ON THE ' CHALLENGER' PETRELS. 363 



The Pittidae are also, it is interestiug to note, the only other family 

 of Mesomyodian Passeres that enters the Australian region, though they 

 have not extended their range to New Zealand. I know at present of 

 no other Australian Passerines that can be considered allied to the 

 Xenicidae ; nor are there apparently any other forms than the two here 

 described present in New Zealand itself, Certhiparus and Miro both being, 

 as well as Clitonyx *, Oscines of the normal type. 



65. REPORT ON THE ANATOMY OF THE PETRELS Zool. Chall. 

 (TUBINARES) COLLECTED DURING THE VOYAGE pt^p. T 

 OF H.M.S. 'CHALLENGER.'f 



(Plates XII.-XXIV.) 



I. INTRODUCTORY. 



MATERIALS for the knowledge of the structure of the soft parts of the 

 class Aves, when the members of that group indigenous to a country 

 have been examined, are for the most part only to be obtained through the 

 medium of zoological gardens, by the inhabitants of these, on their 

 decease, coming into the hands of some person competent to examine 

 them. In spite of the increased facilities of communication of the 

 present day, and the greater experience of those in charge of living zoo- 

 logical collections, there still remain many groups of birds which as yet 

 it has been found impossible to obtain or keep in a living state. Such 

 birds in consequence can only be adequately studied from spirit-speci- 

 mens, and these also it is frequently very difficult to obtain, especially if 

 the species wanted are of large size, or inhabit little-explored and 

 inaccessible countries. 



* Fide antea, p. 358. 



t Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. ' Challenger' during the 

 Years 1873-76 under the command of Captain George S. Nares, R.N., F.R.S., and 

 Captain Frank Tourle Thomson, R.N. Prepared under the superintendence of the 

 late Sir C. WYVILLE THOMSON, Knt., F.R.S., &c., Regius Professor of Natural History 

 in the University of Edinburgh, Director of the Civilian Scientific Staff on Board, and 

 now of JOHN MURRAY, F.R.S.E., one of the Naturalists of the Expedition. Zoology : 

 vol. iv. pt. xi. pp. 1-64, Pis. I.-VII. (1882). 



[NOTE.-- After the lamented death of Professor A. H. Garrod, Mr. W. A. Forbes 

 was induced to undertake the Anatomical examination of the Petrels collected during 

 the cruise of the ' Challenger.' The result of Mr. Forbes's labours is given in the 

 present Report. This contribution will be found a most valuable addition to the 

 literature on this remarkable order of pelagic birds. 



The paper was received on the 6th May, 1882. JOHN MURRAY.] 



