454 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi. 



wood-hen {0. sylvcstris). There is also a peculiar thrush, Tiirdus 

 vi7iitinctm. Its other birds are wliolly of Australian types, and 

 most of them probably Australian species. The following have 

 been observed, and no doubt constitute nearly its whole indigen- 

 ous bird fauna. Acanthiza sp., Bhipidura sp., Pachycephala gut- 

 turcdis, Zosterops strennuus and Z. tcphropleunis, Strepera sp., 

 Halcyon sp., and Chalcoioliaga clirysochlora. Tlie two species of 

 Zustcrops are peculiar. The Ocydromus is important enough to 

 ally this island to New Zealand rather than to Australia ; and if 

 the white bird seen there is, as supposed, the Notornis alba which 

 is extinct in Norfolk Island, the connection will be rendered 

 still more clear. 



Chatham Islands. — These small islands, 450 miles east of New 

 Zealand, possess about 40 species of birds, of which 13 are land- 

 birds. All but one belong to New Zealand genera, and all but 

 five are New Zealand species. The following are the genera of 

 the land-birds : Sphcna^acus, Gerygone, Myiomoira, HhipidiLra, 

 Zosterops, Anthus, Prosthemadera, Anthomis, Chrysococcyx, Cyano- 

 ramphus, Carpophaga, Circus. The peculiar species are An- 

 thomis melanoccphala, Myiomoira, dijfenhachi and M. traversi, 

 Bhipidura fiahellifera, and a peculiar rail incapable of flight, 

 named by Captain Hutton Cahalus modest us. It is stated that 

 the Zostcrops differs from that of New Zealand, and is also a 

 migrant ; and it is therefore believed to come every year from 

 Australia, passing over New Zealand, a distance of nearly 1,700 

 miles ! Further investigation will perhaps discover some other 

 explanation of the facts. It is also stated, that the pigeon and 

 one of the small birds (? Gerygone or Zosteropis) have arrived at 

 the islands within the last eight years. The natives further de- 

 clare, that both the Stringops and Apteryx once inhabited the 

 islands, but were exterminated about the year 1835. 



The AucJdand Islands. — These are situated nearly 300 miles 

 south of New Zealand, and possess six land-birds, of which three 

 are peculiar, — Anthus aucklandicus, Cyanoramphus aucklandicus, 

 and C. malherhii, the others being New Zealand species of 

 Myiomoira, Prosthemadera, and Anthomis. It is remarkable 

 that two peculiar parrots of the same genus should inhabit these 



