60 Transactions. 
comparative number of indigenous genera, of which not less than nineteen 
are confined exclusively to the New Zealand region, viz., Heteralocha, 
Prosthemadera, Anthornis, Pogonornis, Xenicus, Acanthisitta, Mohoua, 
Certhiparus, Turnagra, Calleas, Creadion, Nestor, Strigops, Apteryx, Thi- 
nornis, Notornis, Ocydromus, Nesonetta, and Hymenolaimus. "Taking into 
consideration the eomparatively narrow limits of this country, it contains 
more peculiar forms than any other, and for that reason occupies a very 
prominent position. In the Sandwich Islands alone can any comparison be 
made with New Zealand in this respect. | 
To this originality may also be attributed the faet that the ornithology 
of New Zealand stands in far more intimate connection with that of 
Australia than one would suppose from the geographical position of the two 
countries. ; 
The family Meliphagide proves this assertion more than any other. This 
family, so peculiarly characteristic of Australia, is represented in New Zea- 
land by seven species only, of which only one (Anthochera bulleri, Finsch, 
Minus carunculatus, Buller) belongs to an Australian genus. 
Of the most remarkable genera of the family, as Ptilotis, Meliphaga, 
Tropidorrhynchus, Glyciphila, Melithreptus, Myzomela, Myzantha, and others, 
the species of which are so numerous in Australia, New Zealand, strange to 
relate, cannot produce a single example. Among parrots, the peculiar 
honey-sucking Trichoglossi are entirely absent, for which, nevertheless, 
the Nestors might possibly be the representatives. Other families are no 
less remarkable, as, for instance, Alcidinide, Silviade, Muscicapide, Lanide, 
Corvide, Columbide, and Tetraonidx, which are very poorly represented, 
We are astonished to miss species from amongst the Malurus, Cisticola, 
Sericornis, Acanthiza, Acrocephalus, Pardalotus, Monarcha, Myiagra, Microcca, 
Eapsaltria, Pachycephala, Artamus, Campephaga, Cracticus, Ptilinopus, Turnix, 
&c., examples of one or other of which one might very naturally expect to 
meet with. 
The scarcity of birds of prey is in a great measure explained by the total 
absence of mammalia. Still it is worthy of note that on the coasts which 
abound so in fish, specimens of the genera Haliaétos and Pandion have not 
been discovered up to the present time. 
Nevertheless these are not by any means the most remarkable features 
which characterize the ornithology of New Zealand. Some other pecu- 
liarities must be brought forward which Mr. Buller has not touched on at 
all, but which remain the more incomprehensible to us as they do not 
,  Fecéive even a passing allusion from him. I allude to the great poverty of 
___ the swallow tribe of birds (8), Granivores proper, the shrike family, and true 
