118 





no doubt, to a natural inclination to hide themselves away when the mortal agony comes 

 on. As Professor Macgillivray has remarked, even the poor wounded Seagull seeks some 

 quiet retreat where it may pass the time of its anguish in peace and forgetfulness of the 

 outer world. 



In the Colonial Museum there is a nest of the Grey Warbler, with a large round 

 opening high up on the side, and exhibiting an overhanging porch-like roof. 



I have noticed that this bird even in winter — indeed, all the year round — consorts 

 habitually in pairs. 



Mr. Ogilvie Grant, who recognises Pseudogerygone igata as a good species, and denies 

 specific rank to Pseudogerygone sylvestris (Potts), writes: " Dr. Sharpe [' Zool. of the Ereb. 

 and Terr.,' App., p. 25 (1875)] states that, in company with Dr. Oustalet, he had examined 

 the type of Gerygone igata, which still existed in the Jardin des Plantes, and had come 

 to the conclusion that it was distinct from G. flaviventris. Subsequently, however, when 

 writing the ' Catalogue of Birds,' he appears to have changed his mind, and come to the 

 conclusion that the names were synonymous." 



Dr. Sharpe, still later, retained Gerygone igata as a New Zealand bird in his ' Handlist 

 of Birds ' (vol. hi., p. 227) ; but I have never been able to identify the species, and still 

 regard it as Gerygone flaviventris, with perhaps some individual peculiarities.* 



Mr. Ogilvie Grant's great point seems to be this, that whereas Pseudogerygone flaviventris 

 has a red iris, P. igata is said to have a black one. The colour of the iris, which may 

 be due to accident, is a very uncertain character; and I use the word "said" advisedly, 

 because the colour of the iris in two of Lord Eanfurly's specimens rests on the authority 

 of Mr. B. Henry (which I consider insufficient), whilst in a third specimen, in the Tring 

 Museum, the label says, " Dunedin : iris dark." To my mind, the evidence is too slight 

 at present, and the point is too doubtful, to justify our adding P. igata to our list as a 

 separate species, to say nothing of adopting so barbarous a name. 



- 



* Dr. Eamsay says (' Proc. Z.S., N.S.W.' iii., p. 117): " Gebygone igata, Gaim. 'Voy. Astrolabe,' xi., fig. 2. 

 This species is very like G. insularis, from Lord Howe Island, but may at once be distinguished from it in having a 

 clear, well-defined white line in front of the eye from its upper margin to the forehead. For description see ' Erebus 

 and Terror,' Birds of New Zealand, p. 5. Hab., Tasman's Bay, Cook's Straits. Native name, ' Igata.' 



" In the Australian Museum we have a bird from New Zealand which agrees with the figures in the ' Voyage of 

 the Astrolabe ' of G. igata, but has the lores blackish slate-colour, and no white ring round the eye ; there is a tinge 

 of olive in the sides from the chest downwards, and under tail-coverts white ; the three outer tail-feathers are 

 crossed with white on the under side, but the outer two only on the upper ; the black band on the tail is much 

 wider, extending over about half of the feathers." 



