

of the propriety of doing so, but trusting that our figure will prove sufficiently correct 

 to supply the means of a more systematic arrangement." 



Cassin, in his edition of the account of the Exploring Expedition, says of it : — 



" Hab. Island of Hawaii. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. 



" Though we suspect that the bird above described is not in mature plumage, it 

 appears to be a distinct species of the genus Moho, Lesson, of which the only species 

 heretofore known are Moho nobilis (Merrem), and probably the bird described as 

 Certhia pacifica, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 470 (Vieill. and Aud. Ois. Bor. pi. lxiii.), and 

 Moho braccata, Cassin. It does not appear to belong to the genus Strigiceps, Less. 

 Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 266, though evidently related to it. 



"The feathers on the head and breast in this bird present a remarkable character on 

 account of the filaments composing the webs of the feathers being unusually few in 

 number, and at such a distance from each other as not to touch, or become adherent. 

 This structure of the feathers gives to the plumage of the parts mentioned a somewhat 

 hairy appearance, and prevails also, in some measure, on the abdomen and other 

 underparts of the body. Many of the feathers on the throat and neck in front 

 terminate in bristles curved outwardly, and readily discernible on viewing the specimen 

 in profile." 



After quoting part of Peale's remarks, already given above, Cassin continues : — 

 " Dr. Pickering mentions having seen this species ' alighting in the tops of the trees 

 and uttering a loud chuck.' 



"We regard this bird as one of the most interesting of the ornithological discoveries 

 of the Expedition, and much regret to find a single specimen only in the collection. It 

 is represented in our plate above cited of the size of life." 



I obtained an example of this curious-looking bird from the collection of the late 

 Mr. Mills, through the generosity of the present owner, the Hon. C. R. Bishop, of 

 Honolulu, and it is now in the Museum of the University of Cambridge. It was pro- 

 bably procured by Mr. Mills in the district of Hilo near Olaa, that having been his 

 favourite hunting-ground. Why this bird should have become extinct seems in- 

 explicable, as its feathers were not used for ornaments ; yet the natives of the present 

 day do not know it even by tradition, moreover the local name Kiowea given to it by 

 Judge Dole is certainly that applied to the Whimbrel (Numenius femoralis). The 

 specimen obtained by Peale during his visit I had the advantage of examining while 

 at Washington on my way to the Islands. 



Description. — Top of the head and neck blackish brown, each feather with a greyish- 

 white shaft-streak, which is strongly tinged with yellow on the nape and sides of the 

 neck. A greyish-white stripe over the eyes. Wing-coverts and back hair-brown, 

 tinged with ochreous on the rump, the feathers of the mantle with a white shaft-streak 

 widening into a tear-shaped spot towards the tip. Remiges and rectrices deep brown, 

 their outer margin yellow, giving a greenish effect to the whole. A greyish-white 



