23G On a new Species of Xeuicus. 



following (lay. It was placed in a low scrubby bush, hardly 

 more than two feet from the ground, but, being surrounded 

 by rather dense cane-brake, was got at only with considerable 

 difficulty. It contained three youngs a day or two old. 



XIX. — On a new Species of Xenicus from an Island off 

 the Coast of Neiv Zealand. By Sir Walter L. Bullek, 

 K.C.M.G., D.Sc, F.R.S. 



(Plate VII.) 



Projecting into Cook^s Strait as a bold and salient point 

 from the eastern shore of Blind Bay, and rising to a height 

 of 2180 feet, is D'Urville Island, presenting a very broken 

 and partially wooded surface. With a width of from five to 

 six miles, it stretches away 17 miles to the northward, whilst 

 to the south it is separated from the mainland by a very 

 narrow channel known as the French Pass. 



Lying two miles to the north-eastward of the northern 

 extremity of D^Urville Island, and rising abruptly from the 

 sea to a height of a thousand feet, is Stephens Island, only 

 about a square mile in extent, and more or less wooded on 

 its sides. From this island I have lately received a single 

 specimen of a new species of Xenicus, entirely distinct from 

 the two forms {X. longipes and X. gilviventris) inhabiting 

 the mainland. 



I have described this new bird, which may fittingly be 

 called the Island- Wren, as distinguished from our Bush- Wren 

 and Rock-Wren ; and as these island-forms present features 

 of special interest to the student of geographic zoology, I 

 am forwarding the specimen itself in the hope that it may 

 be figured. 



My correspondent on the island informs me that the bird 

 is semi-nocturnal in its habits, and that he has seen two 

 other examples, all three of them having been brought in at 

 different times by the cat. 



I hope shortly to receive further specimens of this inter- 

 esting form. In the meantime I regret that I am unable to 



