52 Transactions. — Zoology. 



stifling. I could see nothing, so I lighted a bunch of dry- 

 leaves, and thrust it through the opening into the tree. As I 

 did this a bat flew out in my face, another, and another. The 

 smoke increased, and the bats streamed out in hundreds. I 

 have no means of computing the number, but one of my men, 

 having a small switch in his hand, kept striking at the stream, 

 the result of which I afterwards counted. There were exactly 

 a hundred bats killed. For one killed at least ten must have 

 passed and flown away. Large numbers dropped down in 

 clusters through the blazing opening. I had no idea there 

 were so many bats in the Wairarapa, and would not have 

 believed it had I not seen them. I have never seen in New 

 Zealand such another collection." 



Akt. VIII. — Note on the Flightless Bail of the Chatham 

 Islands (Cabalus modestus). 



By Sir Walteb L. Bulleb, K.C.M.G., F.B.S. 

 [Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 26th October, 1892.'] 



I have much pleasure in exhibiting this evening two speci- 

 mens (presumably male and female) of the Flightless Bail 

 {Cabalus modestus), recently obtained on Mangare Island, a 

 rocky satellite of the Chathams. 



My correspondent informs me that this bird is strictly 

 nocturnal in its habits, and that the man employed by him was 

 out every night for two months before he succeeded in taking 

 them. 



The distinguishing superficial characters of this remark- 

 able form are apparent at a glance : the abbreviated wings, 

 the soft fluffy plumage of sombre hue, the long, slightly- 

 curved bill, and the well-developed legs. Professor Hutton, 

 who first described this species, claimed for it generic rank on 

 account of its internal structure (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. vi., 

 pp. 108-110), and this claim is now generally recognised. 

 The curvature of the bill is more pronounced in the larger 

 (presumably the male) bird, being very similar to that of the 

 Moeriki (Cabalus dicjfeiibachii) as figured in our Transactions 

 (vol. vi., p. 12), but more slender, and I feel confirmed in the 

 opinion that the two species are referable to one and the same 



genus. 



The specimens now before the meeting have enabled me 

 to prepare a more detailed description of the species than has 

 hitherto appeared. 



Adult. — General plumage dark vinous-brown, changing to 



