232 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



II. — Remarks on the Eggs of some New Zealand Birds, collected hj Mr 

 J. R. Cook in Canterbury Province in 1872; including Notes by the 

 Collector. By Mr John A. Harvie-Brown, M.B.O.U., corres- 

 ponding member. 



Casarca variegata (Gmel.) — Paradise Duck. Native name, 

 " Putangi." 



" Nest of eight eggs in schist rock on Upper Waiko ; nearly in- 

 accessible, in a horizontal fissure some 50 feet from the ground ; 

 30 miles inland; on December 23d, 1872." - 



Mr Cook describes this as a very handsome duck. A beautiful 

 plate representing the species will be found in '^ A History of the 

 Birds of New Zealand," by Mr Walter Lawry BuUer, plate xi., 

 page 241. 



Mr Buller writes of this species : — " Its habits resemble in many 

 respects those of the Common Shieldrake of Europe {Tadorna 



mdimnser, Flem.) It is easily domesticated, and has 



been successfully introduced into England, and is to be seen in all 

 its beauty on the artificial lake at Kew Gardens, and elsewhere in 

 this country, and it breeds in the Zoological Society's Gardens, in 

 Eegent's Park." 



Three eggs of the above nest measure exactly the same, viz., 

 2~ inches by 2 inches. These measurements, and all others in 

 this paper, are taken by means of an oometer, and are therefore 

 fully to be relied on.* 



Porphyrio melanotus (Temminck) — Swamp Hen. Native name, 

 " Pukeko." 



" Five eggs. Nests in rushes, or sedge, or tussac, in or very 

 near water. Like water-hen's {Gallinida chlorojms, Lin.). Bird 

 very like a magnified water-hen, but purple, with scarlet bare patch 

 on forehead. Handsome bird. Five or six eggs in nests. 

 December, 1872." 



Mr Buller does not figure this species in his work, but a 

 description and account of its habits will be found at page 185, 

 ei seq. He informs ns that this species is widely distributed over 

 Tasmania, Australia, New Zealand, and the Chatham islands, and 



* Oometers, to Mr H. E. Dressers's pattern, and as supplied to him and myself, 

 are made by Mr J. Buck, 124 Newgate Street, and Waterloo Road, Lambeth, 

 London. 



