124 



THE ANIMALS OF KEW ZEALAND 



The Stephen's Island Wren. 

 Traversia lyalli. 

 Male— Above, dark brownish olive-yellow. A narrow yellow line 

 over the eye. Wings and tail brown, the wing coverts like the back. 

 Chin, throat, and breast yellow, the flanks and abdomen pale brown. 

 Female — Above, brown; below, buft'y grey. Length of the wing, 2in. ; 

 of the tarsus, 9.75 in. Stephen's Island, in Cook Strait. 



This bird, it is believed, is now extinct^ having been killed off 

 by the cats. It is said to have been semi-noetnrnal in its habits, 

 freqneuting the scrub on the island. 



Nest of Bush Wren. 



Genus Acanthidositta. 



Bill slender. Wing with 

 the third to fifth quills 

 nearly equal and longest, 

 the second rather longer 

 than the seventh. Tarsi 

 long and slender. 



The Bush Wren. 



TiTITI-POUN AMU. 



Aca n til idositfa ch loris. 



Male — Above, green. Wing 

 feathers, dark brown, edged with 

 green. A white line over the eye. 

 Below, white tinged with yellow 

 on the flanks. Tail black with a 

 yellowish white tip. Eye dark 

 brown. Female — Brownish white, 

 streaked with dark brown above ; 

 below, white. Length of the wing, 

 1.5 in. ; of the tarsus, 0.75 in. 

 Egg— White; O.Gin. Both Islands. 



The bush wren, or rifleman, inhabits generally the sub-alpine 

 forests of both Islands as well as the Great Barrier Island and 

 the Little Barrier ; but very little is known of its habits. It forms 

 its nest in hollow trees, and it is stated that a pair of these little 

 birds once took up their residence in the skull of a horse. 



