38 



greatest collections, it is in some cases easy to become convinced that a so-called 

 new species lias been published long ago elsewhere without having actually 

 seen the type specimen. This has occurred to me often, not only with new 

 species of others but with those published by myself" And, with the candor 

 of a true man of science, he adds, — "I am always glad and thankful to learn 

 whether one of my species is really good or not, and I was pleased to learn 

 from Mr. Blanford, that a lark which I had described as new had no specific 

 value." 



The following notes have reference not only to the species treated of in. my 

 former 2:)aper, but relate also to Dr. Finsch's recently published account of the 

 Parrots of New Zealand, as translated for the New Zealand Institute by 

 Mr. R. L. Holmes. 



1. Heteralocha Gouldi, Gray. 



Dr. Finsch places this species in the family Melipliagidm {Journ. fur Orn., 

 1870, p. 247), but states no reason for so novel a classification. Till its 

 affinities are better known it must remain where Mr. Gould originally placed 

 it, among the TJpwpidoi. All that is at present known of this remarkable 

 species will be found collected in a paper I'ead before the Wellington Philo- 

 sophical Society, i^ide ante, p. 24.) 



2. Anthornis auriocula, Buller. 



Dr. Finsch, while admitting that this bird is distinct from Anthornis 

 melanura, writes,- — "Had you given formerly the measurements of A. auriocula 

 I never would have doubted this species, but now I must say I cannot see the 

 exact difierence between this bird and A. melanocephala, Gray;" and in his 

 recent paper on the Birds of New Zealand {Journ. fiir Orn., 1870, p. 250), 

 he remarks that it coincides so fully with the latter as to warrant a supposition 

 that they are identical, "which appears more probable as both inhabit the 

 Chatham Islands, a small groiip that can hardly be supposed to possess two 

 species of such close resemblance." 



I find no difficulty in pointing out characters that distinguish my bird from 

 A. melanocejyhala, even more decidedly than from A. melanura. 



Antliornis nielanocepliala, according to Gray's description, has the head 

 steel black, and the neck, breast and ujjper tail coverts tinged with the same 

 colour, and the wing coverts steel black margined with yellowish olive. In 

 my Anthornis auriocula all these parts are of a uniform yellowish olive, there 

 being merely a tinge of blue on the forehead as in the common species, 

 A. melanura. In the former species the lai-ger coverts, quills and tail feathers 

 are blackish brown margined with paler or yellowish olive, whereas in my bird 

 they are dusky brown. 



