290 



AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAX, ETC. 



their covering is more horny and is nearer to the end of the feathering on the forehead; 

 the dimensions are generally larger. 



The Kauai bird in London has the wing 11 5 inches, tail 5*7, metatarsus 1*35. 



The Galapagos birds have the wings from 116 to 12*5 inches, averaging from 11 8 to 

 12 inches, tails 5*8 to 0*3 and 01, metatarsus about 14 to 1'5 inches. 



Bidgway makes the following statements : — 



"A. sanclichhensis. — Bill smaller (culmen from base of nasal tube 1*20, from anterior end 

 of same 90) and nasal tube shorter (0*30) ; hind-neck and sides of neck light sooty-slate, like 

 back ; feathers of back and scapulars without paler tips ; inner webs of primaries w ithout 

 any definite white space, though basal portion is whitish. 



"A.phwopygia. — Bill larger (culmen from base of nasal tube 130-136, from anterior end 

 of same 92-1) and nasal tubes longer (0-33-0-38); hind-neck and sides of neck black, like 

 top of head ; feathers of back and scapulars (especially the latter) with distinct narrow 

 greyish-white tips; inner webs of primaries with an extensive definite space of white, 

 occupying (except on the first) at least the basal half." 



It will be seen from this that our observations made on the specimen of A. sandivichensis 

 in the British Museum agree in some important points with those made independently 

 (before) on the one in the U.S. National Museum by Mr. Bidgway. I cannot, however, 

 corroborate the differences in the coloration supposed to exist by Mr. Bidgway, but it seems 

 to me that the dark patch on the sides of the breast in A. phceopygia is quite remarkable. 



Under the circumstances it is necessary to regard the Hawaiian Betrel as a subspecies of 

 JE. phceopygia, though further researches on Hawaiian examples should be made. 



I know only of the existence of two adult birds in collections — namely, the two above- 

 mentioned ones collected on Kauai, but there are probably some in the Bernice Pauahi 

 Bishop Museum at Honolulu. Mr. Wilson writes :— " I obtained a young bird— said to be 

 of this species — in the down from a native, whilst staying at Kilauea in the month of 

 September 1887, and was told that a considerable number had their nests in holes in the 

 ground in the vicinity, more particularly on the slopes of Mauna Loa. At Kilauea we used 

 to hear at evening-time the peculiarly harsh cry of a bird flying over our heads, and the 

 natives told me it was the Uuau. The flesh is esteemed a great delicacy by the Hawaiians." 



