Ordek PASSEEES.] [Fam. SYLVIID.S. 



GEBYGONE ALBOFEONT ATA. 



(WHITE-FACED WARBLER.) 



Gerygonel albofrontata, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 5, pi. 4. fig. 2 (1844). 

 Acanthiza albofrontata, Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 219 (1869). 



Ad. supra olivascenti-brunneus, pileo obseuriore, uropygio et supracaudalibus laete et conspicue rufescenti- 

 fulvis : tectricibus alarum et remigibus cinerascenti-brunneis, dorsi colore limbatis : rectricibus cine- 

 rascenti-brunneis, versus apicem purpurascenti-nigris et fascia fulvescente transversim notata, pennis 

 duabus centrabbus reliquorumque apicibus omnino cinerascenti-brunneis : fronte, supercilio et facie 

 laterali albidis, loris et regione parotica brunneo notatis : subtiis albicans, abdomine imo et hypochon- 

 driis flavicantibus : subcaudalibus et tibiis fulvis : subalaribus albicantibus flavido lavatis : iride cruen- 

 tata : rostro brunneo, gonyde pallidiore : pedibus satm'ate brunneis. 



Adult male. Upper surface rusty brown, lighter on the wings and rump ; the whole of the plumage plum- 

 beous beneath ; forehead, sides of the head, fore neck, breast, and the underparts generally greyish 

 white, tinged with yellow on the flanks and abdomen ; an obscure streak of dusky brown passes through 

 the eyes ; wing-feathers dusky brown, with lighter shafts, margined on their outer webs with yellowish 

 brown ; inner lining of wings yellowish white ; tail-feathers rusty brown, tinged with ruibus towards the 

 base, darker brown in their apical portion, with the tips paler ; the two outermost feathers on each side 

 with a broad subterminal bar of fulvous white, and the two succeeding ones with an obscure triangular 

 spot of fulvous white on the inner webs ; upper tail-coverts rufous brown. Irides blood-red ; bill and 

 feet blackish brown. Total length 5"75 ; wing, from flexure, 2 - 6 ; tail 2*5 ; bill, along the ridge "4, 

 along the edge of lower mandible - 5 ; tarsus - 9 ; middle toe and claw - 65 ; hind toe and claw "65. 



Female. Similar to the male, but slightly smaller, and without the yellow tinge on the underparts. 



This fine species was originally described and figured by Mr. G. E. Gray, in the ' Voyage of the 

 Erebus and Terror,' from a specimen alleged to have been " brought by Dr. Dieffenbach from 

 New Zealand." The specimen itself, however, which is now in the British Museum, is labelled 

 as from the Chatham Islands. My description of the female is from an example recently obtained 

 in the last-mentioned locality by Mr. Henry Travers (of the Geological Survey), and kindly 

 forwarded to me by Dr. Hector. 



I have never met with this bird in New Zealand ; but it is highly probable that the supposed 

 new species of Gerygone lately observed by Mr. Potts and his son in Westland, of which an 

 account will shortly appear in 'The Ibis,' will prove to be the same. Mr. Potts states that 

 the note of this Warbler is readily distinguishable from that of Gerygone flavwentris, and that he 

 frequently heard it in the woods between the bluff of Okarita and Lake Mapourika, but always 

 " in the thick bush, and never on the outskirts of the forest." 



