Buller. — Notes on Neiv Zealand Birds. G3 



Nyroca australis, Gould. (The White-eyed Duck.) 



A specimen was lately obtained in the Wairarapa Lake. 

 There are several in the Canterbury Museum, all from Lake 

 Ellesmere. 



Casarca variegata, Gmelin. (The Paradise Duck.) 



This fine Duck, formerly so plentiful in the Marlborough 

 District, is becoming scarce, large numbers perishing every 

 season through taking the poisoned grain laid for rabbits. A 

 Marlborough resident informs me that years ago he was a 

 constant attendant when the Maoris hunted the " flappers," 

 or moulting birds when incapable of flight, and that he has 

 known upwards of five thousand to be taken in this manner 

 during a single season. They are now counted only by tens 

 and twenties. 



Apteryx bulleri, Sharpe. (The North Island Kiwi.) 



I have to notice a singular development in the bill of a 

 Kiwi from the Hawera district which was kindly presented 

 to me by Mr. S. H. Drew, of Wanganui. The lower mandible 

 is bent downwards at the tip, after the familiar form of a boat- 

 hook (see fig. 1, PI. YL). Most of the toes are without 

 claws, having blunt and rounded extremities. I think this 

 condition is due to the bird having, when very young, passed 

 over ground on which a fire was smouldering, using the bill in 

 the manner habitual to it, and getting severely burned in 

 consequence. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, this Kiwi 

 seemed to have had no difficulty in procuring food, and was in 

 excellent condition of body when presented to me. As re- 

 quested by Mr. Drew, I turned it loose on my little wooded 

 island at Papaitonga, where it will have the companionship of 

 its own and other species. 



Art. X. — Further Notes on the Birds of Neiv Zealand. 



By Sir Walter L. Buller, D.Sc, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 18th January, 1893.] 



This budget of notes, which is merely a continuation of 

 a similar paper read at a former meeting, is probably the last 

 I shall offer to this society for a considerable time, as I 

 purpose leaving in a few weeks for Europe, and may be absent 

 from the colony several years. 



Almost every fact of any value or significance which has 

 come to my knowledge since the publication of my "Birds of 



