Mr. W. W. Smith on Strix parvissima. 25 



lived five years near the gorge of the Rangitata River, and 

 having during the whole time collected and made lists of the 

 birds of the district, and knowing all particulars regarding 

 the two captures which Mr. Potts refers to as having oc- 

 curred in the district, I think I am able to explain the matter 

 clearly. 



In May 1880, Mr. Mitton, then manager of Mount-Peel 

 Station, brought me a small living Owl, which he desired 

 me to stuff and mount for him. He stated that it had been 

 captured with the hand the previous afternoon by one of the 

 shepherds, on his way home from Peel forest. In handing 

 it to me he remarked that it was " surely a different kind of 

 Owl/' as it was so much smaller than any he had seen. I, 

 however, explained to him at the time that it was none other 

 than an exceptionally small " Morepork " {Spiloglaux nova- 

 zealandke), and was no doubt a female, a fact which I sub- 

 sequently verified while dissecting the specimen. It was an 

 immature bird, the general plumage being slightly darker 

 than many I have seen, and it lacked much of the distinct 

 and neat markings of grey and white on the wings and breast 

 peculiar to adult birds of that species. After being mounted, 

 it was sent to some of Mr. Mitton's friends in Christchurch, 

 but to whom I cannot at present say. A few weeks after 

 the above-mentioned capture, the same gentleman brought 

 me a slightly larger bird, which he had captured near the 

 gorge. Since then I have taken two diminutive females in 

 different localities and in similar plumage; but, excepting 

 their smaller size, there was nothing to lead anyone with a 

 slight knowledge of this little Owl and its variations to sup- 

 pose them to belong to a smaller or distinct species. 



Sir Walter Buller was careful to note that Mr. Potts 

 " records the species on hearsay evidence " ; but very little 

 importance can be attached to such in the absence of a bond 

 fide specimen captured in the colony, or at least some more 

 positive proof of its existence here, as these birds belong to 

 the most perfectly explored division of our fauna. I think, 

 if such a species as the supposed Strix parvissima had existed 

 in our country, it would have long ago come under the notice 



