23 



TRAVERSIA ROTHSCH. 



See description below. Only one species known. 



TRAVERSIA LYALLI ROTHSCH. 



(Plate 5, Fig. 3.) 



Traversia lyalli Rothschild, Bull. B.O.C. IV p. X (December 29th, 1894) '> Nov. Zool. 1895, 

 p. 81. 



Xenicus insularis Buller, Ibis 1895, p. 236, pi. . 



Traversia insularis Buller, Suppl. B.N.Z. II p. 109, pi. X (1906). 



IN 1894 I described this remarkable little bird as follows : " Traversia, gen. 

 nov. Xenicidarum. Differs in several important points both from 

 Xenicus and Acanthidositta. Bill much larger and stouter, very little 

 shorter, if at all, than the tarsus; the latter about as long as middle toe 

 without claw, or the hind toe and claw, while in Xenicus and Acanthidositta 

 it is about twice as long as the hind toe. The principal difference, however, 

 is the weakness of the wing, which suggests Sightlessness, as does also the 

 very soft and loose character of the entire plumage, and the very Ralline 

 aspect of the bird. There are only ten tail-feathers, and the scutellation of 

 the tarsus is like that of Xenicus. These two points determine its position 

 in the Xenicidae at once (cf. Sclater, Cat. B. XIV, p. 450). 

 " The type is : Traversia lyalli, sp. nov. 



" Male. Above dark brownish olive-yellow, each feather with a 

 brownish-black border. A narrow distinct yellow superciliary line. Wings 

 and tail umber-brown, the inner webs darker; wing-coverts like back. Chin, 

 throat, and breast chrome-yellow, each feather slightly edged with greyish 

 brown. Flanks, abdomen, and vent pale brown, centre of feathers paler. 



" Female. Upper surface umber-brown, each feather bordered with 

 very dark brown ; wings and tail similar. Under surface buffy grey, the 

 feathers edged with pale brown. Total length about 4 inches, culmen 0'6, 

 wing 1*8 to 1-9, tail 0*8, but much concealed, tarens 075, middle toe 0-65, 

 hind toe without claw 0'5. 



