108 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Whatever may be the true solution, the bird is an inter- 

 esting specimen, and a valuable addition to our Museum. 



Apteryx haastii. 



The specimen of Apteryx haastii, or large grey kiwi, was 

 sent to me through the post by Mr. Charles Douglas, from 

 near Okura, in Westland, who desired me to determine to what 

 species it belonged. Mr. Douglas states he found it in a hole 

 under a log, together with a kiwi of the common kind {Apteryx 

 oioeni), and since, as he states, " he has always before observed 

 that individuals of the two species indulge in a fierce conflict 

 whenever they meet," he concluded this specimen must either 

 be a hybrid or a new species. 



The bird was badly preserved, but I sent it on to Sir Walter 

 Buller for inspection, and he identifies it as an immature 

 specimen of Apteryx haastii — a rare species, and of which there 

 is not (to his knowledge) any example in the public museums 

 of Europe. 



It was first obtained in the high ranges near Okarito, 

 Westland, and when I was there some eleven years ago I 

 frequently heard it spoken of under the name of " roa," but 

 never personally saw one. It would be well to endeavour to 

 obtain a good specimen for our Museum. 



Art. XIII. — On the Occurrence of the Luth, or Leathery 

 Turtle, on the Coasts of Neio Zealand. 



By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, 25th July, 1892.] 



About the end of May in this year several paragraphs ap- 

 peared in the local newspapers respecting a marine animal 

 captured off the Bay of Islands by Captain Subritzky, of the 

 schooner " Medora." At first I took the statements to refer 

 to an unusually large specimen of the green turtle (Chelonia 

 viridis), a species which is plentiful in many parts of Polynesia, 

 and in tropical seas generally, and which frequently wanders 

 so far from its ordinary habitats as to be seen off the northern 

 coasts of New Zealand. But I was assured that this was not 

 the case ; and, as Captain Subritzky brought his specimen to 

 Auckland for exhibition, I took an early opportunity of inspect- 

 ing it. I had then no difficulty in identifying it with the 

 luth, or leathery turtle {Sphargis coriacea), the largest of all 

 living chelonians, and one which has never before been noticed 

 in our seas. As some little interest attaches to the discovery 



