So PASSERES 
Finschia has soft, rounded tail-feathers, as well as a much smaller, slenderer bill. Dr. Finsch 
considers Mohoua to be nearly allied to the Timeliine genus Ovthonyx, and refers the two 
others to the Parvidae. Until careful anatomical investigations of the three types have been made 
every classificatory attempt must necessarily be regarded as provisional. 
Characters. Bill much shorter than head, about equal to middle toe (without claw), at 
base as wide as, or even wider than deep, distinctly compressed, at least for terminal portion; 
culmen conspicuously decurved terminally; gonys nearly straight, but slightly ascending 
towards the tip. Rictal bristles obvious. Nostrils basal, distinctly operculate, posteriorly 
overhung by antrorse, latero-frontal plumules. Wing short, either somewhat pointed (Mohoua, 
Certhiparus) or distinctly rounded (Finschia); fourth and fifth, or fifth and sixth, primaries 
longest ; first primary much more than half as long as second; wing-tip very much less than 
length of tarsus. Tail graduated, extremely variable as to relative length and shape of rectrices. 
Tarsus robust, fully twice as long as middle toe (without claw); acrotarsium scutellate or booted; 
proportion of toes variable (see key); middle toe adherent to outer one for greater part of 
basal phalanx, to inner toe for a less distance. Claws very strong, much curved, with acute tip. 
Plumage soft and copious as in the Parinae, 
Coloration variable. Wohoua and Certhiparus have the head of the same colour as the 
under parts, yellow in the former, dingy white in the latter; back and wings brown, rectrices 
dull olive in Wohoua, pale brown in Certhiparus. Finschia has the crown, upper tail coverts and 
the tail rufous-brown, the latter crossed by a blackish band, the sides of head and nape dark 
ashy, the back brown, the lower parts isabelline-buff. 
Geographical Distribution. New Zealand. 
KEY TO THE GENERA OF CERTHIPARIN A: 
1. Tail much shorter than the wing, rectrices with shafts stiffened and distinctly 
projecting. Outer and middle toes equal in length, much longer than mney toe. 22. Genus Monova. 
— Tail equal to, or longer than, the wing. Middle toe longest, outer toe slightly 
longer than the inner one Pa) eres ; AA 2h 
2. Bill vather broadened at base, where its width decidedly exceeds its depth, slightly 
compressed terminally. Tail about equal to wing, with vectrices acuminate 
ab Tp a ee EE Ee ee eG enustSrnanneanitc. 
— Bill slender, much compressed laterally, at base fully as deep as wide. Tail 
decidedly longer than wing, with rectrices soft and broadly rounded at ip . 24. Genus Finsciia. 
22. GENUS MOHOUA LESSON 
Mohoua Lesson, Compl. Gzuvr. Buffon, Vol. g. p. 139 (1837) (sp. tvp. : Mohoua hua Lesson). 
Clitonyx Reichenbach, Avium Syst. pl. 38 (1849) (sp. typ. : Clitonyx ochrocephalus Gmelin). 
Characters. Bill much shorter than head, somewhat broadened at base, where its width 
decidedly exceeds its depth, much compressed terminally; culmen distinctly ridged, strongly 
decurved in apical portion; gonys nearly straight. Nostrils basal, operculate, only posteriorly 
