Order PASSEKES.] 
[Fast. MELIPHAGIDiE. 
POGONOENIS CINCTA. 
(STITCH-BIRD.) 
Melipliaga cincta, Dubus, Bull. Acad. Sc. Brux. vi. pt. 1, p. 295 (1839). 
Ptilotis auritus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 257. 
Ptilotis cincta, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, Birds, p. 4 (1844). 
Pogonornis cincta, Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 123 (1846). 
Native names. 
Hihi, Tihe, Kotihe, Kotihewera, Tiora, and Tiheora ; male and female sometimes distinguished 
as Hihi-paka and Hihi-matakiore or Tihe-kiore. 
$ suprh nigerrimus : fasciis duabus conspicuis postocularibus albis : dorso imo et uropygio cinerascenti-brunneis, 
vix olivaceo tinctis : dorsi plumis quibusdam lateralibus lsete aurantiaco terminatis : rectricibus alarum 
minimis laete aurantiacis, plagam magnam formantibus, majoribus nigris, extus aurantiaco marginatis : ala; 
spuria; plumis ad basin albis speculum exbibentibus : remigibus nigris, primariis versus apicem albido, 
secundariis aurantiaco marginatis : tectricibus alarum majoribus intimis et secundariis dorsalibus pure albis, 
plagam distinctam formantibus, dorso proximis medialiter nigris : gutture toto et collo laterali nigerrimis : 
torque pectorali angusta aurantiaca : corpore reliquo subtus cinerascente, bypocbondriis et subcaudalibus 
saturatioribus, illis brunneo striatis : subalaribus cinerascentibus, margine alarum aurantiaco : rostro 
brunnescenti-nigro : pedibus brunneis : setis rictalibus nigris : iride nigra. 
? mari omnino dissimilis : suprii brunnea olivaceo lavata, pileo obscuriore : macula, parva postoculari all) a : tectri- 
cibus alarum olivaceo-fulvo lavatis, miuimis aurantiaco nitentibus, majoribus intimis et secundariis dorsalibus 
albis, brunneo medialiter lineatis et marginatis, plagam magnam albam formantibus : remigibus et rectricibus 
cinerascenti-brunneis, extus late fulveseente lavatis, primariis ad basin pogonii interni albis : subtus obscure 
brunnea, pectore et abdomine fulvescentibus, obscure brunneo striatis. 
Adult male. Head, neck, and upper part of the back velvety black ; on each side of the head there is a tuft of 
snow-white feathers which the bird has the power of erecting. A band of rich canary-yellow encircles the 
breast, contrasting finely with the dark plumage immediately above it ; narrow in the centre, it widens on 
both sides and expands on the wings, covering the small coverts and the margins of the scapularies, and 
becomes very conspicuous when the wings are spread. Underparts light greyish brown, inclining to oliva- 
ceous brown on the sides of the body. Primaries and tail-feathers black, margined outwardly with olivaceous 
brown ; the secondaries in their basal portion and their coverts white ; the upper tail-coverts olivaceous 
brown. Irides and rictal bristles black ; bill brownish black ; tarsi and toes pale brown. Total length 
8 inches; extent of wings 12 - 5; wing, from flexure, 4; tail 3; bill, along the ridge '60, along the edge of 
the lower mandible ‘75 ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw 1 ; hind toe and claw '75. 
Female. Obscure olivaceous brown, darker on the upper parts, and changing to pale brown on the abdomen 
and under tail-coverts. The primaries and outer tail-feathers have their external webs narrowly margined 
with very pale brown ; the rest of the quills and tail-feathers are dusky black, edged externally with oliva- 
ceous brown. There is a large spot of white on the secondaries corresponding to that in the male, with 
faint indications of yellow towards the root of the wing ; but this is only apparent when the wings are 
spread. There are a few minute touches of white on each side of the head, corresponding in position to the 
tufts in the male bird ; but these adornments are wanting in this sex. Total length 7' 25 inches ; wing, 
from flexure, 3 75 ; tail 2' 75; culmen - 55 ; tarsus 1. 
