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thus, after the appearance of my former edition : — “ Dr. Buller obtained specimens of X. stokesii which 
he wrongly determined as X. longipes ; in fact all the specimens of X. longipes in his collection were X. 
siokesii ; these he compared with X. stokesii in the British Museum, and naturally found them identical. 
But until it is explained how it is that the figure and description of X. longipes in the ‘ Voyage of the Erebus 
and terror differ so much from specimens of X. stokesii, I must continue to regard them as two species ” 
C Ibis,’ 1874, p. 37). A specimen, however, labelled by Prof. Hutton “ Xenicus stokesii, female,” and sent 
to Dr. Finsch for examination, was referred by this naturalist, without hesitation, to X. longipes, Gmelin. 
It is perfectly clear that X. stokesii has no existence as a species. 
This species is confined to the Fagus-f orests which clothe the sides of our subalpine ranges in the 
South Island, never being met with in the low country. In many parts of the Nelson provincial 
district it is quite abundant, but only in the dense bush. In the dark forest lying between Wallis- 
head and Tophouse, also along the wooded banks of the Pelorous river, it is said to be very 
plentiful, and even in the Fagus-covcrcd hills in the vicinity of Nelson it is a comparatively common 
bird, although less numerous now than formerly. Mr. Travers found it numerous in the Spencer ranges 
(Nelson) at an elevation of 3000 feet ; Sir J. Hector obtained specimens in the high wooded lands of 
Otago, where, as he informs me, it was a very rare bird ; Sir J. von Iiaast met with it frequently 
during his exploration of the interior of the Canterbury district ; and I observed it in the high 
wooded ranges forming the inland boundary of Westland. The localities I have enumerated are all 
in the South Island. There are specimens, however, in the British Museum which are said to have 
been obtained by Captain Stokes in the Bimutaka ranges (in the provincial district of Wellington) ; 
and although I never met with the species in that district, or, indeed, in any part of the North 
Island, an intelligent Maori, to whom I showed a coloured drawing of the bird, appeared at once to 
recognize it. He said that he had often seen it in the Euahine mountains, and that during severe 
winters it sometimes appeared in the low country ; and he further spoke of the plumage as being 
“ like silk,” an expression so aptly descriptive of its peculiar softness, that I believe the man was 
quite familiar with the bird. 
The Maoris have a saying that if you kill this bird “ ka panga te huka ” (or, “ snow will fall ”). 
It is generally met with singly or in pairs, but sometimes several are associated, attracting notice 
by the sprightliness of their movements. They run along the boles and branches of the trees with 
restless activity, peering into every crevice and searching the bark for the small insects, chrysalids, 
and larvae on which they feed. It is generally arboreal in its habits, seldom being seen on the ground, 
in which respect it differs conspicuously from the closely allied species, Xenicus gilviventris. It has 
a weak but lively note, the sexes always calling to each other with a subdued trill, and its powers of 
flight are very limited. 
On comparing my specimens of this bird with the type of Mr. G. II. Gray’s Xenicus stokesii in 
the British Museum, I feel satisfied that they are referable to one and the same species, the difference 
of plumage being only sexual. 
In June 1882 the late Mr. W. A. Forbes made a communication to the Zoological Society, 
showing, from an investigation of their anatomy, that Xenicus and Acanthisitta (rectius Acanthido- 
sitta ), hitherto supposed to be allied to CertMa and Sitta, were in reality mesomyodian forms, the 
discovery of such low types among the Passerine birds in New Zealand being a fact of considerable 
interest in zoo-geographic distribution. The characters pointed out by this able investigator * went 
* The following is extracted from the paper referred to : — 
“ The subjoined drawings of the syrinx of Xenicus — with which in all points Acanthisitta appears to agree in every essential 
respect — will show that it has none of tho complex nature of that organ in the Oscines, the thin lateral tracheal muscle terminating 
on the upper edge of a somewhat osseous box formed by the consolidation of the last few tracheal rings, and there being no other 
intrinsic syringeal muscle whatsoever. The box has a well-developed antero-posterior pessular piece. The bronchial rings are 
