BuLLER. — On certain disputed Species of New Zealand Birds. 211 



Apteryx haasti, Potts. — Large Grey Kiwi. 



Since the publication of my Birds of New Zealand, another specimen 

 has been received at the Canterbury Museum. This bird differs from those 

 previously described in being somewhat darker, and more strongly suffused 

 with chestnut. 



I am informed that Mr. Bills lately obtained from the West Coast and 

 forwarded to England five specimens of Apteryx haasti, some of which were 

 larger and more handsomely marked than those in the Museum. These were 

 probably females, although the collector was unable to state the sex. 



References to Plate VIII. 

 Figs. 1 and 2. Prion vittatus. 3. Pr. turtur. 4. Pr. banksii. 

 Fig. 5. Platycercus novse-zealandise. 6. PI. auriceps. 7. PI. alpinus. 

 Figs. 8, 11, 12, and 15. Orthonyx ochrocephala. 

 Figs. 9 and 14. Orthonyx albicilla. 

 Figs. 10 and 13. Certhiparus novse-zealandise. 



Art. XXIII. — Rotes on certain disputed Species of New Zealand Birds. 

 By Walter L. Buller, D.Sc, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., etc. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 12ih September, 1874,*] 



A SMALL collection of New Zealand birds forwarded to Bremen by the 

 authorities at the Colonial Museum for Dr. Finsch's examination has lately 

 been sent over to London, and I have carefully repacked the skins for trans- 

 mission to the colony. As each bird bears a memorandum in Dr. Finsch's 

 handwriting giving the conclusion arrived at after an actual examination and 

 comparison of specimens, and as several months must necessarily elapse before 

 the specimens themselves can reach Wellington, I beg to summarize the 

 results for the information of the Society. 



The collection contains one specimen of the handsomely marked Woodhen 

 from the South Island, named by Captain Hutton Ocydro7nus hectori. Dr. 

 Finsch is of opinion that this is a good and valid species. (See my remarks 

 under the head of Varieties, Birds of New Zealand, p. 171.) 



Captain Hutton is less fortunate, however, with his Graucalus concinnus 

 from Invercargill. Dr. Finsch says this is "undoubtedly the young of 

 G. parvirostris, Gould," and adds " no doubt nothing else than a straggler from 



* Dated at London, 10th July, 1874.— Ed. 



