MAMO, minnO (Hawaiian name). A peculiar creeper-like bird of the Sandwich Islands (Dre penis Pacifica), the only representative of the family Drepanithe, and now extinct. Its destruc tion was brought about early in the nineteenth century, "for the sake of its rich yellow feathers used in former days to decorate the state robes of the chiefs." Very few skins are in existence, and these are preserved in European museums. After the extinction of this bird resort was had to another, the oi; or 'Iloilo (q.v.), to supply yel low feathers, while red feathers for the purpose were obtained from the scarlet creeper (Vesti aria coccinca). Consult Wilson and Evans, Birds of the Sandwich Islands (London, 1884). See MOHO.
NIAMORt, minno-rfe. A river of Bolivia and the principal headstream of the Madeira, being by many geographers considered as the upper course of that river (Map: Bolivia, D 6). It rises on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Real, 20 miles northwest of Sucre, and flows first east under the name of Rio Grande, then no•th west and finally northward, receiving from the right its main tributary, the Guapore, after it forms the boundary between Brazil and Bolivia until it unites with the Beni to form the Madeira. After leaving the mountains it
flows partly through extensive grazing plains, partly through immense forests. Its course is throughout so swift that even in the forest re gion it is continually shifting its bed. The length of the Mamore is over 1300 miles, and it is navigable for nearly 1000 miles. Most of its tributaries are also navigable after they leave the umuntains and enter the great plains. The river is, however, obstructed by falls and rapids, espe cially those of Guajara, 40 miles above the junc tion with the Beni, and by dams of fallen logs, so that it is navigable practically over a con tinuous stretch of only about 400 miles above the Falls of Guajara.