130 Transactions. — Zoology. 



coloured feathers," he cannot, I think, have collected many nests. The 

 observations recorded by Mr. Potts (Trans. IST.Z. Inst., 1869, Yol. II., p. bQ) 

 fully accord with my own.] 



"Orthonyx albicilla. 



" I quite agree with Mr. Potts that this bird is by no means the repre- 

 sentative in the North Island of 0. ochrocephala. The structure of its feet 

 shows that it is not an Orthonyx at all ; and in its habit and song it is quite 

 different from 0. ochrocephala. According to my observations it does 

 not prefer low bush, nor does it climb the boles of trees, but is almost always 

 seen hopping about in the very topmost boughs of tall trees. 



" Dr. Buller is also mistaken in saying that it sings like the canary. It is 

 the robin (Miro longipes) that sings like the canary, while the song of the 

 white-head (0. (?) albicilla) is much like that of the yellow-hammer i^Emheriza 

 citrinella), but without the last note." 



[I cannot concur in the opinion expressed by Captain Hutton, for the two 

 birds certainly belong to the same genus. I confess, however, that this form 

 is somewhat aberrant from the typical Orthonyx. As to resemblance of song, 

 that is purely a matter of fancy and association. I have never considered the 

 song of our wood-robin (M. longip)es) in the least degree like that of the 

 Canary.] 



" Certhiparus nov^-zealandi^. 



" Dr. Buller says that the egg of this bird is not known ; but I described 

 it in 1871 in my ' Catalogue of the Birds of New Zealand' from specimens 

 that had been in the Otago Museum for several years." 



[I cannot accept Captain Hutton's identification of the supposed eggs of 

 this bird in the Otago Museum without further proof. I have already pointed 

 out ("Birds of New Zealand," p. 105) that he had confoiinded this species 

 with the very common Orthonyx albicilla of the North Island.] 



" Xenicus longipes. 



"I cannot accept Dr. Buller's identification of this bird with X. stokesii 

 without further proof. Dr. Buller obtained specimens of X. stokesii which he 

 wrongly determined as X. longijjes ; in fact all the specimens of X. longipes 

 in his collection were X. stokesii ; these he compared with X. stokesii in the 

 British Museum, and naturally found them identical. But until it is 

 explained how it is that the figure and description of X. longijyes in the 

 'Voyage of the Erebus and Terror' differ so much from specimens of 

 X. stokesii, I must continue to regard them as two species. 



"Dr. Buller also states that this bird is strictly arboreal in its habits, never 

 being seen on the ground. This is quite incorrect of X. stokesii, which is 

 constantly on the ground, and never ascends into high trees." 



