the Genus Ccrtliiparus. 319 



with C. ochrocephalus. This view has been followed by- 

 Sir Walter Buller. 



ILL— In 1883 Dr. Gadow, in the ' Cat. Birds Brit. Mus,/ 

 included all three birds in the same genus. 



A re-examination of these forms has convinced me that 

 Dr. Gadow is right in placing all three in the same 

 family, but that Gray and Buller are correct in separating 

 C. novce-zealandice from the others generically ; while I also 

 agree with Lafresnaye and Finsch that C. ochrocephalus and 

 C. albicillus cannot be kept in the same genus on account 

 of the great differences in their legs and feet. So, in my 

 opinion, each species should form a separate genus. 



Next as to the names. The type of Certhiparus is 

 C. albicillus, and this name must, therefore, be kept for that 

 species. For C. ochrocephalus the oldest name is Mohua of 

 Lesson (1837). Quoy and Gaimard had stated that the 

 Maori name of this species is Mohoua (which, however, was 

 a mistake), and Gray apparently altered the spelling to suit 

 his own views. I see no good reason for dropping Mohua in 

 favour of Clitonyx. For C. nova-zealandi® we should have 

 had Phyllodijtes of Finsch, but unfortunately that name is 

 preoccupied by Wagler (1830) in Batrachia, and by Gistel 

 (1848) in Reptilia ; so that a new one must be substituted. I 

 therefore propose that this genus should be ca.led Finschia, in 

 honour of Dr. Otto Finsch, so well known as an ornithologist, 

 and one who has given us much help in New Zealand. My 

 scheme of classification is therefore as follows : — 



Tail shorter than the wing, the shafts of the feathers 

 projecting. 



Hind claw longer than the bill Mohua. 



Hind claw shorter than the bill Certhiparus. 



Tail as long as the wing, tin shafts of the feathers not 



projecting , Finschia. 



In Mohua the tarsus has only three or four scutes 

 which are often fused into one, the divisions being obliterated; 

 while in Cerlhij arus there are five or six scutes, and the 

 divisions arc never obliterated. 



