275 
individuals I could find in the Collections of the British Museum, 
the Museums of the Zoological Society, the Royal College of Sur¬ 
geons, and elsewhere, in consequence of an Apteryx belonging to 
Dr. Mantell having been placed in my hands by that gentleman a few 
days since, which appeared to me to differ from all that I had before 
seen. As a careful comparison of this bird with the specimens in the 
collections before mentioned fully justified me in considering it as a 
distinct species, I was about to describe it as a new one; but most 
fortunately, I heard that the original specimen figured and described 
by Dr. Shaw (to which he applied the name Apteryx Australis) was 
in the collection of the Earl of Derby at Knowsley. It is with much 
pleasure I have to acknowledge the kindness of his lordship in honour¬ 
ing me with the loan of this bird, which has enabled me to identify 
the large Apteryx placed in my hands by Dr. Mantell as belonging 
to this species, and also to determine most satisfactorily the distinct¬ 
ive characters of the common species, w r hich is considerably smaller, 
and to which the name of Apteryx Australis has long been erroneously 
applied. This bird differs from the original Apteryx Australis of Dr. 
Shaw in its smaller size, its darker and more rufous colour, its longer 
tarsus which is scutulated in front, its shorter toes and ckrws, which 
are dark horn-coloured, its smaller wings, which have much stronger 
and thicker quills, and also in having long straggling hairs on the 
face. I may however remark, that although individuals of this spe¬ 
cies differ much in size, depending probably on age, sex, &e., I have 
found no exception to the distinctive characters above given. I there¬ 
fore propose the name of Apteryx Mantelli for this smaller and more 
common species,—a humble effort to commemorate the exertions of 
Walter Mantell, Esq., to whom we are indebted for so many valuable 
discoveries in the natural history of New Zealand. 
I subjoin a short description of the two species, together with 
figures of their legs and wings, in order that they may be more readily 
distinguished. 
Apteryx Australis. 
Colour pale greyish-brown, dark¬ 
est on the back. 
Entire length.30 inches*. 
Bill from forehead .. 6 „ 
Tarsus (reticulated) . 2\ „ 
Middle toe and claw 3f „ 
Claws nearly equal in length, and 
white. 
Wings with soft slender quills ; 
face with short hairs. 
Apteryx Mantelli. 
Colour dark rufous brown, dark¬ 
est on the hack. 
Entire length.23 inches*. 
Bill from forehead .. 4 ,, 
Tarsus (scutulated) . 2f „ 
Middle toe and claw 2\ ,, 
Middle claw longest, all the claws 
dark horn-colour. 
Wings with strong thick quills; 
face with long straggling hairs. 
In conclusion, I would remark that the specimen of Apteryx Au¬ 
stralis belonging to Dr. Mantell was collected by his son in Dusky 
* The entire length, being taken from skins, I consider of little value; the en¬ 
tire length of a bird ought always to be taken before the bird is skinned. 
