H. and W. Travers.—Birds of the Chatham Islands. 217 
64. Charadrius bicinctus. 
Not common, and found chiefly in open grassy country. 
65. Thinornis nove-zealandic. 
I only found this bird on Mangare and on parts of the coast of Pitt 
Island. It has been called the “ bowing-bird ” by the settlers, from its habit 
of bowing its body when approached. 
68. Hamatopus longirostris. 
Not common and usually found on sandy beaches. 
T4. Ardea poiciloptera. 
I did not obtain a specimen of this bird, which has become very rare on 
the Islands, but I was informed by persons who had seen it, and who knew the 
New Zealand bird, that it was precisely similar. 
76. Limosa uropygialis. 
I did not obtain a specimen of this bird, but was informed that it visited 
the islands in spring, leaving them in the autumn. 
83. Gallinago pusilla. 
I only found this bird on Mangare, where it is not common. I never saw 
it on the wing except when disturbed, and, being very tame, it then only flies 
a short distance. It lives in holes in the rocks, coming out towards evening 
to feed. Its chief food is worms and grubs, for which it scratches the ground 
much in the manner of a fowl; from this habit the settlers have given it the 
name of the “chicken-bird.” Its cry is peculiar, something like the note 
which is produced by blowing into a hollow reed at one end of which a finger" 
is placed and frequently and suddenly removed. This note is repeated rapidly 
six or seven times. The holes it inhabits are about eighteen inches deep, and 
evidently artificial. In the two instances in which I obtained young birds in 
the nests there was only one bird in each case. I could not detect any 
difference in plumage between the sexes. 
—. Rallus modestus, sp. n. Hutton. 
Matirakahbu of the Morioris. Of this bird, which I only found on 
Mangare, I obtained two specimens, one a full grown female, and the other a 
young one. It is not known on any of the other islands, and although 
I was on Mangare for twelve days these were the oniy specimens I saw. The 
birds in question were found in a very rocky place, and when disturbed sought 
to hide themselves amongst the stones. I had no opportunity of studying its 
habits, and having unfortunately failed in obtaining the male parent bird, I 
am unable to say whether its plumage is different from that of the female. It 
appears to be a nocturnal bird, as those I obtained came out of the rocks at 
dusk, evidently to feed. Both the parent birds had escaped in the first 
cl 
