FiNSCii. — On JVew Zealand Ornitliology. 61 



The limited number of tlie order Scansores is well accounted for by tlie 

 geographical position and physical features of the country. The family 

 Psittacidce appears to be particularly well represented. It contains two 

 genera and ten species, all peculiar to and very characteristic of the orni- 

 thology of the country. The scarcity of true Triclioglossi is remarkable. 

 On the other hand the absence of woodpeckers is not at all to be wondered 

 at, as it is well known that this family does not extend further than Celebes, 

 and is not known to occur even in the Moluccas, New Gruinea, Australia, or 

 Polynesia (4). 



The remarkable family of Apterygidcs, so peculiar to the ornithology of 

 New Zealand, is sufficiently well described by Mr. Buller, and can therefore 

 be passed over by me. 



I have already alluded to the remarkable absence of pigeons and of the 

 GalliiKs tribe. 



Among "Waders, and especially among Swimmers, certain peculiarities can 

 only be glanced at, as the birds of passage belonging to this country have, it 

 is well known, a very wide range. We know now, for instance, that many 

 birds from the highest latitudes of the eastern hemisphere touch on New 

 Zealand as their southern resting-place in their winter migrations, and 

 recent investigations show that the known number of these is continually 

 augmenting (5). We miss with some surprise that first cosmopolitan of the 

 bird tribe, Strepsilas inter])res, Linn., also Actitis incanus, G-ml., and some 

 other kinds which we might have expected to find here. Among Swimmers 

 we meet with five natives of Europe, and others which form the connecting 

 link between the African and American ornithology. 



The abundance of ducks and cormorants is remarkable, and particularly 

 worthy of notice. Of these a very large number are peculiar to the country. 



The seven specimens described as new by Mr. Buller — but of which, never- 

 theless, three are more or less doubtful, or at least demand closer investiga- 

 tion — I have added to the end of the list at the close of this treatise, together 

 with two newly-described species of Herr Yon Pelzeln.* 



I considered it advisable to append the name of the authority after each, 

 species. 



G-eneral remarks (page 2, line 22). — Up to the present time no true 

 meliphagous bird is known to belong to this country (India) . 



Fam. Ealcokidjh.— We are, up to the present time, acquainted with only 

 one species of Falconidce for certain in New Zealand, namely, Falco 

 {Ilieracided) novce-zealandice, Gml., (Jiarjpe, Porst.) — which has already been 



* " On a recent Eemittauco of Bird Skius from New Zealand." By Dr. Julius Haast. 

 ' Transactions of the EoyalZool. and Bot. Society," Vienna, 1867. Read at a meeting, 6tli 

 February, 1867. 



