Order PASSERES.] 
[Fam. TIMELIID7E. 
SPHENCEACI7S EI7LVUS. 
(FULVOUS FERN-BIRD.) 
Sphenceacus fulvus, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 221. 
Megalurus fulvus, Gray, Hand-1, of B. i. p. 206 (1869). 
Ad. similis S. punctato, sed paullo major: ubique lsetius fulvescens, plumis vix ita distincte medialiter lineatis : 
pectore etiam minus distincte maculato : cauda minus acuminata, scapis plumarum baud nudis, sed ad 
apicem ipsum plumiferis. 
Adult. Upper parts dark fulvous, each feather centred with black ; forehead and crown slightly stained with 
rufous; line over the eyes, throat, fore neck, breast, and upper part of abdomen fulvous-white, obscurely 
spotted on the breast with brown ; sides of the body, flanks, thighs, and lower part of abdomen bright 
fulvous ; primaries and secondaries blackish brown, margined on their outer webs, and the three innermost 
secondaries broadly margined all round, with bright fulvous ; tail-feathers fulvous, with a dark shaft-line, 
and lighter on the edges. Total length 7" 5 inches; wing, from flexure, 2 - 5 ; tail 4; bill, along the ridge - 4, 
along the edge of lower mandible - 6 ; tarsus ‘75 ; middle toe and claw '7 ; hind toe and claw '6. 
Young. An example in the Canterbury Museum, so immature that the tail-feathers are only two inches long, 
has more fulvous in the plumage and no indication whatever of a superciliary streak. 
Obs. Mr. Sharpe says of the type in the British Museum : — “ Similar to S. punctatus, but rather larger, and 
very much lighter and more ochraceous in colour. Both on the upper and under surface the black centres 
to the feathers are not so broad, and thus the plumage appears more distinctly streaked ” (Cat. Birds 
B. M. vii. p. 98). 
This species, as distinguished by Mr. G. E. Gray, bears a general resemblance to Sphenceacus 
punctatus ; but, on comparing them, the following differences are manifest -The present bird is 
larger and has the whole of the plumage lighter ; the upper parts have the central marks much 
narrower, and on the hind neck and rump they are entirely absent ; the white superciliary streak is 
less distinctly defined, the spots on the under surface are less conspicuous, and the tail-feathers, which 
are much paler than in S. punctatus, differ likewise in their structure, the webs being closely set, 
instead of having loose disunited barbs. 
Several specimens have passed through my hands, all of which have been obtained in the South 
Island. 
Mr. Potts distinguishes the eggs of this bird from those of S. punctatus as being “slightly larger 
and white, marked with reddish-purple freckles.” 
Whilst, however, keeping the form distinct for the present, I am far from being satisfied that 
it can be separated from S. punctatus. I am more inclined to regard it as a somewhat larger local 
race, with a corresponding modification of plumage. But for the fact that the latter species is as 
common in the South Island as in the North, this might be treated as the representative form. 
