PASSERES. 39 



near Catlin's River^ but never in the intervening woods ; while in the 

 Nelson Province, as I am informed by Mr. Travers^ its range is 

 exclusively restricted to certain well-defined localities, although the 

 berries on which it is accustomed to feed abound everywhere. It is 

 said to be very abundant on some of the wooded ranges of Westland, 

 and Dr. Haast has obtained numerous specimens from the Oxford 

 Ranges, in the Province of Canterbury." — Buller. 



STURNID^. Starlings. 

 Bill, conical, pointed, straight, or slightly curved. 



Aplonis. 



Bill, rather short, arched above ; first quill spurious, second nearly as long as tliird and 

 fourth, which are longest ; tail, moderate, even ; tarsi, longer than middle toe ; hind toe, 

 long, robust. 



Australia and Pacific Islands. 



39. Aplonis zealandicus. Quoy and Gaim. 



Ohvaceous-brown ; under-surface ashy, tinged v\'ith yellow ; quills, tertials, and tail- 

 feathers, rufous ; over the tail, jjaler I'ufous. 

 L., 6. 

 Mab. — Tasman's Bay. 



" This is an excellent and typical species, which I had the pleasure 

 of seeing in the Leiden Museum, being one of the typical specimens 

 brought home by the 'Astrolabe' expedition. Dr. Hautlaub informs 

 me that there are three specimens in the Museum in Paris, all marked 

 ' Tasman's Bay, N.Z.,' and collected by the French travellers." — 



FlNSCH. 



Ceeadion. Vieill. 



Bill, straight, longer than the head ; wings, short, rounded, fourth to sixth feathers 

 equal and longest. 

 New Zealand only. 



40. Creadion carunculatus. Oml. 



Saddle-back. Tieke. 

 (Plate XIII.) 

 Black, with the back and wing-covcrts ferruginous. 



ioung. — Brown, with the lower part of the back and vent more or less ferruginous. 

 L., 9-5 ; W., 3-5 ; B., IS ; T., IQ. 



Egg. — White, spotted vvitli brownish-grey and violet ; length, 1*15 ; breadth, "9. 

 Hah. — Both Islands. 



