204 Transactions. — Zooloyy. 



paper,* however, he states that "closer observation induces the belief that this 

 species may be separated from 0. ochrocepliala in order to place it near to 

 Certhijmrus novce-zealandice." It is to be regretted that he does not favour 

 us with some particulars of this closer observation. For my own part, 

 although I have studied the living birds pretty closely, I can see no valid 

 reason for disturbing the accepted generic relations. On referring to the 

 accompanying sketch (Plate VIII.), and comparing figs. 8 and 12 with 

 figs. 9 and 14, it will be seen that 0. ochrocephala and 0. albicilla come 

 very near to each other in the characters there indicated. Figs. 11 and 15 

 represent the wing and foot of 0. ochroceiiliala. It will be found on 

 comparison that the wing feathers present the same arrangement in 0. 

 albicilla, and that the foot, although more slender, has the same generic 

 character. The sternum is precisely alike in both species. The peculiar 

 feature of a black mouth is common to both ; their style of song is the same ; 

 the sexes are alike in both, and their habits of nidifi cation are very similar. 

 It is true that there is some difierence in the colouration of their eggs, but this 

 is of no generic importance, inasmuch as the form is the same in both. The 

 spiny character of the tail-feathers is less pronounced in Orthonyx albicilla 

 than in 0. ochrocephala, but it will be found that this is produced by the 

 wearing away of the webs from the end of the shaft, instead of being 

 congenital as in the typical Orthonyx.i Indeed the New Zealand form is so 

 aberrant that it becomes a question whether it ought properly to be referred 

 to that genus. If it should be decided to separate it, we must, I suppose, 

 reinstate Mons. Lesson's somewhat inappropriate appellation of Mohovxi to 

 distinguish the genus. 



On comparing figs. 1 and 1 3 with those enumerated above, it will be seen 

 that Certhiparus novce-zealandice belongs to a suflEiciently distinct genus. 



Myiomoira macrocephala, Gmelin. — Yellow-breasted Tit. 



A very pretty albino specimen, received from Otago, has nearly the whole 

 of the body white, with a wash of bright yellow on the head, breast, and 

 abdomen ; on the fore part of the breast there is a broad mark of velvety 

 black, and on the upper surface there are a few scattered feathers of the same ; 

 some of the wing-feathers are pure white, the rest are black ; the two middle 



* Trans. N.Z. Inst., VI., p. 144. 



+ Orthonyx, Temm. — Bill rather short and nearly straight, with the culmen 

 elevated at base, and curved to the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the sides 

 compressed, and the lateral margins slightly curved ; the gonys nuxlerate and ascending ; 

 the gape furnished with weak bristles ; the nostrils basal, and ])laced in a broad groove, 

 partly closed by a Tiiembraue, leaving the opening exposed, ^^'ings short and rounded, 

 with the fourth (piill nearly as long as the lifth and sixth, which are e(pial and longest. 

 Tail long and broad, witli the shaft of each feather prolonged beyond the ^^■cb, and rather 

 strong. Tarsi strong, longer than the middle toe, and covered in front with broad scales. 

 Toes moderate and strong ; witii the outer toe nearly as long as the middle one, and 

 united at the base ; the hind toe long and strong ; the claws long, very strong, 

 compressed and acute. 



