Order PASSERES.] 
[Eam. MELIPHAGIDiE. 
ZOSTEEOPS CARULESCENS. 
(THE SILVER-EYE.) 
Ccerulean Warbler, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii. p. 369 (1801). 
Zosterops ccerulescens, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. p. xxxviii (1801). 
Sylvia lateralis, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. p. lv (1801, nec Sund.). 
Zosterops dorsalis, Yig. & Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xv. p. 235 (1826). 
Zosterops lateralis, Reich. Handb. Meropinse, p. 94, t. cccclxiii. (1852). 
Zosterops ccerulescens, Gould, Handb. B. of Austr. i. p. 587 (1865). 
Zosterops lateralis, Buller, Birds of New Zealand, 1st ed. p. 80 (1873). 
Native names. 
Tau-hou, Whiorangi, Hiraka, Motingitingi, Kanohi-mowhiti, Karu-patene, Karu-ringi, Karu- 
hiriwha, Poporohe, and Iringatau. 
Ad. pileo et facie laterali, dor, so postico et uropygio, cum tectricibus alarum 1 :ete flavicanti-olivaceis : interscapulio 
scapularibusque sordide cinereis : remigibus et rectricibus brunneis, extus dorsi colore limbatis : regioue 
orbitali autica nigricante, annulo ophtbalmico albo : gula albida vix flavicante tinctli : gutture imo cinereo : 
abdomine medio et subcaudalibus albidis, his flavicante lavatis : corporis lateribus conspicue badiis : rostro 
saturate brunneo, mandibula ad basiu albicante : pedibus et iride pallide brunneis. 
Adult. Crown, sides of the head, nape, upper surface of wings, rump, and upper tail-coverts bright yellowish 
olive ; back and scapularies cinereous tinged with green ; eyes surrounded by a narrow circlet of silvery- 
white feathers, with a line of black in front and below ; quills and tail-feathers dusky brown, margined with 
yellowish olive ; throat, fore neck, and breast greyish white, tinged more or less with yellow towards the 
angle of the lower mandible ; abdomen and under tail-coverts fulvous white ; sides pale chocolate-brown ; 
lining of wings white, the edges tinged with yellow. Bill dark brown ; under mandible whitish at the base ; 
irides clear reddish brown; tarsi and toes light brown. Total length 5 inches ; extent of wings 7‘5 ; wing, 
from flexure, 2‘5 ; tail 2 ; tarsus 'G ; middle toe and claw - 6 ; hind toe and claw '5 ; bill, along the ridge '4, 
along the edge of lower mandible '5. 
Fledgling. Colours paler than in the adult ; the throat and breast pale cinereous grey ; the sides of the body 
fulvous brown ; the white eye-circle absent, the orbits being still destitute of feathers ; irides hazel -brown ; 
tarsi and toes light flesh-colour ; bill pale brown ; rictal membrane yellow. 
Obs. The sexes are precisely alike, the plumage of the female being in no way inferior to that of the male. 
Although I have examined a great number, I have only detected very slight variation in the adult birds. 
But Archdeacon Stock, of Wellington, who is a good practical ornithologist, has favoured me with the 
following note on this subject: — “I saw on Friday last, November 11, at Wilkinson’s ‘ tea-gardens ’ (Wel- 
lington), what appeared to be a new variety of the Blight-bird. The white circle around the eye was not so 
distinct ; and the head and throat were orange-coloured.” 
The story of the irregular appearance of this little bird in New Zealand has for many years past been 
a fruitful topic of discussion among those who take an interest in our local natural history. Whether 
it came over to us originally from Australia, or whether it is only a species from the extreme south 
of New Zealand, which has of late years perceptibly increased, and has migrated northwards, is still 
