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Show 218 ON A N E W GENERIC FORM OF FRINGILLIDCE. [Mar. 20, 4. O n Chloridops, a new Generic Form of Fringillidce from the Island of Hawaii. By S C O T T B A R C H A R D W I L S O N. (Communicated by A L F R E D N E W T O N , V.-P.) [Received March 19, 1888.] CHLORIDOPS1, gen. nov. Bill short and very thick, with culmen and gonys much arched ; maxilla and mandible nearly equal in height, tornia of the former doubly sinuated and overhanging those of the latter, which are inflected. Nostrils basal, supernal, nearly covered by the frontal feathers, and beset with a few hairs. Wings moderate, first primary wanting, fourth slightly longer than third and fifth, which again exceed the second and sixth. Tail short, slightly forked, rectrices acuminate. Feet moderate. CHLORIDOPS KONA, sp. n. ( 8 not procured.) 2 • Bill dull flesh-colour ; lores dusky black. General colour above bright olive-green, pass-ing into golden-green on the throat and belly ; across the breast a band of olive-green ; abdomen whitish ; quill-feathers dusky black, edged outwardly with olive-green. Total length 5*75 inches, wing from carpal joint 3-25 ; tail 2 ; bill -from gape to tip '8, height from chin to forehead '73; maxilla, width at base "52 ; mandible, width at base *59. I obtained this bird, the only one which I have shot, 21st June, 1887, at an elevation of 5000 feet in the district of Kona on the west coast of Hawaii, in a great tract of forest, consisting principally of Koa-trees (Acacia koa) ; but there were also the Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla), the Alii (Dodona?a viscosa), the Sandalwood (Santalum album), and the Bastard Sandalwood (Myoporum santali-num). I think that as Loxioides bailleui feeds only, so far as I know, on the seeds of the Sophora, it is most probable that this big Finch feeds on them also. During my stay of four weeks I only saw three of these birds. The specimen shot was on a tall Myoporum. The species must be extremely rare, as I have since been collecting at almost similar elevations, where there are the same species of trees, but I cannot obtain there either of these Finches, neither do the natives know them, whence I conclude they are peculiar to the Kona district, as also is Corvus hawaiiensis. The general appearance of this bird is that of an exaggerated Greenfinch (Frinyilla chloris, Linn.). 1 Ohloridis/rtc.rm habeas. * |