BuLLER. — On Ncio Zealand Birds. 69 



Diomedea exulans. (The Wandering Albatros.) 



Captain Fairchild brought in from near the Chatham 

 Islands (early in September) two birds, apparently male and 

 female, in both of ^Yhich the blood-red mark first described by 

 Professor Hutton was visible on the sides of the neck. This 

 character cannot therefore be a sexual one, although it may 

 be peculiar to the breeding-season. 



Adamastor cinereus. (The Brown Petrel.) 



Captain Fairchild has brought me a pair of this compara- 

 tively-rare species of Petrel, shot by him, a few days ago, half- 

 way between Wellington and the Chatham Islands. One of 

 them being in the tiesh, I am able to supply the actual 

 measurements, hitherto known only from the skin. 



Female.-— 'Extreme length, 22in. ; extent of wings, 51in. ; 

 wing from flexure, 15in. ; tail, 5in. ; bill, along the ridge 2-2in., 

 along the edge of lower mandible 2-3in. ; tarsus, 2in. ; middle 

 toe and claw, 3-25in. The bill is perfectly black on the ridge, 

 but changes to horn-colour on the hook ; the sides of both 

 mandibles are bluish-grey, but a black line extends down the 

 middle of the lower mandible and widens out on meeting the 

 unguis, which is dull horn-colour. The irides are very dark 

 brown, almost black. The legs and feet are greyish flesh- 

 colour, shaded with slaty grey on the heel and on the outer 

 side of tarsus and toe ; interdigital webs yellowish with grey 

 edges. 



This is the first time Captain Fairchild has obtained sjseci- 

 mens of this Petrel during the many years he has been navi- 

 gating the " Hinemoa." It cannot therefore be very plentiful. 

 But it appears to enjoy a wide oceanic range, for I have in 

 my collection an example taken at sea not far from the Cape 

 of Good Hope. 



Aptenodytes longirostris. (The King Penguin.) 



The Penguins as a family are noted for their ferocity, 

 snapping and biting in a very determined manner when inter- 

 fered with or handled. The King Penguin, however, notwith- 

 standing its great size and its power of muscle, is one of the 

 gentlest of birds. On being captured they naturally struggle 

 to escape, and sometimes utter a peculiar guttural cry ; but 

 in confinement they immediateh' become quite tame and 

 tractable. Although armed with a powerful bill they never 

 use it for offensive purposes. They submit to being stroked 

 on the head and back without showing even a sign of im- 

 patience, and when an attempt is made to handle tliem they 

 merely parry the intrusive hand with their long flippers, and 

 in the gentlest manner. Captain Fairchild brought me four 



