Oeder PASSERES.] 
GEEYGONE SYLYESTEIS. 
(BUSH-WARBLER.) 
[Eam. SYLYIIDAE. 
Gerygone sylvestris , Potts, Trans. N.-Z. Inst. 1872, vol. v. p. 177. 
Ad. S similis G, flaviventri, sed supra saturatior : tectricibus alarum nigris, extus flavido lavatis : remigibus 
brunneis, extus flavido lavatis : subalaribus albidis : cauda brunnca, uigro conspicue transfasciata. rectricibus 
duabus mediis nigris brunneo terminatis, duabus externis albidis conspicue transfasciatis et brunneo termi- 
nals : supracaudalibus scbistaceo-nigris, flavido terminatis : rostro nigro, versus apicem flavicante : pedibus 
nigris, plantis flavicantibus : iride cruentata. 
Adult male. “ Upper surface dark olivaceous ; wings smoky black, except first two feathers, outer webs fringed 
with yellow ; cheek dark grey, darkest in a line from the gape through the eye ; chin grey ; neck and 
breast pale grey ; abdomen white ; under wing-coverts white ; upper wing-coverts brown, margined with 
yellow ; upper tail-coverts slaty black, tipped with yellow ; tail brown, with a broad band of black, two 
centre feathers black, tipped with brown, four feathers on each side tipped with white on inner webs, pale 
brown on outer web, two outer feathers broadly barred with white, tipped with brown. Bill black ; both 
mandibles liorn-colour at the point ; legs and feet black ; inside of feet yellowish flesh ; irides bright blood- 
red. Bill, from gape, 6 lines ; wing from flexure 2 inches ; tail 2 inches 2 lines ; tarsus 9 lines ; middle toe 
and claw 5 lines ; total length 4 inches 5 lines. Male bird killed in full song, Dec. 20.” [Potts.) 
The above Warbler, of which unfortunately no specimen exists in any collection, hy which to test 
its value as a species, was first made known by Mr. T. H. Potts, who described it as above in a 
communication he made to ‘The Ibis’ in 1872 (p. 325), but without then proposing any name for 
it. He afterwards characterized it, under the name of Gerygone flaviventris, in the ‘ Transactions ot 
the New-Zealand Institute ’ ; and, never having seen the bird, I have quoted his description ot it. 
The following is the account he gives: — “Whilst journeying in the dense bush which 
clothes the western slopes of the Middle Island, making acquaintance with the Kiwi and Kakapo, 
the note of a bird was heard that was new to us ; it was evidently that ot a Gerygone , but differed 
much from that of our familiar gully-haunting Warbler. The habitat was unusual, in the thick bush, 
between the bluff of Okarito and Lake Mapourika ; whereas our little Kiroriro delights in trilling 
from the shrubs on the creek-side or more open country, or in flitting about the bushy vegetation of 
the o-ullies that fringe or form the outskirts of a forest. Neither my son, who accompanied me, nor 
myself had ever heard a similar note. For the next few days, whilst rambling m that locality, we 
heard the same note repeatedly, and saw the birds, but we never observed one ot them on the outside 
of the bush.” , 
Possibly to this species belongs the alpine bird mentioned by Mr. Peischek m a letter to 
myself, as having been met with by him during his trip to the west-coast sounds in search ot JSotornis : — 
« At Dus k y Sound (on the 2nd July, 1884) I ascended one of the heavily wooded ridges, and on 
arriving at the top I heard a new bird. It was out of sight in the foliage of a tree, and got away 
before I could get a glimpse of it. Its call consists of three notes, like di-di-di, repeated several 
times. I went in search of it again but without success. I have been exploring in the New- 
Zealand forests for the last eight years and am familiar with all the birds’ notes ; but this one was 
quite new to me, and was evidently produced by some small bird which I have not yet seen.” 
