222 Essays. 



Fain. MusciCAPiDiE. — -Three species of tlie genus Rliipidura inhabit New 

 Zealand. The fan-tailed flycatcher {Rldpidara flahellifera) is the commonest. 

 It very closely resembles an Australian one, but is specifically distinct. _ The 

 black flycatcher {M. melanura) belongs exclusively to the south. Only one 

 instance is recorded of its occurrence, as a straggler, in the North Island. 

 The other species — RMpidwra tristis — is quoted by Mr. Grray as an Otago 

 bird. 



Fam. CoRViDiE. — Of the g&nx\^ ,GallcBas we have two species, closely 

 allied to each other, and named respectively Callceas cinerea and C. ivilsoni. 



Fam. STUENiDiE. — Four species are enumerated in this family, viz., 

 Aplonis zealandiciis^ A. obscurus, Oreadion caruncidahi,s, and C. cinereus.* The 

 two former have a very restricted range. 



Fam. PsiTTACiDiE. — The parrots of New Zealand form together an in- 

 teresting study. Two of the genera, Nestor and Strigops, are peculiar to 

 our fauna. Of the former, four species inhabit New Zealand, — the Nestor 

 meruUonaUs, or kaka of the natives ; the Nestor notabills, a fine alpine 

 species confined to the South Island ; the Nestor esslingii, which assimilates 

 to the Phillip Island parrot {N prodactus) in the - rich colouring of its 

 plumage ; and another, recently discovered, which the author proposes to 

 name Nestor superiiis.f 



feathers dark brown ; on the outermost a terminal spot of white, which diminishes on the 

 succeeding ones and disappears at the seventh quill and on the three medial tail-feathers. 

 Outer web of tertiaries greyish-brown. Bill black, brown at the tip ; legs umber brown. 

 Extreme length, 13 inches ; wing from flexure, 6 ; tail, 6| ; rictus, | ;' tarsus, Ij ; hind 

 toe and claw, 1 ; middle toe and claw, 1\ ; lateral toes, f . The wattles are situated 

 immediately below the ear-coverts. 



■^ * Creadion cinereus, BuUer. — This species is of the size and general form of C. carim- 



culatus, to which it bears a close affinity, but the colouring of the plumage is altogether 

 different. The common species (the saddle-back) is of a deep uniform black, relieved 

 by a band of rufous brown which occupies the whole of the back, and forming a sharp 

 outline across the shoulders, sweeps over the wing-coverts in a broad cur'^e. In the pre- 

 sent bird, however, the plumage is of a dark cinereous brown, paler on the under parts, and 

 tinted with umber on the wings and scapularies ; the upper and lower tail-coverts and a 

 few spots on the smaller wing-coverts bright rufous. The wattles are of the same colour 

 and shape as in Creadion carunculatus, but somewhat smaller. Extreme length, 10 inches ; 

 extent of wings, 12J ; wing from flexure, 4 ; tail, 4 ; rictus, 1 j ; tarsus. If ; hind toe and 

 claw, ll ; middle toe and claw, 1|-. 



-f- t Nestor superhus, BuUer. — Crown, hind-neck, breast, scapularies and ujDper wing- 



coverts, canary yellow of diiferent shades and tinged with scarlet. Upper surface of wings 

 whitish yellow, the primaries inclining to pale ash. Upper surface of tail when closed 

 pale ashy-yellow, the sides being bright canaiy yellow with a scarlet tinge. Sides, abdomen, 

 lower tail-coverts, axillaries, lining of wings, lower part of back, and iipper tail-coverts 

 bright scai'let, varied on the under parts and minutely edged on the upper tail-coverts with 

 canary yellow. Cheeks, throat, ear-coverts, and a broad nuchal collar paler scarlet, largely 

 mixed on the ear-coverts and collar with bright yellow. The under wing-coverts are 

 beautifully marked with alternate bands of scarlet and yellow. The primaries on their 

 under surface are ashy, marked on their inner vane with triangular spots of scarlet and 



