14 



NEW ZEALAND UIKDS. 



approach of spring. Since the year 1862, ^vlicn it commenced to breed 

 with us, it has been a permanent resident in the North Island, and 

 from that time it continned to advance northwards." — Bullek. 



CERTHIAD^. CitEErERs. 



Bill, slcudcr, tip entire ; nostrils, small, partlj' covered by a membranous scale ; liiud 

 toe, long. 



Xenicus. Gray. 



Eill, moderate ; third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal, and longest; second, rather 

 shorter tlian seventh ; legs and feet, moderate or strong ; tail, very short. 

 New Zealand only. 



-^-'^i:! 



14. Xenicus longipos. Gml. 



Busn Ween. 



(riate VIII.) 



Above, green with a brown forehead ; throat, white ; abdomen, grey ; flanks, yellow ; 

 some of the wing-coverts brownish-black ; a white spot beneath, and a white line over the 

 eye, extending towards the back of the head, where it becomes yellow. 



L., 4 ; W., 2 ; B., -62 ; T., -9. 



^aS.— Both Ishmds. 



" It is generally met v.ith singly or in ])airs, but sometimes several 

 are associated, attracting notice by the sprightliucss of their move- 

 ments. They run along the boles and branches of the trees Avith 

 restless activity, peering into every crevice and searching the bark for 

 the small insects and larviie on which they feed. It is strictly arboreal 

 in its habits, never being seen on the ground, in Avhicli respect it 

 differs conspicuously from the closely allied species, Xenicus (/ilvi- 

 ventris. It has a weak but lively note, and its powers of flight are 

 very limited. 



" On comparing my specimens of this bird Avith the type of Mr. 

 G. R. Gray's Xenicus stokcsii in the British Museum, I feel satisfied 

 that they are referable to one and the same species, the difference of 

 plumage being only sexual." — Buller. 



