•T- 



Order PASSERES.] 



[Eam. STLYIID^. 



SPHENCEACUS PUNCTATUS. 



(COMMON UTICK.) 



Synallaxis punctata, Quoy & Gaim. Voy. de TAstrol. i. p. 255, 1. 18. fig. 2 (1830) 

 Sphenoeacus pundatus, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 5 (1844). 

 Megaliirm punctatus, Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 169 (1848). 



Wative names 



Mata, Matata, Kotata, Nako, and Koroatito. 



Ad, supra ochrascenti-fulvus, dorsi plumis medialitcr nigris, lineas latas longitudinales formantibus : pileo 



rufescente, fronte immaculata, vertice angustius nigro striolato : loris et regione oculari albidis : facie 



lateral! albida, brunneo maculata, regione parotica brunnescente : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus 



et eodem modo medialiter nigris : remigibus rectricibusque nigricanti-brunneis, ochrascenti-fulvo lim- 



batis, his acuminatis, scapis versus apieem nudis : subtus albescens, hypochondriis et subcaudalibus 



ochrascenti-fulvis, late nigro striolatis : gutture indistincte, pectore superiore magis distincte, brunneo 



punctatis et pectore laterali nigro lineato : rostro brunnescente, mandibula flavicante : pedibus flavidis : 

 iride nigra. 



Adult. Upper parts dark brown, each feather margined with fulvous, shading into rufous brown on the 

 forehead and crown; streak over the eyes white; throat, fore neck, breast, and abdomen fulvous white, 

 each feather with a central streak of black, giving to the undcrparts a spotted appearance ; wing-feathers 

 and their coverts blackish brown, edged with bright fulvous ; tail-feathers dark brown, with black shafts. 

 Irides black; bill and feet pale brown. Total length 6*5 inches; wing, from flexure, 2*25; tail 3-25; 

 bill, along the ridge "4, along the edge of lower mandible -6; tarsus "75 ; middle toe and claw -7; hind 

 toe and claw *6. 



Young. The young assume the adult plumage on quitting the nest. 

 Obs. The tail-feathers have the barbs disunited in their whole extent 



This recluse little species is one of our commonest birds, but is oftener heard than seen. It 

 frequents the dense fern {Pteris aquilina) of the open country, and the beds of raupo {Typha 

 angustifolia) and other tall vegetation that cover our swamps and low-lying flats. In these loca- 

 lities it may constantly be heard uttering, at regular intervals, its sharp melancholy call of two 

 notes, u-tick^ u-tick^ and responsively when there are two or more. When the shades of evening 

 are closing in, this call is emitted with greater frequency and energy, and in some dreary solitudes 

 it is almost the only sound that breaks the oppressive stillness. In the 



Manawatu 



W 



acres or more, I have particularly remarked this ; for, save the peevish cry of the Pukeko, occa- 

 sionally heard, and the boom of the lonely Bittern, the only animate sound 1 could detect was the 



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