PASSERES. 17 



streams. It is gregarious in its nature; and the rej)ort of a gun^ the 

 cry of a Hawk, or any other exciting cause will instantly bring a flock 

 of them together, producing a perfect din with their loud chirping 

 notes. It is a curious or inquisitive bird, following the intruder as he 

 passes through the hush, and watching all his movements in a very 

 intelligent manner. If he remains stationary for a few moments, it 

 will peer at him through the leaves with evident curiosity, and will 

 hop gradually downwards from twig to twig, stretching out its neck 

 and calling to its fellows in a loud chirp, and approaching the object 

 of this scrutiny till almost within reach of his hand.'^ — Buller. 



18. Orthonyx ochrocepliela. Gml. 



Native Canaey. Yellow-head. Popokatea. 

 (Plate IX.) 



Head, breast, and abdomen, yellow ; back, yellowisli-brown ; tail, yellowisk-olivaceous ; 

 wing-feathers, brown, mostly edged with yellowish brown. 

 L., 6; W., 3-2; B., -6; T., L 



Ecfff. — White, with small faint specks of red ; length, '9 ; breadth, -7. 

 Sab. — South Island only. 



" This bright-coloured bird is the southern representative of 

 Orthonyx albicilla. Its range is confined to the South Island, where 

 it is quite as common as the jareceding species is in the North. A 

 narrow neck of sea completely divides their natural habitat, — a very 

 curious and suggestive fact, inasmuch as this rule applies equally to 

 several other representative species treated of in the present work. 



"The habits of this bird are precisely similar to those of its 

 northern ally ; but it is superior to the latter in size and in the richer 

 colour of its plumage, while its notes are louder, and its song more 

 varied and musical. A flock of these Canary-like birds alarmed or 

 excited, flitting about among the branches with much chirping 

 clamour, and exhibiting the bright tints of their plumage, has a very 

 pretty effect in the woods. ^^ — Buller. 



LUSCINIDJE. Warblers. 

 Bill, straight and slender ; o])ening of nostrils exposed ; tarsi, slender. 



Sphenceacus. Gray. 

 _ Bill, moderate, arched above ; wings, short, fourth and fifth quills equal and longest ; 

 tail-featliers, long and pointed, stifF, the barbs distant and unconnected. In the young the 

 tail-feathers are of the ordinary form. 

 Australia. 



19. Sphenceaeus punetatus. Qiwy and Oaim. 



Fern-bird. Utick. Matata. 

 (Plate X.) 

 Above, yellow-brown, streaked with black ; forehead, rufous, with a black streak in tiie 

 middle of each feather ; below, white spotted witli black, tinged witli fulvous on the flanks 

 and abdomen ; tail, brown ; a brownish-white streak from the nostrils over each eye. 



