4014 The Zoologist — June, 1874. 



can be no doubt that sufficient time has been taken to produce 



a work of exhaustive excellence. 



Edward Newman. 



Notes 071 the Birds of Neiv Zealand. 

 By T. H. Potts, Esq., F.L.S. 



(Concluded from Zool. S. S. 3987.) 



HaasCs Kiwi (Apteryx Haastii, Po</s).— Little addition can be 

 made to the previous notes which accompanied the description of 

 A. Haastii. During a visit to the West Coast last summer the 

 localities were pointed out to the writer whence the specimens now 

 in the Canterbury Museum were procured. One was found in the 

 bush far up the Okarita river, the other in the dense bush between 

 the eastern shore of Lake Mapourika and the snowy range of which 

 Mount Cook is monarch. Mr. Docherty stated that both of these 

 birds appeared wilder than A. australis, and made somewhat more 

 resistance during their capture. 



Apteryx maxima, Verr., is as yet amongst the desiderata of 

 collectors. Maoris commonly assert that such a bird exists. It is 

 stated to be as large as a turkey. A recent communication from a 

 settler at Martin Bay gives some weight to these statements. 



It is probable that other species will be added to this interesting 

 genus ; for the past two or three years we have known of the 

 existence of a white kiwi, information concerning it having been 

 scantily furnished at intervals by some wandering miner or pro- 

 spector. Specimens have at different times been obtained from the 

 bush in the Martin Bay district. From the descriptions that have 

 been gathered, they are not albinos, and their occurrence has been 

 too frequent for them to be classed amongst specimens showing a 

 mere accidental and rare variation either of A. Oweni or A. australis ; 

 the plumage is stated to be remarkably loose, soft and flocculent. 

 It is suggested that the name of A. mollis would not be inappro- 

 priate as its specific designation. A specimen of this beautiful 

 little Apteryx in the Dunedin Museum has the bill slightly curved, 

 showing an arc elevated about one-fifteenlh of its length. Bill 

 from gape to point, three inches nine lines; tarsus, two inches five 

 lines ; middle toe and claw, two inches four lines. Plumage white, 

 extremities of the feathers more or less stained with yellowish ; 

 bristly integument at the base of the mandibles yellowish ; narrow 



