Potts. — 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), has 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 broM^n ; caruncles from yellow to red ; bill from gape, 1 inch 5 lines ; 

 tarsus 1 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. auriceps. They appear not unlike some speci- 

 mens of F. alpinus that Mr. Bills procured in Otago last year. 



No. 60. COTURNIX NOViE-ZEALANDI^, 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 



