PASSERES. 



9. Pogonornis cincta. Bubus. 



Stitch-bied. Hini. Mataeiobe, 

 (Plate V.) 



Head and neck black, with a tuft of white feathers behind each ear ; breast, and some 

 of the wing-coverts, bright yellow ; a white band on the wings ; abdomen, brownish-white. 



Female. — Brown, with a white band on the wings. 



L., 7; W., 4; B., -75; T., 1-2. 



Egcj. — Ovoid; yellow-white, thickly spotted all over with rufous; length, '75; 

 breadth, "6. 



Hah. — North Island only. 



" This handsome species has only a limited range. It is com- 

 paratively common in the southern parts of the North Island, and may 

 be met with as far north as the wooded ranges between Waikato 

 Heads and Raglan, beyond which it is extremely rare. It is never 

 found in the country north of Auckland, with the exception of one 

 locality, the Barrier Islands, where Captain Hutton records it ' not 

 uncommon^ in December, 1868. I have never heard of its occur- 

 rence anywhere in the South Island. It affects deep wooded gullies, 

 and is seldom found on the summits of the ranges. In the dense 

 timber covering old river-bottoms or low-lying flats it may be sought 

 for ; but it rarely frequents the light open bush or the outskirts of the 

 forest. It is, moreover, a very shy bird, and, being most active in 

 all its movements, it is not easily shot. Its food consists of insects, 

 the honey of various bush-flowers, and the smaller kinds of berries. 

 It often frequents the topmost branches of the high timber, where it 

 may be seen flitting about in search of insects. If disturbed by the 

 report of a gun, it will fly off to a neighbouring tree with a light and 

 graceful movement of the wings ; but, when descending to a lower 

 station, it adopts a different manner of flight, elevating the tail 

 almost to a right angle with the body, and scarcely moving the wings 

 at all. 



" The male bird erects the tail and spreads the ear-tufts when 

 excited or alarmed ; but the female habitually carries the tail per- 

 fectly erect. The sexes vary so much in appearance that many of 

 the natives regard them as distinct species, and call them by different 

 names. The male bird utters at short intervals and with startling 

 energy a melodious whistling call of three notes. At other times he 



