Ports.— New Zealand Birds. 185 
but little from the preceding specimen, except that the caruncles are more 
developed, and the bill is longer by 2 lines. 
C.—Male obtained in the bush near Akaroa, in August (the last winter 
month), has a warmer tinge of ferruginous flecked on the interscapulars and 
dorsals. 
D.—Female, procured on the same day at the same locality, differs only 
from specimen A in being less warmly tinted with rufous. 
E.—Male, killed near Akaroa in the same month (August), bas the inter- 
scapulars and dorsals margined with rich ferruginous ; the yellow edge on the 
basal part of lower mandible indistinct. 
F.—Male, obtained on Banks Peninsula in March, has the growing 
secondaries and rectrices black; a sprinkling of the same colour on the 
auriculars ; upper wing-coverts, dorsals, upper and under tail-coverts, ferru- 
ginous. It may be noted from the description of these specimens of the 
young state, how much variation may be met with, owing in part to the 
extended breeding season perhaps; and it may be that the adult state is not 
arrived at till the second year. 
The plumage of the adult bird is deep glossy black ; back, wing-coverts, 
upper and lower tail-coverts, ferruginous ; bill, tarsi, and feet, black ; irides 
dark brown ; caruncles from yellow to red; bill from gape, 1 inch 5 lines; 
tarsus l inch 6 lines ; wing from flexure 4 inches ; tail 3 inches 6 lines ; total 
length 10 inches ; weight 2? ounces. 
The tieke abounds in the Westland bush, its note is there one of the 
common bird sounds ; it finds abundant means of support in the insect life 
which, exists out of reach of the kiwi. Last season, my friend revisited the 
kahikatea on the bank of the Ahaura, but the saddle-backs had not again 
resorted to the hole for breeding. 
A sketch of the nest is given, as it may be deemed interesting ; there is 
nothing strikingly characteristic about its construction. 
No. 50.—PLATYCERCUS. 
Parroquets. 
_ Specimens of a red-headed parroquet have been obtained from Bealey, 
which are not larger than P. awriceps. They appear not unlike some speci- 
mens of P. alpinus that Mr. Bills procured in Otago last year. 
No. 60,—CoturRNIX NOVE-ZEALANDIA, Quoy. 
Quail. 
Eggs from one of the natural paddocks or grassy spots near Hokitika, 
Westland, rather exceed the dimensions of those that have been procured on 
the eastern side of the ranges. 
: Y 
