39 



3. Anthornis ruftceps, Von Pelzeln. 



Regarding this species, Dr. Finsch says, — "You are quite right in respect 

 to A. ruficeips. The red colour on the face is caused by external influences, for 

 my friend. Yon Pelzeln, has washed the type in the Yienna Museum, and the 

 red tinge has partially disappeared. But, looking at the specimen, I was bound 

 to take it as a good species, not knowing the singular manner of feeding." 



While this appears to be a full confirmation of my view that the stains 

 were caused by the flowers of Senecio cassinioides, or some other plant, I con- 

 sider it only fail- to my friend. Dr. Haast, who first discovered the supposed 

 species, to give the following extract from one of his letters to me : — " Con- 

 cerning A. ruficeps I may state, I am more than ever convinced that it is a 

 good species, havmg an orange forehead and being smaller and thinner than 

 A. melanura. I have been lately to Mount Cook, where the Senecio cassinioides 

 is growing and in blossom, but all the birds had hhie heads notwithstanding." 



The only inference, however, as it appears to me, fairly deducible from this 

 fact, is that the red stains are produced not by Senecio cassinioides, but by the 

 flowers of some other plant, and this in no degree establishes the validity of 

 the species. 



Dr. Finsch quotes a similar communication from Dr. Haast, dated March 26, 

 1870, but adds, "as this peculiarity of colouring, although only partly 

 removed (in Yon Pelzeln's specimen), proved an artificial one, it may be 

 inferred with considerable certainty that its existence was owing to accidental 

 outward influences ; anyhow, the pollen with which these birds come in con- 

 tact while seeking their food, contains colouring qualities producing a durable 

 effect. Anthornis ruficeps ought therefore to be struck out of the list of New 

 Zealand bii'ds although Dr. Haast notes it as a genuine species of sub-alpine 

 regions." {Journ. filr Orn., 1870, p. 250.) 



4. Anthornis melanura, Sparrm. 



As an instance of the mistakes into which the best closet naturalists almost 

 inevitably fall when treating of a remote fauna, I may point out that 

 Dr. Finsch eniimerates Anthornis melanura, one of the commonest New Zea- 

 land birds, among the species belonging exclusively to the Chatham Islands. 

 (See Journ. filr Orn., 1870, p. 243.) 



5. Xenicus Haastii, Buller. 



This species is acknowledged by Dr. Finsch to be a good one, but he 

 suggests that it ought to be referred to the genus Gerthii^arui ; a view which I 

 feel bound to reject. It possesses characters, however, which may entitle it to 

 become the type of a new genus. Xenicus gilviventris, Pelz., is now added by 

 Dr. Finsch to the list of species, although omitted in his former paper. 



