52 Transactions. 



5. It is to be regretted tliat Herr Fiuscli does not cite some examples of 

 tiie "many birds from the bighest latitudes of tbe eastern bemisj)bere," 

 wbicb, as be states, " toucb on New Zealand as tbeir soutbern resting-place 

 in tbeir winter migrations," especially as tbe reviewer adds tbat "tbe 

 known number of tbese is continually augmenting under recent investiga- 

 tions." I am at a loss to know to wbat species tbese remarks are intended 

 to refer. 



6. Wbetber Gircits goxiJdi and Circus assimilis are identical is still, I 

 believe, a disputed point witb ornitbologists ; and as I bave not been able to 

 compare specimens, I cannot offer an opinion upon it. Mr. Grould (" Hand- 

 book," I., p. 58) does not attempt to settle tbe question, altbougb be expresses 

 an opinion in favour of tbeir identity. 



7. Tbe two owls introduced by Herr Finscb into tbe New Zealand list, 

 namely, Strix delicatida and Scops novce-zealanclicB, must be beld in abeyance 

 till Ave bave more precise data. 



My Strix haasti was only entered provisionally on the autbority of Dr. 

 Haast's communication, as quoted in tbe "Essay." 



8. Herr Finscb, wbile admitting tbat tbe real native country of Halcyon 

 cinnamomiims, Swainson, does not appear to be fully determined, asserts very 

 positively tbat it does not occur in New Zealand. Local ornithologists are 

 surely better authorities on such points. I bave never met with the sj)ecies, 

 and bave always considered it of doubtful authenticity as a New Zealand 



,bird ; but it must be borne in mind that many parts of the country are as yet 

 unexplored, and that consequently one is scarcely justified in expunging, on 

 merely negative evidence, a species introduced on apparently good authority. 

 Dr. Hector is strongly of opinion tbat he shot a specimen of S. cinnamominus 

 in tbe Avild west coast region of the kSouth Island. I submit, therefore, tbat 

 the question of its existence in Noav Zealand is simply undetermined. 



9. Herr Einsch admits to the rank of a distinct species Antlwrnis riijiceps, 

 Pelzeln, while be seems inclined to doubt the specific value of Antlwrnis 

 mmocida, which be has never seen. 



Specimens of the former were sent to me by Dr. Haast, before being for- 

 warded by him to "Vienna, for examination. I hesitated to pronounce it a 

 new bird, as the rufous colouring on the head appeared to be the result of 

 flower stains. On communicating my doubts to Dr. Haast, be admitted that 

 (AA'hen freshly killed) the feathers of tbe bead were more or less stained Avith 

 the yellow blossoms of Senecio cassinioides, on the nectar of which the birds 

 had been feeding. 



Of the specific distinctness of Antlwrnis aiiriociila I never entertained 

 any doubt. Independently of the golden irides, AA^bich at once distinguish it 

 from A. melanura, it is much larger than the last-named species, and tbe tints 



