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43 



olivaceous brown, darker in their apical portion, washed on their under surface with dull vinous red, and 

 toothed with pale scarlet. Bill uniform bluish grey ; tarsi and toes dark bluish grey. 



In another specimen the general colours are altogether duller ; but there is more of the metallic lustre 

 on the wings. The arterial-red bands on the rump and abdomen are wanting, the plumage of these parts being 

 dark red edged with dusky brown or black; the lining of the wings is less brilliant; the toothed markings 

 are paler on the quills, and far less distinct on the tail-feathers. 



Var. S. 



The following brilliantly coloured variety of N. meridionalis was obtained nearly twenty years 



ago in the Wanganui district, and is now in the author^s collection, in the Colonial Museum, at Wellington. 



General plumage bright scarlet-red, deepest on the lower part of back, sides, and abdomen, and variegated with 



orpiment-yellow on the nape, sides of the neck, and breast. Crown greenish yellow, with a metallic gloss, each 



feather centred with brown; feathers overlapping the under mandible, and a broad patch on the throat, dark 



reddish brown, as in ordinary examples. The feathers of the breast are stained in the centre with dull ashy 



brown, and, as well as those of the upper parts, are narrowly bordered with black. Primaries dark olivaceous 



brown, largely marked in their basal portion with yellowish white; secondaries and their coverts pale scarlet, 



variegated with yellow, olivaceous brown in their apical portion ; all the quills on their under surface pale orange 



in their basal portion, but without the toothed markings ; lining of wings vivid scarlet, varied with yellow. 



Tail-feathers pale scarlet with a broad terminal band of olivaceous brown; under tail-coverts darker scarlet. 



On the bright upper surface of the tail-feathers there are obsolete bars, and on the under surface there is a broad 



olivaceous margin; but the ^^ toothed '* character peculiar to the species is entirely wanting. Bill bluish grey; 



feet dark grey, paler on the soles; claws black. 



A specimen in the possession of Mr. W. Luxford, at Wellington, has the prevailing colour a bright scarlet; 

 but on the back and wings each feather has a narrow terminal band of blackish brown ; head and throat rusty 

 brown; breast darker rust-colour, each feather broadly margined with yellow. Primaries canary-yellow on the 

 outer web for one third of their length, then brown; upper wing-coverts brown margined with scarlet. About 

 two thirds of the tail pale scarlet ; there are then a few interrupted bands of brown, and the terminal portion is 

 of tha£ colour. 



This bird was shot in the hills near the town of Wellington in the early days of the colony, and before the 

 requirements of the settlers had led to the destruction of the surrounding woods. 



Var. 6. 



The following is the description of a very light-coloured variety obtained by the natives near the burning 

 mountain of Tongariro, and presented to me by Mr. R, W. Woon, R.M. 



General plumage pale canary-yellow; the crown tinged with grey; ear-coverts bright orange-yellow; feathers 

 of the throat, hind part of the neck, and some of the upper wing-coverts margined with the same; feathers on 

 the lower part of the cheek, and those overlapping the lower mandible, yellowish red, with paler shafts ; sides, 

 abdomen, rump, upper and lower tail-coverts vivid scarlet, the feathers of the underparts narrowly margined 

 Avith yellow ; lining of wings bright yellow tinged with scarlet ; axillary plumes, and the soft feathers under- 

 lying the secondaries, bright scarlet, tipped with yellow ; quills pale canary-yellow on their upper surface, ashy 

 on their under surface, with broad toothed markings of pale red, obsolete on the outer remiges, and diminishing 

 on the secondaries ; tail-feathers ashy yellow, with brighter margins, tinged with orange in the centre and along 

 the tips, changing on their under surface to orange-yellow, in their basal portion with narrow toothed markings 

 of scarlet. Bill white horn-colour. Irides dark brown. Tarsi and toes pale brown or flesh-coloured; claws 

 white horn-colour. 



and who has pub- 



Wan 



lished many interesting notes on the natural history of the country, informs me that he has seen several 



g2 



