FiNSCH. — On New Zealand Ornitliology. 69 



tinguisli between ttem. The difference in tte colour of the irides is, as is 

 well known, no safe starting-point, and is certainly a very hazardous method 

 to determine the principal specific characteristics. I have found in one and 

 the same species the irides coloured differently ; for instance, PUctolojpJius 

 leadheateri, Plictolophus sulfiireus, &c. Mr. Zelebor describes the iris of 

 A. melanura, "light cherry-red," (Pelzeln, "ISTovara Journ.," p. 57,) which is 

 already somewhat different from Mr. Buller's description. 



It is not uninteresting to mention here the melodious notes of A. 

 melanura, which Zelebor compares to our Sylvia cinerea. The bird is also a 

 good mimic. 



2. Anthoenis ettficeps. 



Without doubt a well-defined species, which I had the pleasure to see, 

 among other rare objects from New Zealand, in the Imperial collections at 

 Vienna, through the kindness of my friend Mr. A. Pelzeln. 



3. G-EETGONE ASSIMILIS. 



It is difficult, and scarcely safe, to decide on this new species from skins 

 alone, as it differs so slightly from G.flamventris. 



4. MiMrs CAEUNCULATtrs, Buller. 

 Anthoch^ea btjlleei, Einsch. 

 "With regard to the generic character of this bird, Mr. Buller must be 

 wrong in his decision ; for, as the description reads, we have here to do with a 

 genuine AnthocTicera, but in nowise with a Mimus. The latter, it is weU 

 known, is confined to America. Buller's new species seems to correspond in 

 size and colour very closely with the Australian A. carunculata, Lath. 

 (Grould, "Birds of Aust.," 11, pi. 55) ; and since the name has been already 

 given up, it must be re-named (26). 



6. Ceeadion cineeeus, BuUer. 



This new species may be the common Cr. carunculatus in immature 

 plumage. In any case, the description reminds one of a young bird. 

 Eorster has informed us, in Latham's " Gen. Hist.," that the bright-brown 

 back colouring is wanting in the female, and that the young are of one 

 colour, viz. brown. The greyish-brown colouring of Buller's bird may be 

 that of a still younger plumage (27). 



7. Kestoe supeebus, Buller. 

 I cannot agree with Taylor's supposition ("Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist.," 

 3 ser., xviii., p. 140) that this species belongs perhaps to N. meridionalis. 

 Better consider it as a variety of the latter, especially since Mr. Buller 



