FiNSCH. — Nqw Zealand Birds. 207 



Platycercus novm-zealandioa^ Sparrm. 



My PI, forsteri, based upon Forster's authority, must become united with 

 this species. 



Nestor essUngii. 



This will prove to be only a variety of N. meridionalis. When I wrote 

 my monograph on the Parrots, I had to admit it as a good species because 

 there was a notice by Dr. Haast, stating he had seen the bird himself during 

 his stay on the Alps ; he mistaking the alpine form of iT. meridionalis for the 

 above variety. 



Nestor occidentalism Bull. 



This can scarcely stand longer as a species, and is after my examinations 

 inseparable from N. meridionalis. The diagnosis given by Capt. Hutton " cere 

 very small" (" Cat. Birds N.Z." p. 20) is of no specific value. 



Halcyon vagans, Less. 



Having examined a large series of this kingfisher T consider it as a good 

 species, distinguished from sanctus, Vig., by the constant broader bill. The 

 colours are generally darker, but certain specimens are diflScult to distinguish 

 from sanctus. 



Measurements in Inches. 



Frontal length of Bill 



Bictal „ ,, ... ... 



Breadth of bill below 



Certliiparus novce-zealandice, GmL 



I agree, after examination of specimens from both islands, with Capt. 

 Hutton, in uniting G. 7naculicaudus with this species, but the figure in the 

 "Voy. I'AstroL," t. 11., f.3, as well as the description, are by no means 

 accurate enough. 



SpJie^ioeacus fulvus, Gray. 



After my suggestions Sph. rufescens, Bull, will probably turn out to be 

 this species. Mr. Gray does not notice a proper locality, so it might be that 

 his bird came also from the Chatham Islands. 



Petroica longipes, Gam., and P. albifrons, Gml. 



These birds seem to be scarcely distinct. They are by no means true 

 Petroicce, but form a singular genus, Myioscopus, Beich., distinguished by 

 its long legs, the shorter wings and the stouter bill. Myioscopus belongs 

 to the LuscinincBf and is nearest to Urythacus. 



H. vagans. 



H. sanctus. 



65 to -71 



•53 to -69 



•87 „ -98 



•79 „ ^91 



•23 „ '2Q 



•19 „ ^21 



