=~] 
Or 
CRITICAL NOTES. 
42. Glaucopis Olwascens. 
As this bird is found all over the North Island, in company with 
G. Wilsoni, there can, I think, be little doubt but that it is either the 
female or the young of that species. Dr. Hector informs me that when 
in confinement the wattle of this bird undergoes remarkable variations, 
the exterior margin sometimes assuming a decided yellowish tinge, and 
again changing back into blue. This he believes to depend upon the 
health of the bird. 
44. APLONIS CALEDONICUS. 
I think that this bird might very safely be omitted from our list, but 
I have retained it in order that a description may be circulated through 
the country before finally dismissing it. 
45. CREADION CINEREUS. 
The beautiful series of specimens of this bird in the Canterbury Museum, 
which shew intermediate grades of plumage between ciereus and carun- 
culatus, has convinced me that both are but one species. Mr. Buchanan 
informs me that he has seen cinereus in Otago in the summer, and last 
August I myself saw four birds in this plumage near Collingwood, busily 
engaged in tearing the bark of trees, and feeding on the insects under- 
neath. C’. cinereus cannot, therefore, be a seasonal state of plumage of 
carunculatus, but must be the young. The rarity of this bird in the 
North Island will, I think, account for cinereus only having been seen 
in the South, and I believe that Mr. Buller is also of the same opinion. 
56. CARPOPHAGA NOVA ZEALANDIZ, 
No one at present appears to have noticed the Pigeon, called Carpo- 
phaga spadicea leucophea by Hombron and Jacquimot, and which they 
thus describe : “ Back and wing coverts, undulated with rufous ; head, 
occiput, cheeks, and back of neck, grey, marked with paler; quills and 
tail, sooty grey, the latter tipped with white ; under parts of throat and 
breast, brownish grey, traversed with grey more or less pure ; belly, and 
under tail coverts, all white.” Myr. G. Gray thinks that this bird may 
be the young of our common Wood Pigeon, but this is quite uncertain, 
as the young Pigeon is not yet known, and I have reproduced the 
description here in the hope that some one will be able to clear up the 
mystery. 
61. APTERYX MAXIMA. 
When in Collingwood, a few months ago, I obtained from Dr. Turnell, 
the Resident Magistrate, the tarsus and foot of what I believe to be the 
