POMATORHINUS MONTANUS. 



the anterior parts of the neck, are black, with" an obscure tint of gray. The throat, 

 the breast, a narrow streak extending from the base of the bill over the eye to the 

 neck, and the abdomen at the lowest part, are pure white. On the lateral parts of 

 the neck, the black and white portions are separated by a defined line ; but on the 

 other parts, the tints pass irregularly into each other. The plumes of the lower parts 

 of the back and of the hypochondrise are lengthened, and the loosely diffused silky 

 barbs are provided at the base with a down of a plumbeous colour, which also 

 appears on the thighs. The general colour of the bill is yellow, but the upper 

 mandible has a black mark, broad at the base, including the nares, and tending to 

 a point in the middle of the bill. The irides are yellowish white, the feet brown 

 with a plumbeous hue, and the claws have a pale horny colour. The entire length 

 of our bird is eight inches, its weight nine drams. The wings are of moderate 

 length, and the tail projects about two inches beyond them. The tarsi are elongated 

 and rather slender. The claws are sharp, and strongly compressed. The posterior 

 toe is robust, and its claw proportionally large and strong ; in this character our 

 bird is analagous to the Philedons. The attitude and proportions of our bird are 

 accurately given in the figure; and it is presumed that the details will clearly 

 illustrate the characters by which it is distinguished, as well from Cinnyris as 

 from Philedon. 



The Pomatorhinus montanus belongs to those tribes of birds, which in Java 

 are found exclusively in forests, covering mountains that have an elevation of about 

 7000 feet above the level of the ocean. It never migrates from these into the lower 

 regions. Although necessarily confined in its range, and limited to the distant coni- 

 cal summits of a series of mountains that extends longitudinally through the Island, it 

 is very abundant in particular places. I met with it at various points ; but the cold 

 climate of the Mountain JMerbaboo, one of the highest peaks in the central part of 

 Java, and the summit of Mount Prahu, both of which exceed the elevation above 

 mentioned, appeared its favourite places of residence. Here it builds its nest on 

 high trees. Its food is plentifully supplied by the berries of various species of 

 Rubus, as well as by the fruits of numerous vegetables, which cover these elevated 

 districts. About the middle of the day, our bird is seen, through the openings of 

 the forest, in small flocks ; it then emits incessantly a loud note, in imitation of 

 which the natives have applied to it the name of Bokkeek. 



