The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-08
HAWAIIAN BIRDS
AND THEIR HABITS

Rather more than twenty years ago
there was published in the Hawaiian
Annual a paper on the birds of these
Islands from the pen of S. B. Dole, the
present governor. In the last Annual
an article appeared written by H. w.
Henshaw of Hilo, and this has now
been completed and published separ-
ately as a book of nearly $50 pages
A comparison of the two works will at
once show the great increase in our
knowledge of the island birds that has
been gained, since 1879. Though mod
estly designated as a list the new
work is a complete, popular and at the
same time scientific, account of all the
birds at present known to inhabit these
islands. 1t consists almost entirely Of
! interesting readable matter the ac-
tual descriptions of the various species,
although quite sufficient for their iden-
| LITIGATION, being usually limited to seven
or eight lines or even less. Mr. Hen
shaw's work is divided into two parts.
The first deals with questions of gem
eral interest to the ornithologist, such
as the nature of the forests the de-
! struction that has taken and is taking
place in these, the origin of the native
birds, the causes of their decrease, an
account of the work done by various
| collectors and the subjects.
The second part contains the brief
technical descriptions referred to and
| likewise notes on the habits, songs, &c.
of the various species. Many of these
notes are the result of the author
field observations and contain much OF
interest. Thus of the "Omao" he says:
1T is a common habit for it to alight
on a limb lengthwise, a custom which
with it's erect attitude while perching
a.t,s f,,Is Hf,,ft
To some species Mr.. Henshaw has
unquestionably paid more attention
than any other observer, to the "Ele-
paio" of Hawaii and the 10 for exam
pie. A few lines taken from the ac'
count of the former are a fair sample
of the authors work: The curiosity
of the Elepaio is Unsuitable and a pail
or two are always on hand to inspec
an intruder and learn his business. l
will follow and catch an insect on thu
wind, which it has CHANGED to dislodg,
from some hiding place, but it neve
sits and watches for flying insects a
do the American flycatchers. In fac
by far the greater part of its insec
food is CLEANED from the branches o
trees and shrubs, and from among tn
lichens and tangled ferns. Its motion
generally and it's hunting habits ar
those of a wren rather than those u
a flycatcher. Indeed its resemblance t
the wren is remarkable. especial,
when it droops it's wings by its side
and cocks its tail over it's back, whicI
is its frequent habit"
1t is curious that the use of the dis
,torted mandible of the Akepa Shout
have escaped the notice of the writer
since it is obvious when the live bir
> is examined with field glasses or eve
, sometimes with the naked eye, or fror
, an examination of the food of the bird
! The economic value of some of tn
birds is alluded to and the need o
legislation for their protection. AS
[ matter of fact no forest bird should b
: killed under any preteXt from the frs
2 of March till the middle of October 70
not even for scientific purposes is
necessary to do so. 1t is a most un
fortunate fact too that of the birds O
the open country the golden plove
both for food ana sport surpasses al
others, for it is of all the most helpful
to the agriculturist, and it's habit O
selecting the most injurious insects
and it's presence in the islands Whe
these are most active might we'll affor
it more protection.
AT the end of the list the rice-bird
mynah and other introduced specie
are dealt with. For the camper out il
the woods who wishes to know some
thing of the birds around him, tn
present work is the very thing, Will
it is at the same time none the les
interesting to the advanced student 0
orthodoxy 1t should be in the pos
session Of every one who takes any in
terest in this subject.
r.. c. l.. PERKINS.
For sale by Thrum's Book Store.