Order PASSERES.] 
[Fam. SYLYIID2E. 
MIEO ALBIFRONS. 
(SOUTH-ISLAND ROBIN.) 
White-fronted Thrush , Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. pt. 1, p. 71 (1783). 
Turdus albifrons, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 822 (1788). 
Miro albifrons, Gray, in Dieff. Trav. ii., App. p. 190 (1843). 
Petroica albifrons, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. I, pi. 6. fig. 2 (1844). 
Turdus ochrotarsus , Forster, Descr. Anim. p. 82 (1844). 
Muscicapa albifrons, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7465. 
similis M. australi, sed multo major et magis fuliginosus, scapis plumarum minus distincte albis: sed prcecipue 
pectore et abdomine medio ochrascenti-albis distinguendus. , 
Adult male. Head, neek, sides of the body, and all the upper surface dark sooty grey, the base of the fathers 
plumbeous ; at the root of the upper mandible a small spot of yellowish wlnte; breast, abdomen, and yen 
yellowish white, tinged with lemon-yellow on the breast, and forming a tolerably well-defined line against 
the dark plumage of the fore neek; inner lining of wings, flanks, and under tad-coverts greyish white; 
quills and tail-feathers smoky black; an oblique bar of white on the inner face of the wings, as m 
M. australis Irides black ; bill brownish black ; palate and soft parts of the mouth yellow ; tarsi, toes and 
claws brownish black; soles of the feet dull yellow. Total length 725 inches; extent of wings , 
from flexure, 4 ; tail 3 ; bill, along the ridge -8B, along the edge of lower mandible -85 ; tarsus U5 ; 
middle toe and claw U05 ; hind toe and claw '9. 
Female. Somewhat smaller than the male, and having the plumage of the upper parts tinged with brown ; there 
is less yellow on the breast, and the grey of the underparts is lighter. 
Ob, This species may readily be distinguished from M. australis by its appreciably larger size, its black legs 
' and darker coloration, and the more defined patch of yellowish white on the under surface. The white 
shaft-lines are not so distinct on the crown and nape, but are far more so on the throat and fore neck, owing 
to the ground-colour of these parts being darker than in M. australis. The frontal spot is smaller and less 
conspicuous^^ ^ ^ ^ opinion iu f „ osl . ot uniting M , australis and M. amfrans ■ tat a glance 
at the Plate will show how decidedly the two species differ from each other m their external chaiac e.s . 
Var. My collection contains a specimen received from Christchurch in which the whole plumage is suffused 
with brown, and the underparts are smoky grey instead of being white f. 
Note. The figure of this species in the ‘Voyage of the Erebus and Terror’ is incorrect, on account of the 
exaggerated extent of white on the underparts ; but the attitude is a very characteristic one. 
THE habits of this bird differ in no respect from those of its near congener Miro australis ; and the 
account given in the foregoing pages may be considered equally applicable to both species. 
* “ These birds seem to be scarcely distinct ” (Finscb, Trans. N.-Z. Inst. vol. v. p. -’0, ). 
t In the ‘Journal of Science,’ vol. ii.p. 170, a full description is given of a pied example, or partial albino, the white pre- 
ponderating over the normal colour, and the breast being creamy yellow. 
