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APPENDIX. 



By R. BOWDLEE SHAEPE, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., of the Zoological Depahtment, British Museum. 



The preceding portion of the " Zoology " of the Voyage of the " Erebus and Terror " was written many years ago by 

 my himented predecessor Mr. George Robert Gray, with whom the Ornithology of New Zealand seems always to 

 have been a favourite study. The foregoing catalogue of New Zealand birds was for many years the standard wurk 

 of reference, and in 18G2 the same author applied himself anew to the subject and produced a revised list of tiie lairds 

 of Ni;w Zealand, containing many additions and improvements. AVith the notable exception of Dr. Otto Fiusch, nu 

 European zoologist has written much on the Avifauna of the Antipodes since that date, for the colony has produceil 

 a set of working naturalists inferior to their European brethren in no degree, and to this day the " Transactions " 

 of the New Zealand Institute bear full tokens of the energy which is being shewn in the elucidation of tlie 

 economy of the fast-e.xpiring feathered inhabitants of that distant region. Dr. Buller has particularly distinguished 

 himself as a critical ornithologist, and, being a native of the colony, he has brought to his aid a vast amount of practical 

 experience of tlie habits of the birds he describes, while his great work on the Ornithology of New Zealand will always 

 remain a monument of his industry and perseverance. Besides the above-mentioned naturalist, there are Dr. 

 Hector, Dr. Haast, Captain Hutton and Mr. Potts, all of whom have contributed greatly to the advance of orni- 

 thological science in New Zealand, — the last-named writer being particularly distinguished for his excellent field 

 observations. lu Europe Dr. Finsch has from time to time published valuable articles on New Zealand bivil.s, 

 and has by his " Revision der Yogel Neuseelands " and other papers in the "Journal fiir Ornithologie" materially 

 contributed to the satisfactory position in which we now find the Ornithology of that country. 



In the appendix with which I now supplement Mr. Gray's previous labours I propose to give a complete list of 

 the birds of New Zealand, as far as they are at present determined, with a few critical notes on some of the species, and 

 secondly I shall have to add descriptions of some hitherto unpublished plates which were intended to have accoiii_ 

 panied the original issue of the work. 



I must acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. Finsch's paper "Zusiitze und Berichtigungen zm- Revision der 

 Vogel Neuseelauds" {J. f. 0. 1874, p. 107) in compiling a list of the birds of that country as at present kno%ra. 



Order, ACCIPITRES. for, before two species of Harpa can be distinguished. 



Sub-order Falcokes When recently engaged in studying the "Birds of Prey" I 



' ' ' was surprised to hnd that tlie New Zealand Falcons are by 



1. Hakpa NOV.E ZEALANDI^. jjq means congeneric with the Austrahan Hicracidew, 



Falco novae zealandire, Gm., Gray, antrA, p. 1. these latter being short-toed Hawks, allied to the Kestrels, 



Hieracidea novre zealandite, Finsch, J. f. 0. 1872, p. 87, whereas the subject of the present notice is a long-toed 



et 1874, p. 175 ; Bidler, B. N. Zeal. p. 1, pi. 1. bird, a true Falcon, allied to the Peregrines but yet gene- 



This species has been M'ell described and figured by Dr. rically distinct. The two Falcons must therefore be known 



Buller (/. c), who separates the small form as Hieracidea as Harpa novm zealandim (Gm.) and Harpa av.'itralis, if 



hrunnen, and gives distinctive measurements of each, the latter shoidd prove distinguishable, Mr. Gould's name 



I have, however, shewn in the "Ibis" for 1873, p. 328, of i^a/co ir««?it'« for the latter having been pre-occupied. 



that a gradual gradation in the size of wing can be At the same time that I cannot admit the ab.solute di.s- 



found, and at present further characters must be sought tinctness of Harpa novcc zcalandim and H. australis, I am 



E 



