Order PASSERIFORMES.] 



[Family STURNIDiE. 



C R E A 1) I N C INEREUS. 



(JACK BIRD.) 



Creadion cinereus, Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. L, p. 21. 



My first acquaintance with this very distinct species was made on Banks Peninsula during 

 my first visit there in 1859. This form was absolutely unknown in the North Island, and 

 I had no hesitation in characterising it as new under the name of Creadion cinereus. But 

 it was a long time before ornithologists would believe that it was other than the young 

 of G. carunculatus. Dr. Otto Finsch pronounced against the species, and his example was 

 followed by others — all basing their conclusions on the examination of cabinet specimens. 

 This view was strengthened by the exhibition in the Canterbury Museum of some apparent 

 hybrids which seemed to show a transition of plumage. In the end, by the kind aid of the 

 late Mr. A. Reischek, a very active collector, I was able to bring forward irrefragable proof 

 by producing nestling birds of G. carunculatus in the same garb as the adults. 



There is an exceptionally large example in my collection, received from Mr. J. Brough, 

 who obtained it on Mount Luna, in the Nelson provincial district. In forwarding it he 

 wrote: "During the whole four months I was camped in the woods on the Karamea Saddle 

 I only heard one Saddle-back. I managed to secure it, and may remark that it is the 

 largest-boned bird of the kind I ever shot. The colours are plain, but the bird is in 

 perfect plumage. I cannnot say whether it is a male or female, for before I had time 

 to make a dissection, after skinning it, the Wood-hens ran away with the carcase." 



This species was formerly very abundant in the South Island, and especially in the woods 

 of the West Coast, but it is now fast disappearing. As I have stated earlier in this work, 

 I made an expedition round the West Coast Sounds, in the summer of 1895-6, with His 

 Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly and his family, in the Government steamboat ' Tutanekai.' 

 Whilst lying at anchor in Milford Sound we frequently visited the shore; and one bright 

 morning, when exploring the beautiful woods around Lake Ada, while I was sauntering along, 

 gun in hand, in company with Lady Constance Knox, the Governor's eldest daughter, one 

 of these birds, with a sharp flute note, appeared suddenly at the roadside, and I immediately 

 shot and secured it; but this was positively the only one we met with during the whole 

 of the expedition. 



