_Great Hook-billed Creeper_ Latham, Gen. Synops. I p. 703 (1782).
_Certhia pacifica_ Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I p. 470 (1788--ex Latham).
Both Mr. Scott Wilson and myself have at length discussed this beautiful
bird in our books on the Hawaiian Avifauna. Of the actual status of this
bird in former times we know nothing. Latham described it first (Gmelin
named this species after Latham's description) from a pair in the Leverian
collection, which is now preserved in the Vienna Museum. About half a
century ago several specimens were collected by the late W. Mills near
Hilo, on the island of Hawaii, the only island where it existed. Nothing
certain was heard of the "Mamo" until, in 1892, my collector Henry Palmer
obtained a fine male, which was caught before his eyes by a native
birdcatcher. In July, 1898, Mr. H. W. Henshaw saw "at least a pair,
possibly a whole family," in the woods of Kaumana, and in 1899 a native
heard the, to him, well-known call near the same place. This brings the
existence of the Mamo down to the year 1898 or 1899. In view of the futile
efforts of Messrs. Henry Palmer, {32} Perkins, Henshaw and others to
observe this rare bird again, we may well suppose that this species is
either extinct, or will very soon vanish if any are left.
In former times the Mamo was probably more or less common. Its golden
yellow feathers were of great value, and, though the majority of the famous
war-cloaks are composed of the feathers of _Moho nobilis_, a few such
cloaks are known to consist of Mamo feathers. It is supposed that it took
generations to complete such a cape.
I only know of specimens of this bird in Vienna, Leyden, Paris, Honolulu,
Cambridge and Tring.
The two examples in the Vienna Museum were obtained by Fichtel at the sale
of the Leverian collection. One is perfect, the other has the upper portion
of the bill wanting.
{33}