Page:Bird-lore Vol 03.djvu/168



HAVE dissected many of these Hawks, and in the stomach of only one have I discovered the traces of birds. This individual had by some means caught two Akakanis. Nearly all the specimens examined had mice and small rats in the stomach. Large spiders, also, of an introduced species, are fast becoming a popular food with Io, and I have found the stomach of several individuals crammed with these insects.

Whether in former times the natives entertained a superstitious regard for Io I do not know. It may well have been so, for today Io has not the slightest fear of man. He will sit upon a limb and dodge stone after stone with apparent unconcern, lazily flapping to another perch if the missiles come too close for comfort. As a result of his confiding disposition, poor Io is fast becoming rare, where formerly he used to be common. Under the mistaken impression that he means mischief to the chickens, Io is shot whenever seen. It would be unsafe to say that Io never molests poultry, but much inquiry among farmers and much observation of the habits of this Hawk justify me in stating that the damage to poultry from Io's claws is exceedingly small. If it ever kills poultry, as doubtless it occasionally does, the damage is compensated a hundred times over in the immense numbers of mice and rats destroyed. It will be greatly for Hawaii's interest if this Hawk is carefully protected.

I have purposely left to the last the bird which I consider to be the most interesting of all Hawaiian birds, as it is the most numerous and most widely spread. This is Elepaio, a Flycatcher by birth and lineage, a Wren, Creeper and Flycatcher by habit and education.

Most Hawaiian birds live in the deep forest or frequent the high trees. Thus the the lover who would make their acquaintance must pay a price.