He must seek them out and follow them, where wayfaring is hard and laborious, and not wholly unattended by danger. Not so with Elepaio. This little bird ranges from near sea- level far up on the mountain side, and everywhere he is common. He wears no coat of many and bright colors to make his feathers desirable in the eyes of royalty, but his sober tints of black, white and chestnut are so tastefully contrasted and so strikingly displayed that among his green surroundings he presents a most charming picture.
The first crunching step into the thicket elicits a sharp note of challenge, and presently you are aware of a little bunch of chestnut, brown and white feathers swaying sidewise on an upright twig like a Marsh Wren, with his tail cocked at right angles with the body—this is Elepaio. Now Elepaio is very curious, and after calling out "elepaio" once or twice in no uncertain tones that you may be sure of his identity, the little busybody proceeds to investigate you and your business. The birds, for by this time there are several gathered about you, will not hesitate to approach within two or three feet, and rest assured that before they leave they will be well informed as to your intentions. Once satisfied that you are to be trusted, they proceed to their own business as though unconscious of a strange presence.
In the art of hunting insects of all kinds, Elepaio is past master, and in following his craft he unites the methods of several birds. He climbs the old tree-trunks, clinging to the sides like a Wren; now he seizes a twig with his strong claws, and for convenience of inspection hangs head downward like a Chickadee; now he creeps into the lichens out of sight, finally emerging many feet beyond to sweep up a flying insect with a snap of his bill, as if to assert his right to be called Flycatcher. As a matter of fact, Elepaio, despite his bristle-guarded bill and other flycatcher-like characters, is decidedly more of a Wren than a Flycatcher in habits, disposition and motions.
Elepaio is of friendly disposition, and is never found save in pairs or several together, and more often than not in company with other species. Their hunting excursions extend from the topmost branches of the highest forest trees to the low shrubbery, and occasionally even to the very ground, where I have seen them hopping about like sparrows. Nine-tenths of their insect food are gleaned wren-like from the branches, so little of a catcher of flies is Elepaio.
Elepaio shares with Omao that curious habit of lowering the wings by the side and tremulously shaking them as young birds are wont to do.
Elepaio has a number of notes. A Song Sparrow-like chirp is its alarm note, as when it hears a strange noise. In addition, it has a sharp Fly-catcher-like whit which is its call -note proper, as any one may prove to his satisfaction by imitating it.
