Art. XXII.—Remarks on various species of New Zealand Birds, in explanation of Specimens exhibited at meetings of the Wellington Philosophical Society, 1875–6.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 8, 1875, Page 196

Art. XXII.—Remarks on various species of New Zealand Birds, in explanation of Specimens exhibited at meetings of the Wellington Philosophical Society, 1875–6. By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., D.Sc., President. 1. On varieties of Carpophaga Novœ Zealandiœ. Dr. Buller exhibited two remarkable specimens of the New Zealand Pigeon (Carpophaga Novœ Zealandiœ.) One of these was a beautiful albino, the entire plumage being of a pure milk white, the small wing coverts alone presenting a slight tinge of yellowish-brown; bill and feet carmine red. It was obtained in the Wairarapa by Mr. Keleher, who has presented it to the Colonial Museum. The other specimen was a partial albino, shot by Capt. Mair, of Tauranga, and presented to the exhibitor. In this bird the shoulders, back, rump, and upper tail coverts have a rich appearance, the white predominating. Some of the wing feathers and their coverts are wholly white, with bronzed edges and clouded with grey, while others again present the normal coloration. The distribution of colors, however, is quite irregular, the white largely predominating in the right wing. In remarking on these specimens, Dr. Buller referred to some other accidental varieties described at page 158 of his “Birds of New Zealand,” and more particularly to an example presented to him by Mr. Edward Hardcastle, of Hokitika (now in the Colonial Museum), in which the head, neck, fore part of the breast, and all the upper parts are pale yellowish-brown, more or less glossed with purple; the wing coverts and scapulars stained towards the tips with coppery brown; the quills and tail-feathers uniform pale yellowish-brown, tinged with vinous, the tips of the latter paler.

2. On a Specimen of Thalassidroma nereis. Dr. Buller exhibited a specimen of the Grey-backed Storm Petrel (Thalassidroma nereis), obtained on the coast near Cape Campbell, by Mr. C. H. Robson, a member of the Society, and forwarded by that gentleman to the Colonial Museum. Dr. Buller stated that there are two examples of this rare Petrel in the Canterbury Museum, but that hitherto, so far as he was aware, it was a desideratum in all other local collections. Mr. Robson's donation would therefore prove a valuable addition to the collection of birds in the Colonial Museum. 3. On the occurrence of Nyroca australis. Dr. Buller exhibited also a specimen of the White-eyed Duck (Nyroca australis), obtained in the Manawatu district, and purchased from Mr. Liardet. He stated that the existence of this well known Australian species in New Zealand was first ascertained by Captain Hutton, who, in 1869, obtained a specimen in the Waikato, and forwarded it to him for determination. (Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. II., p. 78.) It has since been met with at Canterbury and further south; but the present is the first known instance of its occurrence in this Province. 4. On a supposed New Species of Shag. Dr. Buller exhibited to the meeting three specimens (male, female, and young) of a species of Shag, collected by Mr. Henry Travers, in Queen Charlotte Sound, and which, although in some respects closely resembling Phalacrocoraœ carunculatus, is probably a distinct form. Dr. Buller pointed out the distinguishing characters, and stated that if, on a further examination and comparison of specimens it should prove to be a new species, he proposed (with the concurrence of the discoverer) to name it in honor of Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen, who has made many valuable contributions to New Zealand Ornithology. 5. On Prion banksii as a Species. Five examples of the adult and young of Prion banksii, together with a specimen of the egg, were exhibited, and Dr. Buller pointed out the characters which, to his mind, sufficiently distinguished this species from Prion ariel on the one hand, and Prion vittatus on the other. The specimens exhibited were obtained at the small islands off the New Zealand coast, known as “The Brothers.” 6. On a remarkable variety of Porphyrio melanotus. Dr. Buller exhibited a very singular example of the Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus), shewing a tendency to albinism, which he had purchased from Mr. Liardet. Both this and another very similar specimen (of which a full description is given at p. 186 of “The Birds of New Zealand) were

obtained in the Manawatu district. He remarked on the frequency of albinism in this species, and invited the attention of the meeting to the plate of Porphyrio stanleyi, in Mr. Dawson Rowley's “Ornithological Miscellany,” which bears unmistakable indications of being merely an albino. The Canterbury Museum contains a specimen in partial albino-dress, very closely resembling the one exhibited. 7. On the validity of Aplonis zealandicus. Dr. Buller read to the meeting an extract from a letter which he had recently received from the well-known ornithologist, Dr. Otto Finsch, of Bremen, to the following effect:— “It will interest you to hear that the specimen of the so-called Gerygone igata, in the Museum at Paris is positively Gerygone flaviventris, and that Aplonis zealandicus is a good species, of which there are undoubted specimens from New Zealand in the museums of Paris and Leiden. I have been working several weeks at Leiden, and have gathered some further material on the ornithology of New Zealand.” Dr. Buller remarked on the singular fact that since this species was collected by M.M. Quoy and Gaimard, at Tasman Bay, during the voyage of the “Astrolabe,” it has never been met with in any part of the country. There is no confirmation, however, of the allied species Aplonis obscurus * Dubus, Bull. Acad. Sci. Brux., 1839. Part I., p. 297. as a New Zealand bird, and A. caledonicus, Bonap. (which is a native of New Caledonia and Norfolk Island) has apparently been admitted into our list by mistake. 8. On the specific value of Eudyptula undina. Dr. Buller exhibited a specimen of the small Penguin (Eudyptula undina) with remnants of down adhering; to show that this species assumes the full plumage from the nest, the blue on the upper surface being very bright. He compared it also with specimens of Eudyptula minor, and pointed out the specific characters—the latter form being readily distinguished by its larger size, duller plumage, and more robust bill. As to whether E. albosiquata (Finsch), can be considered distinct from this species, Dr. Buller referred to his former remarks (“Trans., N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. VII., p. 210) and quoted the following passage from the last letters he had received from Dr. Finsch:— “Very likely it may turn out to be only a variety of E. minor; but, if the latter, I have seen many other specimens, and not a single one showed the peculiar markings on the wings characteristic of albosiquata. Besides, it has a white spot on the upper tail-coverts, which I have not observed in E. minor.”

Dr. Buller exhibited a drawing, which Dr. Finsch had sent him of the wing of Eudyptula albosiquata; but he still maintained the opinion that it was only an accidental variety of the common species.