THE STITCH-BIRD 111 



The notes are uttered very rapidly, and are very melodious and 

 pleasing." 



Goius Pogoiioniis. 

 Bill shorter than the head. Fourth and tifth quills of the 

 wing equal and longest, the first long. Tail roiuided, each feather 

 pointed. New Zealand only. 



The Stitch-Bird.— HiHi or Tihe. 



Pogonomis cincta. 



Male — 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. Eye black. Length of 

 the wing, 4 in.; of the tarsus, 1.2 in. Female and young — Brown, with a 

 white band on the wings. Egg — White, thickly spotted all over with 

 rufous; length, 0.75 in. North Island only. 



The stitch-birds have become very rare on the mainland, but 

 they may still be seen on Little Barrier Island. They are 

 peripatetic little birds. With their heads carried proudly, their 

 wings drooped, and their tails spread and raised, they flit about in 

 the trees, always on the move. As each movement is made, 

 they give a peculiar whistle. 



Of all the birds I saw on the Little Barrier Island when I 

 visited that sauctuars^ in February, 1907, none interested me 

 more than the stitch-bird. It is one of the rarest of all the rare 

 birds of New Zealand. In the palmiest days- of bird-life in the 

 dominion, about thirty years ago, it was often seen, but I do 

 not believe that it can now be found anywhere except on the 

 Little Barrier. It is not a very shy bird, but it frequents 

 inaccessible places in the densely-wooded mountain gorges. Its 

 great raritj^, the interest taken in it by naturalists in all parts 

 of the world, and the large number of quests that have been 

 made to obtain specimens of its skin for nuiseums and collectors 



