50 "Transactions. 
Gray's list by far the most complete and satisfactory synopsis that had 
hitherto been produced. 
The information which for many years past I have been assiduously 
collecting, on the habits and economy of the various species, is reserved for 
future elaboration, and will, I trust, ere long be presented to the publie in 
the form of a general work on the birds of New Zealand, illustrated by 
numerous coloured drawings by an eminent zoologieal artist. 
As Dr. Haast fairly observes, in his letter covering the translation, since 
the date of the * Essay " (February, 1865) many important additions have 
been made to the list of our avifauna. Many corrections have also been 
made in the synonymy. I may add that even since the publication of Herr 
Finsch’s notes, many new species have been added to the list. (See list 
of fourteen new species at end.) 
I beg to offer the following remarks on certain portions of Herr Finsch's 
notes :— 
1.* Herr Finsch complains that I have not brought forward “conclusive 
matter" as to the specific identity, or otherwise, of Hieracidea brunnea. 
a paper forwarded to the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury in June, 
1864, and again in the * Essay," I stated my belief that on a further aequaint- 
ance with the species it would be found necessary to expunge Hieracidea 
brunnea from our list of species, and to regard it as H. nove-zealandie in an 
immature state. I have always held that one naturalist has no right to con- 
.demn a “ species ” set up by another and duly characterized, unless he can 
prove to demonstration that it has no real existence. There has already been 
sufficient confusion in this section of our ornithology, and I was unwilling 
to alter the nomenclature till I eould do so with absolute certainty. Since 
the publication of the “ Essay " I have been able to determine satisfactorily 
this disputed point. 
In December last, during a visit to the Taupo district, I was fortunate 
enough to discover a nest of this hawk, containing three young ones. The 
parent birds were beautiful specimens of H. nove-zealandie. The young 
birds, which I brought away, were covered with a thick growth of down of a 
bluish-grey colour. One of them shortly afterwards died, but the others 
(which are still alive in my aviary) developed in due time into perfect 
examples of the so-called H. brunnea. 
Tt will be seen, therefore, that this form is the young of H. nove- 
zealandie, and not the female, as suggested by Herr Finsch. 
Falco subniger and Milvus isurus, which are quoted by Mr. Gurney as 
New Zealand birds, have never been found in this country. 
am p | he ils eer, Sena 43 : 
i translation, 
