species of New-Zealand Birds. 457 



smaller than the two other species^ but also differs from them 

 in its habits." It is clear, therefore, that the differences (what- 

 ever their value may be) are not attributable to immaturity. 

 Admitting that they are constant, and are sufficiently obvious 

 to mark a distinct race, my position is established. Whether 

 the bird is to be regarded as a distinct " species," or as a well- 

 defined " variety," in which the distinguishing characters are 

 constant, need not be here discussed ; for this at once raises the 

 gucesiio vexata, "What is a species ?" I feel bound, however, 

 on what I take to be the true definition of a species, to main- 

 tain the validity of my Platycercus alpinus. Since my notice of 

 this bird in 'The Ibis,^ I have discovered that it is not restricted 

 to the South Island exclusively, the caged specimen referred to 

 above having been obtained in the Province of Wellington. 

 Nevertheless it is extremly rare in the North Island. Nor 

 does it appear to be confined to the mountain -country, and the 

 specific term alpinus is perhaps scarcely appropriate. It was 

 suggested to me by the following note from Dr. Haast, who 

 has the credit of the discovery : — " We shot this pretty bird in 

 the Oxford Ranges, and among the forest vegetation in our 

 Alps, at an altitude of from 2000 to 2500 feet." 



Dr. Haast's remarks on the local distribution of P. alpinus 

 and P. auriceps apply also to the two species that are common 

 in the North Island. P. auriceps largely predominates in the 

 northern, and P. nova-zelandia in the southern portions of 

 the island, although both are to be met with in almost every 

 district. 



Nestor occidentalis. 



Dr. Finsch remarks of two specimens forwarded to him by 

 Dr. Haast, and identified as N. meridionalis, that they " most 

 probably " represent my new species, on the ground that they 

 were obtained from the " same locality," namely the west coast 

 of the South Island. 



The only two specimens of this Nestor that I know of are in 

 my own collection. They were obtained by Dr. Hector in a re- 

 mote part of the country, to which probably no other explorer 

 has ever penetrated. And I would here remark that the region 



