24 NEW ZEALAND IHRDS. 



Female. — Sliglitlj smaller than llic malo, and without the brown tinge on tlic wings and 

 tail. 



L., 6; W., 3-4; B., -7; T., 11. 



Discovered in 1871 by Mr. Henry Travers, after whom tlio species is named. 



Ifrt6.— Chatliani Islands. 



Anthus. Becht. 



Bill, slightly notched at the tip ; first, second, and third quills equal, and longest ; tail, 

 emar(;inate ; tarsi, longer than the middle toe ; lateral toes, equal ; hind claw, very long. 

 Found in most parts of the world. 



31. Anthus novse-zealandise. Gml. 



Geocnd-Laek. Pihoiitoi. 



Above, greyish-brown ; below, white, with brown spots on the breast ; cheeks, white, 

 with brown spots; a blackish -brown lino through the eye; outside tail-feathers, white. 



L., 7; W., 3o; B., -7; T., 1. 



Egg. — Greyish-white, speckled all over with greyish-brown ; length, '8 ; breadth, "7. 



Albino varieties occasionally occur. 



Hab. — Both Islands. 



" It i.s common tlivoiigliout the country^ frequenting- tlie open 

 land, and sometimes resorting to the dry sands along the sea-shore. 

 During the summer and autumn it is gregarious, and may then he ob- 

 served in flocks varying in number from half-a-dozen to fifty or more, 

 alternately collecting and. mounting in the air Avith a loud cheerful 

 note, and scattering themselves again on the open ground to search for 

 their food, Avliich consists of insects and their larvae, small earthworms, 

 and occasionally minute seeds as well. They are always plentiful on 

 the settlers' farms, and may be seen during the summer months perched 

 in large parties on the roofs of the country houses or on the sur- 

 rounding fences and outbuildings. They may sometimes be observed 

 in similar situations within the towns, and notably on the roofs of 

 churches and other lofty edifices. They love to resort to the roads 

 and beaten paths, where tliey amuse the traveller by their playfulness, 

 running before him as he ad^^ances, then rising in the air with a sharp 

 but pleasant chirp, settling down again and running forward as 

 before. During the heat of the day they may often be seen sitting 

 on the logs or fences with their beaks wide open as if gasping for air. 

 They repose at night on the ground, finding shelter among the grass 

 or fern on the open ridges or on the wayside, where the benighted 

 traveller, as he plods along, may often disturb them and hear the 

 sharp rustling of their wings as they rise startled at his very feet." — 



BULLER. 



TTJEDIDiE. Thrushes. 



Bill, strong, notched near the tip ; nostrils generally protected by a scale. 



TuRNACfRA. Lesson. 



Bill, broad, arclied, gape furnished witli bristles; wings, rounded; tnil, long; tarsi, 

 strong, longer than the middle toe. 

 New Zealand only. 



