Order PASSERES.] 
[Eam. TIMELIIDuE 
SPHENCEACHS EIIFESCENS. 
(CHATHAM-ISLAND FERN-BIRD.) 
Sphmceacus rufescens, Buller, Ibis, 1869, p. 38. 
Megalurus rufescens, Gray, Hand-1, of B. i. p. 206 (1869). 
Ad. supra saturate castaneus, pileo concolore : dorso paullo fulvescente, plumis late medialiter nigris . tectricibus 
alarum medialiter nigris, dorso concoloribus : remigibus nigris, rufescente limbatis : cauda rufescente, sub us 
fulvescentiore, scapis pemiarum nigris: loris et supercilio distincto fulvescenti-albis : regione parotica 
saturate castanea, nigro notate : genis fulveseentibus, nigro maculatis : subtus fulvescenti-albus, corporis 
lateribus castaneis nigro striolatis, dorso concoloribus : subalaribus^ strammeis, rufescente lavatis . rostro 
corneo, mandibulfi flavicante : pedibus flavicanti-brunneis : iride nigia. 
Adult male. Upper parts dark rufous-brown, brightest on the crown and hind neck ; streak over the eyes, throat, 
breast, and abdomen dull rufous-white, slightly tinged with yellow on the throat; sides of the hea ^ear- 
coverts, and a series of spots from the base of the lower mandible brownish black ; sides of the body and the 
flanks bright rufous-brown, each feather with a central streak of black ; wmg-feathers dusky black, margmed 
on both webs with rufous-brown ; the wing-coverts and the scapularies broadly centred with brownish black ; 
tail-feathers clear rufous-brown, with glossy black shafts, paler on their under surface. Hides black ; bill 
and feet yellowish brown. Total length 7-25 inches ; extent of wings 7 ; wing, from flexure, 2'25 ; tail 4 ~0 ; 
bill, along the ridge ‘5, along the edge of lower mandible -7 ; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw *85 ; hind toe 
and claw ’75. 
Female. Similar to the male, but somewhat smaller in size and with rather duller plumage. 
Obs. Prof. Hutton states that two of the specimens collected by Mr. Travers are “ variegated with white feathers, 
principally on the wings.” 
This well-marked species is confined to the Chatham Islands, where it was first discovered, in 1868, 
by Mr. Charles Traill, a gentleman greatly devoted to conch ology, who visited that group for the 
purpose of collecting its marine shells. He obtained it on a small rocky isle, lying off the coast of 
the main island, during one of his dredging-expeditions ; but he was unable to give me much 
information respecting its habits or economy, merely stating that he observed it flitting about among 
the grass and stunted vegetation, and succeeded in knocking it over with a stone. 
Mr. Henry Travers says : — “ I only found this bird on Mangare, where it is not uncommon, 
peculiar habit of hopping from one point of concealment to another renders it difficult to secuie. 
It has a peculiar whistle, very like that which a man would use in order to attract the attention of 
another at some distance; and although I knew that I was alone on the island, I frequent y stopped 
mechanically on hearing the note of this bird, under the momentary impression that some other person 
was whistling to me. It also has the same cry as Sphenceacus punctatus. It is solitary in its habits 
and appears to live exclusively on insects.” 
I am indebted to Mr. Walter Shrimpton for an egg obtained on Pitt Island, and assigned, I 
believe correctly, to this species. It is broadly ovoido-conical, measuring -80 of an inch in length by 
•65 in breadth, and has the entire surface covered with a speckled or marbled graining of reddish 
brown on a creamy-white ground. 
