Asities, Rifleman and New Zealand Wrens 6 1 1 



The remaining genus (Mettopitta), which is referred here with some doubt, 

 embraces two species, both of New Guinea. They have long legs, a compara- 

 tively elongated tail, and a short, erect frontal crest; the plumage is uniform 

 black throughout. 



THE ASITIES 



(Family Philepittidiz) 



Madagascar is the home of two curious little birds that have been variously 

 referred, but which appear to be most closely related to the Pittas, from which 

 they differ, among other features, in having the tarsus covered with rectangular 

 plates disposed in regular series. The sexes are very different in coloration, 

 and the males are further distinguished by having the skin around the eyes 

 bare of feathers and surmounted by a green or bluish green caruncle. They 

 do not resemble the Pittas very closely in outward appearance and are described 

 as being more arboreal in their habits. In Philepitta jala, which is about six 

 and a half inches long, the male in mature plumage is a velvety jet-black, both 

 above and below, though when this same plumage is freshly moulted the extreme 

 tips of most of the body feathers are bright greenish yellow, but these soon wear 

 off, leaving the intense black, except for a spot at the bend of the wing which 

 remains bright yellow; the female is olive-green with numerous pale yellow 

 markings below. In the other species (P. schlegeli) the male is olive-green 

 above, becoming blackish on the head and darker on wings and tail and bright 

 yellow beneath, the female being olive above with light stripes on the head 

 and yellowish below; the length is only about five inches. 



The first-mentioned species, known as the Black-velvet Asity, is confined 

 to the forest regions of eastern Madagascar, where, according to Shelley, it is 

 met with generally in pairs, running along or climbing up the branches in search 

 of buds and fruit on which it feeds. It is graceful and active in its movements 

 and not at all shy. The flight is strong and not sustained for any great dis- 

 tance, and the males have a soft, Thrush-like song. The eggs are bluish white 

 in color. 



THE RIFLEMAN AND NEW ZEALAND WRENS 



(Family Xenicidtz) 



Formerly placed among the singing birds (Oscines] and associated with 

 the Creepers and Wrens and they have very Creeper- and Wren-like habits 

 and appearance are several little New Zealand birds known as Rock Wrens, 

 Bush Wrens, and the Rifleman ; but some twenty years ago it was shown con- 

 clusively that the structure of their vocal apparatus precluded their being placed 

 among the Oscines. They appear to be most closely related to the Pittas (though 

 Pycraft has recently suggested the possibility of their being more nearly related 



