INTRODUCTION. 



xix 



general colouring, and to Tribonyx in the structure of its feet ; while in the feebleness of its 

 wings and the structure of its tail it differs from both. (See page 192.) The recent discovery 

 therefore, in the South Island, of an example of Tribonyx mortieri which has been brought to 

 England, and is now living in the Zoological Society's Gardens, is a very interesting fact in 

 geographic natural history. 



The former acquisition by the Society of a similar bird, in July 1867, led to the discovery by 

 Dr. Sclater that the species figured and described by Mr. Gould in his ' Birds of Australia ' under 

 that name was not the true Tribonyx mortieri of Du Bus (Bull. Acad. Sc. Brux. vii. p. 214), 

 but a distinct bird, characterized by its smaller size, and by the absence of white stripes on the 

 wing-coverts. Dr. Sclater accordingly proposed the name of Tribonyx gouldi for the latter 

 species (Ann. N. H. 1867, xx. p. 122), and gave the following distinguishing characters for 

 T. mortieri : — 



" Diagn. — Major; alis albo striatis; plaga magna bypochondriali alba." 



For the purpose of illustrating the difference in the plumage, an excellent woodcut of this 

 species was given in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zoological Society (1867, p. 816) ; and by the kind 

 permission of the Publication Committee I am allowed the opportunity of reproducing it here. 



The bird now in the " Gardens " was brought home (with other birds from New Zealand) 



c2 



