170 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Dr. Pickering mentions having seen this species " ahghting in the 

 tops of the trees and uttering a loud cluichy 



We regard this bird as one of the most interesting of the ornithokj- 

 gical 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. 



2. MoHO NOBiLis [Merrem). 



Gracula nohiUs, Merr. Beyt. zur. Besond. Gesch. der Vogel, p. 8, Plate II (1784, 

 name on plate). 



ILrops n!,jer, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 465 (1788). 



Merops fasciculafus, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, p. 275 (1790). 



Epimachus pacificus, Light. 



Temm. PI. Col. 471. Reichenbach, Volst. Naturg. Birds, Plate 

 DCIV, fig. 4098. 



The naturalists of the Expedition availed themselves of the oppor- 

 tunity presented to them of making some interesting observations on 

 this singular bird, and in the collection we find several fine specimens. 

 Though apparently not very common in Museums, it is so well known 

 to ornithologists that we have not deemed it necessary to append a 

 detailed description. We may be allowed to observe, though, that it 

 is not without some degree of repugnance that we adopt the generic 

 name Moho, which is that having priority of several others. Names 

 so singularly barbarous and in such bad taste ought scarcely to be 

 tolerated, even on the ground of priority. 



This bird, the general plumage of which is deep glossy black, has a 

 curious tuft of yellow feathers on each side near the shoulder, which 

 was formerly highly valued by the Hawaiians, as has been related by 

 various naturalists and voyagers, and as we find in the following ob- 

 servations by Mr. Peale : 



" The yellow tufts of costal feathers in this beautiful bird furnished 

 the material for the splendid and costly royal robes, capes, and ' lei's' 

 of the Hawaiians in former days. The bunches of feathers, called 

 lialu, represented in the wood-cut at the end of this article, are still 



