of this Hawk anywhere else but 

 on the island of Hawaii. Dole tells a story of a Hawk on Kauai, which might have been 

 this species, and the natives told Wilson that a large Hawk was to be found in the mountains 

 of Maui, but all specimens known are from Hawaii, where Palmer met with it frequently. 



It is generally seen soaring high in the air or perched motionless on a tree or rock. 

 Sometimes Palmer found it very difficult to approach, at other times it was rather fearless. 



The food of this Buzzard is evidently varied. Wilson found small birds in its stomach; 

 Palmer mice, small birds, moths, and spiders. 



Wilson writes : — " On the 23rd of June I was so fortunate as to find a nest of this 

 species, containing a single young bird in the down ; it was placed in a Koa tree {Acacia koa) 

 about 50 feet from the ground, in a fork between two thick branches, and was a large 

 structure of nearly circular form, being a foot and a half deep, and a foot in diameter, 

 composed of dead koa branches and twigs." 



