THE HONEY EATERS 



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of the nestling is rapid. The adult male has the general plumage shining metallic 

 green, with bluish-purple reflections on the shoulders, rump, and upper'tail coverts; 

 the middle of the back and the scapulars are bronze brown; the primaries and tail 

 feathers are metallic green; the hind-neck is ornamented with a collar of soft 

 plumes, having a white line down the centre; and the lower part of the breast is me- 

 tallic green, changing into purplish blue. The sides and abdomen are blackish 

 brown, and the throat is ornamented with two tufts of white filamentous feathers. 



Stitch Bird 



POE HONEY EATER OR PARSON BIRD. 



This honey eater (Pogonornis cincta) has a moderate bill much 

 compressed and slender, and the gape furnished with slender bristles; 

 the wings are moderate, with the fourth quill the longest; the tail is moderate and 

 forked; and the metatarsus long, robust, and covered in front with transverse 

 scales. Formerly abundant in the southern parts of the North island of New Zea- 

 land, it was never found in the South island. The stitch bird is remarkable for 

 the bright plumage of the male, on which account it has been almost completely 

 exterminated by the natives, in order that the chiefs might wear the canary-yellow 

 feathers from the wings in their gorgeous feather robes. Always a shy and retiring 

 species, and difficult to shoot, the Maoris used to take this bird in snares baited 

 with flowers. Sir W. Buller observes that when disturbed by the report of a gun, 

 this bird will fly off to a neighboring tree with a light and graceful movement of 



