Part 15 (2/2)

(PLATE 4, FIG. 2.)

_Hemignathus lucidus_ Lichtenstein, Abh. d. Kon. Akad. Wissensch.

Berlin 1838 p. 451, pl. V figs. 2 [male] 3 [female] (1839--Oahu).

_Heterorhynchus olivaceus_ Lafresnaye, Mag. de Zool. 1839 pl. X. and text (Oct. 1839).

The Oahu form of _Heterorhynchus_ is now extinct, and specimens are only, as far as we know, preserved in the Museums of Berlin (types of _H.

lucidus_), Boston (type of _H. olivaceus_), Francfort, Paris, Leyden, London, Cambridge, Liverpool.

In 1838 Deppe saw this bird in great numbers flying round the flowers of the banana plantations. As the bird was apparently common, it is quite possible that specimens are preserved in several other collections, and it would be most welcome if the officials of continental Museums would give information in case they should find specimens of this interesting extinct bird.

Habitat: Oahu.

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PSITTIROSTRA PSITTACEA DEPPEI ROTHSCH.

(PLATE 4, FIG. 3.)

_Psittirostra olivacea_ Rothschild, Avifauna of Laysan p. 193 (1900--Oahu, ex Lichtenstein nomen nudum & M.S.)

_Psittirostra psittacea deppei_ Rothschild, Bull. B.O.C. XV. p. 45 (1905--new name for the above, the name _olivacea_ being preoccupied by Ranzani).

_Psittirostra psittacea psittacea_ is still one of the commoner birds on most of the Hawaiian Islands, except Oahu, where it was formerly replaced by a closely allied form, _P. p. deppei_, distinguishable by slightly smaller dimensions, more whitish abdomen in the male, and somewhat more olivaceous upperside. Specimens have been collected on Oahu by Prof. Behn and Herr Deppe, and besides a pair in my collection, I only know of examples in the museums of Berlin and Vienna. There is no trace left of this species in Oahu, and in spite of great efforts Mr. Palmer and all other recent collectors did not come across it. This form has thus shared the fate of _Hemignathus ellisia.n.u.s_, _Heterorhynchus lucidus_, _Moho apicalis_ and _Phaeornis oahensis_, which have all disappeared from Oahu, while _Loxops rufa_ may still exist in a few pairs, or has possibly followed suit already.

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LOXOPS COCCINEA RUFA BLOXAM.

_Fringilla rufa_ Bloxam, Voy. ”Blonde” p. 250 (1826).

_Loxops wolstenholmei_ Rothschild, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club I, p. LVI (1893--Oahu).

_Loxops rufa_ Wilson, Aves Hawaiienses part VI, plate and text (1896); Rothschild, Avif. of Laysan, etc., p. 177 (1900).

This form of _Loxops_ is only found on Oahu, where it is doubtless very rare now, if not already extinct. The last known specimen was shot on April 20th, 1893, in the mountains of the Wailua district, on Oahu, and is in my collection. This is the only specimen obtained by the efforts of recent collectors, and, if any should still exist, we may suppose that their fate is sealed.

_L. c. rufa_ differs from _L. coccinea coccinea_ of Hawaii by its smaller size and more brownish, somberer coloration.

We know of specimens in the British Museum, including the type of Bloxam's _Fringilla rufa_, in Liverpool, Philadelphia, Berlin, Berlepsch Castle, Vienna and Tring.

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