204 Walter Rothschild: 



Drymoeca rodericana is a bird whose existence is nearly 

 ended. 



Coming to the New Zealand region, we find Oyanorhamphus 

 subflavescens, of Lord Howe's Island and Oyanorhamphus cooki, 

 of Norfolk Island, practically extinct ; the Laughing Owl, 

 Sceloglaux albifacies, from the South Island of New Zealand, 

 has almost vanished, as also has the North Island Thrush, 

 Turnagra tanagra. The North Island Robin, Miro albifrons, 

 will also soon be a bird of the past, the White-headed Tit, 

 Clitoriyx albicilla, has become extremely rare, as has also 

 Pogonornis cincia, the Stitch bird ; both these were from the 

 North Island, but are now confined to the Barrier Islands. We 

 also find that the H aia, Heterolocha acutirostris, is very much 

 reduced in numbers ; while Hypotaenidia mülleri (PL vii.}, 

 of Auckland Island, and of which only the type is known, is 

 apparently gone, most likely owing to the introduction of 

 cats. Mergus australis, and Nesonetta aucMandica, also of 

 Auckland Island, are rapidly vanishing. 



The next bird I have to mention has caused an immense 

 sensation, this is the South ls\'àJìàNotornis,Notornishochstetteri. 

 Notornis was a genus founded by Professor Owen, on the skull 

 and a few bones of a large Rail brought from the North 

 Island, and he called the bird Notornis mantelli. This bird 

 was looked upon as quite extinct and did not attract much 

 attention at the time, but ornithologists were thrown into great 

 excitement when the first news came of the existence alive 

 of Notornis. So far 4 specimens are known : 1 in Dresden, 

 2 in London, and 1 in New Zealand. 



On Lord Howe's Island the large Rail, Ocydromus sylvestris, 

 is on the verge of extinction. 



Proceeding- to the Sandwich Islands we find a number of 

 birds rapidly becoming extinct. The famous Maino, Drepanis 

 pacifica, is almost a thing of the past. This was the bird from 

 which most of the feather cloaks were made. Then we find 

 the Hemignathus lanaiensis so scarce that only 3 specimens are 

 known, and it is practically extinct on Lanai. Loxops ruf a, 

 of Oahu, has been so reduced in numbers that if there are any 

 at all they do not exceed a dozen, all told, alive to-day, and 

 the only specimens, in collections, 9 in number, are in the 

 British, Berlin, and Tring Museums, and in the collection of 



