116 



Obx. The figure of X. longipes in the * Voyage of the Erebus and Terror/ which represents a bird with a white 

 eye-circlet and an upturned bill like that of Acanthisitta, is copied from a rough half-finished drawing 

 of Forster's (1777), and is strikingly incorrect. 



This species is confined to the Fagu&fore&ts which clothe the sides of our subalpine ranges, 

 never being met with in the low country. Mr. Travers found it numerous in the Spencer ranges 

 (Nelson) at an elevation of 3000 feet : Dr. Hector obtained specimens in the high wooded lands of 

 the Otago Province, where, as he informs me, it was a very rare bird ; Dr. Haast met with it 

 frequently during his exploration of the interior of the Canterbury Province ; and I observed it 

 in the high wooded ranges forming the inland boundary of Westland. The localities I have 

 enumerated are all in the South Island. There are specimens, however, in the British Museum 

 which are said to have been obtained by Captain Stokes in the Rimut&ka ranges (in the 

 Province of Wellington) ; and, although I never met with the species in that district, or, indeed, 

 in any part of the North Island, an intelligent Maori, to whom I showed a coloured drawing of 

 the bird, appeared at once to recognize it. He said that he had often seen it in the Ruahine 

 mountains, and that during severe winters it sometimes appeared in the low country ; and he 

 further spoke of the plumage as being " like silk," an expression so aptly descriptive of its 

 peculiar softness, that I believe the man was quite familiar with the bird. 



It is generally met with singly or in pairs, but sometimes several are associated, attracting 

 notice by the sprightliness of their movements. They run along the boles and branches of the 

 trees with restless activity, peering into every crevice and searching the bark for the small insects 

 and larvae on which they feed. It is strictly arboreal in its habits, never being seen on the 

 ground, in which respect it differs conspicuously from the closely allied species Xenicus gilvi- 

 ventris. It has a weak but lively note, and its powers of flight are very limited. 



On comparing my specimens of this bird with the type of Mr. G. R. Gray's Xenicus stuketdi 

 in the British Museum, I feel satisfied that they are referable to one and the same species, the 

 difference of plumage being only sexual. 



