PASSERES. 15 



15. Xenicus gilviventris. Pelz. 



EocK Week. 

 (Plate VIII.) 



Above, olive-green, witli the head and neck brownish ; below, fawn colour ; flaulis and 

 vent tinted with yellow, some of tjie wing-coverts brownish-black ; a few white feathers 

 under the eye, and a white line above it extending towards the back of the head. 



In the female the upper part of the back is brown. 



L., 3-5 ; W., 2 ; B., -65 ; T., -9. 



Mah. — South Island. 



'^ It lives exclusively amongst the large taluses of debris high on 

 the mountain-sides. Instead of flying away when frightened, or 

 when stones are thrown at it, or even when shot at, it hides itself 

 among the angular debris of which these large taluses are composed. 

 We tried several times in vain to catch one alive by surrounding it 

 and removing these blocks. It reminded me strongly of the habits 

 and movements of the lizards which live in the same regions and in 

 similar localities." — Haast. 



" It is worthy of remark that in this species the claw of the hind- 

 toe is considerably more developed than in the tree-frequenting X. 

 longipes, even exceeding the toe in length — a modification of structure 

 specially adapted to the peculiar habits of the bird." — Buller. 



ACANTHISITTA. Lafr. 



Bill, long, slender, inclining slightly upwards _: third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly 

 equal and longest, second rather longer than seventh ; tarsi, long, slender ; tail, short. 

 New Zealand only. 



16. Aeanthisitta cMoris. Span-m. 



ElFLEMAir. TiTIPOUNAMU. 



Above, green, tinged with brown on the foreliead ; wing- feathers, dark brown edged 

 ■with green, yellowish at base ; white line over the eye ; below, white, tinged with yellow 

 on tlie flanks ; tail, black, with a yellowish-white tip. 



Female. — Brownisli-white, streaked with dark brown above and Avhite below 



L., 3; W., 1-75; B., 6; T., -75. 



Fgq. — Ovoid ; wbite ; length, -Q ; breadth, "5. 



JLfa6.— Both Islands. 



" The Rifleman is the smallest of our New Zealand birds ; and, 

 although comparatively common, very little is at present known of its 

 natural history. It is very generally distributed over the middle and 

 southern portions of the North Island, in all suitable localities, 

 and throughout the whole extent of the South Island. It is to be 

 met with generally on the sides and summits of the wooded ranges, 



