58 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Sphenceacus punctatus, Gray. (The Fern-bird.) 



Professor Hutton sends me the following note : " Last 

 year I sent a specimen of Sphenceacus punctatus to F. E. Bed- 

 dard for dissection. He now writes to me, ' I find that it is 

 quite a typical Acromyodian Passerine bird, and that the posi- 

 tion assigned to it in Sharpe's Catalogue of Birds in the 

 British Museum is quite in accordance with its anatomical 

 structure.' " 



Sphenoeacus rufescens, Buller. (The Chatham Island Fern- 

 bird.) 



The Hon. Walter Rothschild writes informing me that in 

 a collection of bird-skins recently received from the Chatham 

 Islands there was a good series of this well-marked species. 



Prosthemadera novae-zealandiae, Gmelin. (The Tui.) 



An albino in Mr. Drew's collection has many of the quills 

 in both wings, and the three middle tail-feathers, wholly or 

 partially normal ; most of the secondaries in owe wing partially 

 white ; cloudy patches of black on the shoulders and on 

 the abdomen, with a few scattered black feathers on the 

 breast ; the rest of the plumage pure-white ; bill and feet 

 normal. 



Pogonornis cincta, Dubus. (The Stitch-bird.) 



An Auckland collector has recently been on a visit to the 

 Little Barrier Island for the purpose of getting specimens of 

 this rare bird, several of which were obtained. This is the 

 last refuge of the species, and unless the strong hand of the 

 Government is invoked for its protection, and that at once, 

 the Stitch-bird will soon be lost to us for ever. Let us hope 

 that steps will be taken to save the colony from this re- 

 proach. 



Anthornis melarrura, Sparrm. (The Korimako, or Bell-bird.) 



I have from time to time recorded albinoes, more or less 

 perfect, of this species ; but I have the pleasure of exhibiting 

 this evening a specimen from Nelson in which the entire 

 plumage is of a delicate olivaceous-yellow, the quills and tail- 

 feathers being white with greyish webs. Bill and feet pale- 

 brown, instead of being respectively black and leaden-grey, 

 as in the normal state. 



Referring to the Bell-bird, Lord Onslow, in the memorandum 

 already referred to, says, "I would also, at the same time, 

 suggest that Ministers should take into consideration the pro- 

 priety of including some other native birds in the list of 

 protected species. As I have already mentioned, the Bell-bird, 



