62 Transactions. 
described by Forster—with its different male and female plumage. H, brun- 
nea, Gould, resembles the female in colour. 
Circus gouldi is a synonym for C. assimilis (Jard. and Selb.), a species 
which is spread over all Australia and Tasmania, as far as Celebes, and east- 
ward to the Viti Islands. 
See Finsch and Hart, “ Ornithology of Central Polynesia," p. 7, and Von 
Pelzeln, “ Transactions of the Royal Zool. and Bot. Society," 1867 (6). 
Fam. SrRrGrpug.— Of Striv haasti we must wait for a more accurate 
description before we can enrol it as a new species. It appears not quite 
impossible that it may be identical with a known species. Besides the two 
species described by Mr. Buller, viz., Athene nove-zealandie and albifacies, 
a “ dwarf horned owl ;” Scops nove-zealandia, Bp., occurs also in New Zealand 
[and Strix delicatula, which ranges over the whole southern hemisphere]. 
See “ Ornith. of Cent. Polyn." p. 11. The supposed small and still unknown 
owl of Mr. Buller is perhaps referable to Scops nove-zealandie (7). 
Fam. ArcEDINIDU.— The real native country of Halcyon cinnamominus, 
Sws., does not appear to be yet fully determined, and Lesson's account makes 
the matter still more doubtful; but we may assume it for certain that the 
species does not inhabit New Zealand at all. The Leiden Museum possesses 
specimens collected during the expeditions of Coquille and Von Dorch, at 
New Guinea, and the Marianne Island, Guam. In all probability the last- 
named group is its true habitat (8). 
Fam. UeuPrpz.—Concerning the Huia, compare, besides Dieffenbach's 
“New Zealand," I., p. 167, also Layard’s interesting notes in the “ Ibis,” 
1868, p. 244. 
Fam. MELIPHAGIDÆ.—A new species of Anthornis (ruficeps) has been 
lately described by Herr Von Pelzeln. "The number of Meliphagide includes 
seven species, since Mimus carunculatus, Buller, belongs also to the family 
under the name of Anthochera (9). 
Fam. Mohoua albicilla appears to be properly a Certhiparus, 
as G. R. Gray intimated formerly (10). 
Fam. Lusctwipa.—The sudden appearance of the little Zosterops-kind of 
bird in New Zealand has already been mentioned by R. Taylor (* Ann. and 
Mag. Nat. Hist," March, 1866). The bird is in reality a Zosterops, namely, 
lateralis (Lath.), dorsalis (Vig. and Horsf.) ; the same species which inhabits 
also Australia and Tasmania. The Museum at Vienna received specimens of 
it from Dr. Haast, New Zealand, (Pelzeln, “ Trans. of Zool. and. Bot. Society,” 
1867. SP 316), (11). 
. . Fam. MuscrcaPro s.— The Australian Rhipidura albiscapa, Gould, is quite 
EC s uer from [corresponds with] R. flabellifera. . R. melanura is identical 
with pa fuliginosa, Sparrm., which latter comes from New Zealand, 
