Order PASSERES.] [Fam. SYLVIID^E. 



XENICUS LONGIPES. 



(BUSH-WREN.) 



Long-legged Warbler, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. pt. 2, p. 465 (1783). 



Motacilla longipes, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 979 (1788, ex Lath.). 



Sylvia longipes, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 529 (1790). 



AcantMsitta longipes, Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, App. p. 6 (1841). 



Xenicus longipes, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 218. 



Xenicus stokesii, id. torn. cit. p. 219. 



Native names. 

 Matuhituhi, Piwauwau, and Huru-pounamu. 



d pileo umbrino : dorso toto viridi, uropygio lsetiore : supercilio distincto albo : plumis anteocularibus nigris : 

 regione parotica brunnea vix viridi lavata : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus, vix flavido tinctis : 

 ala spuria nigra : remigibus brunneis, extus olivaceo-viridi lavatis : Cauda supra olivaceo-viridi, subtus 

 flavicaute : mento albido : corpore reliquo subtus pulchre cinereo, pectore vix argenteo-nitente : abdo- 

 mine imo et subcaudalibus viridibus, hypochondriis olivaceo-flavis : cruribus brunneis : subalaribus et 

 margine alari pallide citrinis : rostro saturate brunneo : pedibus flavicantibus. 



$ dissimilis : supra ferrugineo-brunnea : uropygio vix olivaceo tincto : supercilio lato albo : subtus pallide 

 chocolatina, bypochondriis et abdomine imo sordide flavis. 



Adult male. Upper parts dark green, tinged ■with yellow, shading into dark brown on the forehead and 

 crown ; sides of the head black, with a broad superciliary streak of white extending beyond the ears, 

 and then changing to yellow ; sides, thighs, and rump bright greenish yellow ; fore neck, breast, and 

 abdomen cinereous grey, with a beautiful gloss (sometimes tinged with cobalt), and softening into 

 greyish white on the throat; lining of wings pale yellow; qudls, on their outer webs, and the tail- 

 feathers olivaceous green. Irides and bill brownish black ; tarsi and toes pale brown. Extreme 

 length 4 inches ; wing, from flexure, 2'25 ; tail 1 (more than half of it concealed by the soft coverts) ; 

 bill, along the ridge "5, along the edge of lower mandible *7 ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw - 9 ; hind toe 

 and claw '8. 



Adult female. Upper parts umber-brown, tinged with yellowish green, especially on the rump ; crown 

 shaded with purplish brown ; superciliary streak white ; throat, sides of the neck, breast, and upper 

 part of abdomen delicate vinous brown ; sides of the body, flanks, and thighs dull lemon-yellow ; inner 

 lining of wings pure yellow. 



Young male. Plumage generally as in the adult, but with the green tints of the upper parts paler, and the 

 silky grey of the breast tinged with purple ; crown of the head and hind part of neck chocolate-brown, 

 blending into the olivaceous green of the upper parts ; superciliary streak broad and conspicuous. 



Q2 



