The Zoologist— May, 1874. 3987 



a blow. The feathers which clothe the southern bird are produced 

 into soft hair-like points ; the hand passed over the plumage against 

 the lay of the feathers encounters an almost downy softness; when 

 compared with a similar test applied to the covering of A. Mantelli 

 it might be fairly so termed. The reason is obvious; the feathers 

 of the latter species are produced into hair-like points of almost 

 bristly stubbornness. This contrast in the character of the plumage 

 is distinguishable in the young state. In Christchurch, either in 

 the Museum or in private hands, there are specimens from which 

 such a comparison can be made. In the words of a man expe- 

 rienced in mounting the skins of Apteryx, "the two species could 

 be separated with one's eyes shut." This peculiarity leads one to 

 expect that there exists some difference in the habit of the species, 

 depending probably on climatic influence or the physical conditions 

 of its habitat. Dr. Finsch, after careful and repeated examinations 

 of two specimens received from Dr. Buller, cannot bring himself to 

 consider the species as distinct, yet admits (which he may safely 

 do) that the harshness of the plumage on the occiput and hind neck 

 of A. Mantelli may be constant; he gives also a very plain and 

 good reason why it is so, namely, from the structure of the feathers. 

 The conclusion he arrives at is that A. Mantelli may be a local 

 form of A. australis. Now comes our difficulty, in admitting distinct 

 and constant varieties to form what may be termed sub-species in 

 our Fauna, it may be only reasonable to ask where the line is to be 

 drawn and who is to draw it? What authority is to decide the 

 nice question as to the points which separate the distinct variety 

 from a good species? In 1852 the late Captain Daniells, of 

 Rangitikei, one of the pioneers of the Wellington settlement, spoke 

 of the brown kiwi as then being procurable from the Maoris. From 

 reliable sources the writer is aware that it is frequently heard in the 

 bush in the neighbourhood of Tauranga. 



A New Classification of Birds. 



At the Scientific Meeting of the Zoological Society held on the 

 3rd of February, as already recorded in these pages, a paper was 

 read by Mr. A. H. Garrod, on the Classification of Birds, mainly 

 based on the disposition of the muscles and other soft parts. The 

 following tabular summary of this paper is given in 'Nature' for 



