332 Transactions.— Zoology. 
made mention. The other specimen from the North Island, however, so 
perfectly agrees in regard to the rust-brown tone of colour, with specimens 
from the South Island, that in point of fact not the slightest difference is 
observable. Consequently the tinge or colouring as a specific character 
must be considered as absolutely worthless. The case is different, however, 
in regard to the relative hardness or softness of the plumage, which is per- 
ceptible to the touch. I am in a position to confirm the statement that in 
general the specimens from the North Island possess more strongly de- 
veloped feather shafts, which project beyond the barbs in the shape of 
naked tips, and consequently appear more like bristles and have a harsher 
feel. This peculiarity is very perceptible on stroking the feathers the 
wrong way, or on carefully feeling them; but cannot be distinguished on 
stroking with the palm of the hand along, or in the direction of the feathers. 
If stroked in this way even the most delicately sensitive hand would be 
unable to detect any difference at all between certain specimens from the 
North and South Islands respectively. It is worth mentioning here that on 
patting the plumage of Apteryx oweni (in the manner deseribed) the same 
difference as compared with Apteryx australis becomes at once apparent. 
What has been said in regard to the relative hardness or softness due to the 
more or less pronounced development of the projecting naked shaft-tips, 
which differ again in Apteryx oweni, has reference moreover to the plumage 
of the upper side of the rump. With that which covers the hindhead and 
neck the case is different; and here perhaps might be found a single 
criterion, or distinguishing mark, which is appreciable not merely to the 
touch but also to the eye, and which might be considered as a sufficient 
specific character for the North Island Apteryx. The feathers of the back 
of the head and the back of the neck have stronger and more projecting 
shafts, with the barbs composing the webs further apart and consequently 
less numerous. These hair-like barbs not only feel harder to the touch, but 
the longer and protruding hair-like filaments are quite apparent to the eye. 
This peculiarity I find borne out in all the specimens before me. If there- 
fore one intends to acknowledge the Apteryx of the North Island as a dis- 
tinct species, a distinguishing character could only be found in this visible 
difference of plumage on the hind-head and back of neck. On the front 
and sides of the neck the peculiarity I have described is scarcely perceptible, 
Still, I do not venture as yet to set up this character as a constant one, as 
possibly there may be exceptions. Besides this character alone does not 
appear to me of sufficient importance to differentiate a species. In my 
judgment therefore, for the present, this Apterya of the North Island is only 
a slightly deviating form of the known Apteryx australis, I doubt whether 
it will be possible to define with certainty specimens, the origin of which is 
not warranted, without direct comparison in all cases." 
