Oeder PASSEEES.] [Fam. SYLVIIDiE. 



XENICUS GILVIVENTEIS. 



(ROCK-WREN.) 



Xenicus gilviventris, Von Pelz. Verh. k.-k. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1867, p. 316. 

 Xenicus haasti, Buller, Ibis, 1869, p. 37. 

 Acanthisitta gilviventris, Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 183 (1869). 

 Acanthisitta haastii, id. op. cit. p. 183 (1869). 



8 statura X. longipedis, sed hallucis ungue maximo distinguendus : supra pallide viridis, pileo et dorso supe- 

 riore brunnescentioribus concoloribus : supercilio albo, haud flavo tincto : subtus dilute chocolatino- 

 brunneus, crisso cum cruribus viridescentibus, hypochondriis lsete flavis : subalaribus pallide flavis. 



2 feminse X. longipedis dissimilis et hujus mari magis assimilata : supra ochrascenti-brunnea, uropygio vix 

 viridescente : tectricibus alarum conspicue nigris : remigibus brunneis, extus dorsi colore lavatis : subtus 

 pallide isabellina, hypochondriis viridescentibus. 



Adult male. Upper parts dull olive-brown, with a greyish gloss, darker on the forehead and crown, and 

 tinged on the back, wing-coverts, and rump with yellowish green ; sides of the head dark brown, with 

 a narrow superciliary streak of fulvous white, widening above the ears ; underparts delicate purplish 

 brown, with a silky appearance, and fading into fulvous white at the base of the lower mandible ; the 

 sides of the body lemon-yellow ; wing-feathers brown, the primaries margined on their outer webs with 

 dull olive, the secondaries with an apical spot of fulvous on their outer webs ; tertials and the lesser 

 wing-coverts black, forming a conspicuous triangular spot ; inner lining of wings pale yellow ; tail- 

 feathers dull olive. Irides and bill blackish brown ; tarsi and toes pale brown ; claws darker. Total 

 length 375 inches; wing, from flexure, 2 - l ; tail *75 (nearly two thirds of it being concealed by the 

 coverts) ; bill, along the ridge '4>, along the edge of lower mandible - 6 ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw -9 ; 

 hind toe and claw -9. 



Adult female. Differs from the male in having the plumage of the upper parts dull yellowish brown, shaded 

 with umber on the crown, and tinged with yellowish olive on the wings and rump ; the superciliary 

 streak less distinct ; and the underparts pale fulvous, stained on the sides of the body with lemon- 

 yellow. 



Obs. It will be necessary to obtain a larger series of specimens than is at present available, and to make a 

 closer investigation of the subject, before the differences supposed to be characteristic of the sexes (both 

 of this and the preceding species) can be considered finally determined. It is probable that the colours 

 undergo some change in the progress of the bird towards maturity; and there is likewise reason to 

 suspect that a seasonal change takes place in the plumage of the male. 



My first specimens of this bird were received from Dr. Haast, F.R.S., who discovered it in the 

 Southern Alps, during a topographical survey of the Canterbury Province. In a notice which I 

 communicated to 'The Ibis' (I. c), I described the species as new, and named it Xenicus haasti, 



