Birds on Molokai — RICHARDSON 
227 
We saw only two species of native birds on 
Olokui — the apapane and the amakihi — but 
their abundance was noteworthy. Although we 
covered probably less than 3 linear miles, we saw 
well over 100 apapanes. A few of these were 
very likely "repeats,” but pairing and terri- 
tories, which would have led to seeing the same 
birds along the same route, were not detected. 
Groups of as many as five apapanes were seen. 
Some disappeared over Wailau Valley and others 
appeared to be flying to Olokui, which suggested 
the likely abundance of this species in the high 
native forest to the east of Wailau. Only five, 
or possibly eight, amakihis were seen, but all 
were found in the same region near the lower 
edge of the native forest. Individuals were seen 
here on both our ascent and descent of the 
mountain, which suggested a reasonable abund- 
ance of this species even though it is apparently 
restricted in range. One amakihi was collected 
for certain identification. It is interesting that 
Bryan (1908: 158, 162) considered the apapane 
the most numerous species in 1907 and the 
amakihi the second most numerous. 
St. John considers the forest of Olokui as per- 
haps the finest unaltered native stand he has 
seen in the islands. The accompanying photo- 
graphs (Figs. 1-4) record typical views of this 
forest. Several species of lobelia and the ohia 
lehua (Metrosideros collina ), the dominant tree, 
were blooming. The olapa ( Cheirodendron Gau- 
dichaudii) was another abundant tree species. 
However undisturbed the native forest may ap- 
pear, and however suitable it may seem for 
several species of native birds other than those 
observed, it is certain that the vertebrate fauna 
has been greatly disturbed, presumably by in- 
troduced vertebrates. Two non-native bird 
species were present: the white-eye (Zoster ops 
palpebrosus japonicus), in an abundance prob- 
ably only slightly less than that of the apapane, 
and the Chinese thrush (Trochalopterum cano- 
rum ), heard twice but seen only once. It ap- 
pears that the apapane and amakihi have estab- 
FlG. 1. View down northeast ridge of Olokui Mountain to mouth of Wailau Canyon. Trees in foreground 
are chiefly ohia lehua ( Metrosideros collina ) with light-colored kukui ( Aleurites moluccana) interspersed 
below. 
