freee] 
VII. Description, with some additional Particulars, of the Apteryx Australis of Shaw. 
By Wiiuiam Yarrext, Esq., F.L.S. & Z.S. 
Communicated June 25, 1833. 
A SINGLE specimen of this very singular bird, first described and figured by Dr. Shaw 
in the 24th volume of the ‘ Naturalist’s Miscellany,’ under the name of the Serruginous- 
grey Apteryx, was brought from the south coast of New Zealand by Captain Barcley, 
of the ship Providence, about the year 1812. By Captain Barcley the specimen was 
presented to Dr. Shaw, through the kind offices of W. Evans, Esq., who was the 
mutual friend of both. 
The notices of this bird, which have since appeared in the ‘ Manuel’ of M. Temminck, 
(2nd ed. Anal. p. cxiv. 1820) ; in the continuation of Shaw’s ‘ General Zoology’, by 
Mr. Stephens (vol. xiii. part 1. 1825) ; in the ‘Manuel’ of M. Lesson (vol. ii. p. 211. 
1828); in the ‘General History of Birds’ by Dr. Latham (vol. x. p. 395. 1828); and in 
the 2nd edition of the ‘Régne Animal’ (vol. i. p- 498, note. 1829) ;—have all been 
derived from the original description first named ; but very different opinions have 
been expressed on the subject of the bird itself. 
M. Temminck, in his ‘ Analyse du Systtme Général d’Ornithologie’, has instituted 
an order, which he has called Inertes, for the reception of the Dodo and the Apteryz ; 
two birds differing decidedly from each other in their beaks, but in reference to their 
imperfect wings, as also in the nature of their external covering, having obvious relation 
to the species included in his order Cursores. But the situation chosen for this order 
Inertes, at the extreme end of his systematic arrangement, leads me to infer that 
M. Temminck considered as imaginary the subjects for which it was formed}. 
M. Lesson seems to have still less faith in this bird, and at page 211, as before re- 
ferred to, has the following paragraph :—‘‘ L’Apteryx de M. Temminck ne sérait-il pas 
fondé sur les piéces de dronte [Dodo] conservées au Museum de Londres?” M. Lesson 
appears not to have been aware at the time, that at page 210 of his ‘Manuel’, he 
had described, as common in the forests of New Zealand, under the name Kivi Kivi, 
the bird whose existence he questioned at page 211. 
By Baron Cuvier this bird has only been referred to ina note in the ‘Régne Animal’, 
(2nd ed. vol. i. p. 498.) and not admitted in the body of the work. 
' Tlliger, in his ‘Prodromus,’ 1811, instituted his Order Inepti, for the reception of the Dodo alone, (the 
Apteryx being then unknown,) but arranged it immediately before his Cursores, which contained the Struthious 
birds. 
