Okdek PASSERES.] 
[Fam. TIMELIID^E. 
SPHENCEACES PUNCTATE S. 
(FERN-BIRD.) 
Synallaccis punctata , Quoy & Gaim. Yoy. cle l’Astrol. i. p. 255, t. 18. fig. 2 (1830). 
Sphenceacus punctatus, Gray, Voy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 5 (1844). 
Megalurus punctatus, Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 169 (1848). 
Native names . 
Mata, Matata, Kotata, Nako, and Koroatito. 
Ad. supra oclirascenti-fulvus, dorsi plumis medialiter nigris, tineas latas longitudinales formantibus : pileo rufe- 
scente, fronte immaculate, vertiee angustiiis nigro striolato : loris et regione oculari albidis : facie laterali 
albida, brunneo maculata, regione parotica brunnescente : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus et eodem 
modo medialiter nigris : remigibus rectricibusque uigricanti-brunueis, ochrascenti-fulvo limbatis, bis acumi- 
natis, scapis versus apicem nudis : subtus albescens, hypoebondriis et subcaudalibus oclirascenti-fulvis, latb 
nigro striolatis : gutture indistiucte, pectore superiore magis distincte, brunneo punctatis et pectore laterali 
nigro lineato : rostro brunnescente, mandibula flavicante : pedibus flavidis : iride nigra. 
Adult. Upper parts dark brown, each feather margined with fulvous, shading into rufous-brown on the forehead 
and crown ; streak over the eyes white ; throat, fore neck, breast, and abdomen fulvous-white, each feather 
with a central streak of black, giving to the underparts a spotted appearance; wing-feathers and their 
coverts blackish brown, edged with bright fulvous ; tail-feathers dark brown, with black shafts. Irides 
black; bill and feet pale brown. Total length 65 inches; wing, from flexure, 2'25 ; tail 3 25 ; hill, along 
the ridge '4, along the edge of lo wer mandible '6 ; tarsus '75 ; middle toe and claw ’7 ; hind toe and 
claw ’6. 
Young. The young assume the adult plumage on quitting the nest. 
Obs. The tail-feathers have the barbs disunited in their whole extent. 
This recluse little species is one of our commonest birds, but is oftener heard than seen. It frequents 
the dense fern ( Pteris aquilina ) of the open country, and the beds of raupo ( Typha angustifolia) and 
other tall vegetation that cover our swamps and low-lying flats. In these localities it may constantly 
be heard uttering, at regular intervals, its sharp melancholy call of two notes, u-tick , u-tick, and 
responsively when there are two or more. When the shades of evening are closing in, this call is 
emitted with greater frequency and energy, and in some dreary solitudes it is almost the only sound 
that breaks the oppressive stillness. In the Manawatu district, where there are continuous raupo- 
swamps, covering an area of 50,000 acres or more, I have particularly remarked this; for, save 
the peevish cry of the Pukeko, occasionally heard, and the boom of the lonely Bittern, the only 
animate sound I could detect was the monotonous cry of this little bird calling to its fellows as 
it threaded its way among the tangled growth of reeds. 
Large portions of the North Island consist of rolling land covered with stunted brown fern, 
this being the characteristic feature for twenty miles at a stretch, broken only by little patches 
of bush in the gullies. Intersecting these fern -ridges are narrow belts of wiwi-swamp, of a dark 
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