HuTTON. — On the Neio Zealand Wood-hens. Ill 



3. — 0. australis, Spari'ruan. 



Distiuguished from the two former by its smaller size, the rust-red tint of 

 its plumage, the grey colour of the throat and lower part of the breast 

 (especially in the male bird), the more strongly marked pectoral band, and in 

 the primary feathers of the wing tapering towards the point. 



Height of Middle toe, 



Wing. Tail. Culmen. bill Tarsus. without 



at base. claw. 



Male ... 6-5 44 1-7 -69 2-0 2-0 



Female ... 6-7 4-4 1-8 -68 2-0 2-0 



The middle tail-feathers are generally barred, but this is very variable. 



Except by the size, this species is not always easy to recognize from 



0. troglodytes, and it is possible that it may prove to be a variety of it. 



4. — O.fuscus, Du Bus. 



Distinguished by its dark colour, the absence of any markings on the tail, 

 by the inner webs only of the primaries being either sparingly marked with 

 dull ferruginous, or without spots, and by their being rounded at the point. 



Height of Middle toe, 



Wing. Tail. Culmen. bill Tarsus. without 



at base. claw. 



Male ... 7-4 4-8 2-0 -84 2-3 2-3 



Female ... 6-5 4-6 2-0 -82 2-15 2-1 



In the young bird the primaries are acutely pointed, and both webs are 



banded with ferruginous, but the bands do not extend to the shaft. The 



general plumage also is much lighter, the feathers being margined with 



yellowish ferruginous, and the tail-feathers spotted with the same colour. In 



this state it is not easy to distinguish from the adult of the next species. 



This species appears to be confined to the south coast of Otago, on the western 



side of the Alps. 



5. — O.finschi, sp. nov. ^ 



Throat, abdomen, and thighs dark brownish grey ; feathers of the rest of 



the body brownish black, with spots of yellowish ferruginous on the outer 



margins of each web. Under tail-coverts, and feathers of the flanks banded 



with yellowish ferruginous. Primary feathers of the wing acutely pointed, 



brownish black, banded on each web with dull ferruginous ; secondaries with 



yellowish ferruginous spots on the margins of each web. Middle tail-feafchei-s 



brownish black, the outer ones with spots of yellowish ferruginous on the 



margins of the webs. Bill dark brown, getting reddish towards the base of 



the lower mandible. Lesrs brownish red. 



Wing. 



:ale ... 7-7 



Tail. 



5-0 



Culmen. 



1-9 



Height of 



bill 

 at base. 



•8 



Tarsus. 



2-35 



Middle toe, 



without 



claw. 



2'25 



3male ... 6-35 



4-6 



1-7 



•64 



2-1 



2-0 



5 a. — Variety or imynature. 



The light-coloured markings on the feathers larger, passing into marginal 



