NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION BY ORDER ek 
LARKS 
7 in. Skylark (Alauda arvensis). White on outer tail 
feathers conspicuous in flight. 
PIPIT 
Sin. Ground Lark (Austranthus novaeseelandiae). Smaller 
and more slender than Skylark. Cry of ‘‘Pipit pipit,’’ wags 
its tail, and is more confident than Skylark. 
THRUSHES 
9 in. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelus). Speckled breast. 
Habit of hunting worms on lawn. 
10 in. Blackbird (Turdus merula). Differs from Song 
Thrush by longer tail and elevation of tail on alighting, 
from Starling by yellow bill in male, and habit of hopping. 
11 in. North Island Thrush (Turnagra tanagra). Almost 
extinet, pure white throat, upper parts olive brown, sides 
dashed with yellow tinge. Beautiful song of five distinct 
bars. 
11 in. South Island Thrush (Turnagra capensis). Ex- 
tremely rare, differs from North Island species by streaks of 
brown on throat. 
5.5 in. Hedge Sparrow (Accentor modularis). Retiring 
habits, also way of shuffling wings and rather shrill ery, 
bluish grey breast noticeable. 
STARLINGS 
84 in. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Distinguished from 
Blackbird at a distance by short square tail and habit of 
walking instead of hopping. 
9 in. Myna (Acridotheres tristis). Snuff brown colouring, 
black on neck, breast and back, conspicuous white band on 
wings when flying. Harsh note, 
10 in. Saddleback (Creadion carunculatus). Still wide- 
spread but very rare. Habit of consorting with Yellowheads 
in South Island and Whiteheads in North Island. Sharply 
margined chestnut back and wing coverts suggesting saddle 
flaps. 
(18.75 in. M, 19.5 in. F. Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris). 
Bright orange wattles on side of head. Male’s bill is very 
much shorter than female’s. The Huia is larger than Blue 
Wattled Crow. Found only in Fagus forests of Rimutaka 
and Ruahine ranges. 
F2 
