a bird of New Zealand, Acanthidositta chloris, Buller; Maori name, Titipounamu. See quotation. The name is sometimesapplied also to the Rifle-bird (q.v.).
1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 113:
« Acanthidositta chloris, Buller. The rifleman is thesmallest of our New Zealand birds. It is very generallydistributed.»
[Footnote]: «This has hitherto been written Acanthisitta; but Professor Newton has drawn myattention to the fact of its being erroneous. I have thereforeadopted the more classic form of Acanthidositta, theetymology of which is 'akanthid, – – crude form of 'akanthis = Carduelis, and sitta = sitta.»
1888. W. Smith, `Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,'vol. xxi. art. xxi. p. 214:
« Acanthisitta chloris (Rifleman). The feeble note ofthis diminutive bird is oftener heard in the bush than the birdis seen.»