THE ZooLoGist—May, 1872. 3053 
which he unquestionably makes the best of the slender materials at 
his disposal. 
Still, as something like mystification might yet be thought to 
surround the history of this very interesting species of the large 
Grallatorial family, I have had much pleasure in presenting to the 
Museum specimens of the adult, and also the young bird in the 
state in which it may be found probably some ten days from the 
date on which it emerged from the shell. 
These specimens were obtained on the shingly bed of the 
Rakaia, which is one of the largest of the snow rivers that intersect 
the Plains of Canterbury. The Anarhynchus, be it understood, is 
not confined to that locality; in fact it is of frequent occurrence, 
and may be observed during several months of the year at least, 
near the streams or back-water of almost any of the rivers, which 
in their course disclose sandy spits and wide areas of shingle. 
With regard to its breeding habits, I am unable to add much to 
the information which is given in my notes ‘On the Birds of New 
Zealand’ (Trans. N. Z. Iust., Vol. ii.). The young, if undisturbed, 
remain for some time near the spot where they were hatched; to 
escape observation they lie concealed behind stones, &c.; should 
an attempt be made to molest them, they start off with considerable 
celerity, uttering, at the same time, a shrill piping cry of alarm. 
When hard pressed they take to the water; we have known them 
to cross a stream of considerable volume. The parent birds never 
appear to separate far from each other during the period of incuba- ' 
tion; on being disturbed they exhibit a peculiar habit of partially 
extending the wings, the effect of which is that they assume a broad 
and flattened appearance across the back, the head at the time being 
carried very low, the bill just clearing the ground, whilst a low 
purring sound is emitted. So tame does the Anarhynchus become 
under the influence of parental instinct, that after eggs have been 
picked up, examined, and replaced on their unsheltered sandy bed, 
I have seen the old bird immediately resume her duty of incubation, 
although I may have removed but a few paces distant and remained 
in sight for some time. 
Having thus glanced at the favourite habitat, &c., of the crook- 
billed plover, I will now proceed to describe these specimens. The 
first, that of an adult male, probably in its second year: bill black, 
longer than the head, pointed, curved to the right or off side, 
curled slightly in itself in a leaf-like manner, a long groove on each 
SECOND SERIES—VOL. VII. 24 
