107 
the Otago Institute, in June 1874*, he said: — “Dr. Buller, in his great work, unfortunately does 
not mention the typical specimen of 0. earli. Gray, and not having compared it myself, I am unable 
to make out whether the true earli is indeed the bright cinnamon-red bird as Captain Hutton and I 
believe, or whether it is the same as 0. australis figured under the name of earli by Dr. Buller.” 
In 1878 1 published f a revision of the group (see infra, p. 120), in which I adhered to the 
nomenclature I had adopted, and added a fourth species {0. hrachypterus) to the list. 
In the autumn of 1885 I had an opportunity of examining at Auckland a large collection of 
birds brought by Mr. Keischek from the South Island. Among the most interesting of these was a 
species of Woodhen, closely resembling the North-Island bird, but distinguishable by its more 
cinnamon-coloured plumage and its brighter legs and feet. Of this Woodhen, Mr. Eeischek had 
obtained five specimens, two of which (male and female) I was fortunate enough to secure. 
On coming to England I hunted up the type of Mr. G. R. Gray’s Ocydromus earli at the British 
Museum, and then discovered to my surprise that this was identical with the new bird brought by 
Eeischek from the South Island, which must therefore stand as Ocydromus earli. This specimen was 
brought from New Zealand by Mr. Percy Earl, in 1845, but there is no locality assigned to it in the 
British-Museum register ; and its general similarity in plumage to the present species has led to a very 
natural mistake. 
It thus follows that the common Woodhen of the North Island is still without a distinctive 
name. 
I find, on looking over the old type-collection of birds in the British Museum, that Sir George 
Grey, K.C.B., was one of the earliest and most liberal contributors of specimens from New Zealand. 
I have therefore decided to distinguish this form as Ocydromus greyi. In thus dedicating the species 
to that veteran statesman and scientist, I feel sure that 1 shall have the approval of my ornithological 
brethren, both in this country and abroad. I do this the more readily because I have been compelled 
(as stated in Vol. I. p. 178) to destroy the only other connecting-link of the kind by expunging 
Stringops greyi from our list of species J. 
The range of this species is strictly confined to the North Island. Speaking generally, it is a 
rare bird in the country lying north of Auckland, is sparingly dispersed over the Waikato district, and 
is very abundant in the southern parts of the island. In former times, according to the accounts of 
* Trans. N.-Z. Inst. vol. vii. p. 231. t Hid. vol. x. pp. 213-216. 
X To myself personally it is very gratifying to bo in a position to pay this compliment to Sir George Grey. He was tbe 
valued friend of my late honoured father and, in the early days of the colony, encouraged and aided him in his laborious missionary 
work. Moreover, I have a grateful recollection of many personal acts of kindness to myself in my younger days. But his real 
claim to special mention here is that, while holding high office, ho has always taken an active interest in the furtherance of Ornitho- 
logical science. In illustration of this I may mention that, as far back as 1863, when Governor of New Zealand, he urged upon 
me the preparation of a handbook on the subject for the use of colonial students. When, some ten years later, I published my 
‘ History of the Birds of Hew Zealand,’ he was the first of my many colonial friends to send me a cordial letter of congratulation. 
And when, at a subsequent date, at the request of the Colonial Government, I produced an illustrated ‘ Manual of the Birds of 
Hew Zealand,’ he sent me the following appreciative note 
“ Kawau, Jan. 28, 1885. 
“ My Dear BtriEER, — 
“ I am very much obliged to you for the copy of your ‘ Manual of the Birds of Hew Zealand,’ which you have been 
good enough to send me. I regard it as being in every respect a work of great value ; and it possesses this great advantage, 
that from the Diagram of a Bird which you have introduced into it, to illustrate the technical terms used in describing the 
various species, and from the lucid language in which each bird is described, you have rendered your work a most valuable 
introduction to the study of the science of ornithology, with the aid of which any student may readily master that subject in so 
far as it relates to Hew Zealand, and thoroughly understand any other ornithological work that he may read. In this respect 
you have rendered a great benefit to the youth of Hew Zealand. 
“ Truly yours, 
“ G. Grey.” 
P 2 
“ W. L. Buller, Esq., O.M.G.’ 
