29 



preserving tlie bill of the American toucan (see Wanderings, p. 103), that is to 

 say, by removing with a sharp scalpel the whole of the inner substance, leaving 

 nothing but the outer shell, which then retains its original appearance. The 

 process is a tedious one, but the result amply repays the trouble. 



The sexes are alike in plumage, and differ very slightly in size. The whole 

 of the plumage is black, with a green metallic gloss ; the tail with a broad 

 terminal band of white. Bill ivory white, darkening to bluish grey at the 

 base. Wattles large, rounded, and of a rich orange colour in the living birds. 

 Legs and feet bluish grey ; claws light horn colour. 



In some examples the white at the end of the tail is tinged more or less 

 with rufous, while in others the under tail coverts also are tipped with white. 



Male.- — Length 18f inches; extent of wings 22 J ; wing from flexure 8; 

 tail 7|- ; bill along the ridge 2|, along the edge of lower mandible 2| ; tarsus 3 ; 

 middle toe and claw 2^ ; hind toe and claw 2. 



Female. — Length 19^ inches ; extent of wings 21 ; wing from flexure 7^ ; 

 tail 1\ ; bill along the ridge 4, along the edge of lower mandible i.\ \ tarsus 3 ; 

 middle toe and claw 2^ ; hind toe and claw 1|. 



Figures 1 and 2 (Plate IV.) represent the heads of the male and female which 

 I had in my possession alive, and will give an accurate idea of the divergence of 

 sexual character treated of above. Figure 3 rejDresents a more highly curved form 

 of the bill than is usually met with, and is taken from the dried head of a Huia 

 given to me, many years ago, by a native who was wearing it as an ear 

 ornament. 



Art. YII. — On the Katipo, or Venomous Sjnder of New Zealand. 

 By Walter Buller, F.L.S., F.G.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, November 12, 1870.] 



So little appears to be known of the natural history of the Katipo, or 

 Venomous Spider of New Zealand, that I have deemed the following observa- 

 tions on its range and habits of sufficient interest to warrant my placing 

 them before the Society. 



The first scientific notice, so far as I am aware, of the existence of a 

 poisonous spider in this country, was furnished by Dr. Ralph, formerly of 

 Wellington, in a communication to the Linnean Society, in 1856. (See Journal, 

 ProG. Lin. Soc, Vol. i., ZooL, 1856, p. 1-2.) Dr. Ralph's paper contained a 

 short description of the full-grown spicier, observations on its nesting habits, 

 and an account of experiments which he had made in order to test the 

 potency of its venom. 



The native name, Katipo, signifies "night-stinger," (being derived from 



