Sandager. — Oil, the Mokohiiion Islands. 291 



I found a pair of birds in each, but no egg, the birds being still 

 engaged sinking their burrow, or bringing in rubbish, of 

 which a large quantity is used, for a nest. 



This species bites viciously if the hand is inserted in the 

 burrow after it is partly excavated, and to handle it with any 

 degree of comfort, unless it is at once killed, the long sharp 

 beak must be tied. The stomachs of those I skinned contained 

 a dark-green substance, and several eyeballs (like those from 

 a fish) -^in. in diameter, also beaks — possibly the remains of 

 cephalopods. Laying-time from beginning of December to 

 middle of January. Colour of egg white, much tapered. 

 Largest egg found : length, 3-31in. ; width, l-91in. Smallest: 

 lengtii, 3iu. ; width, l-75in. The young begin to leave in 

 the middle of April, and by the end of May all are gone. It 

 is worthy of note that the breeding-time of this bird differs 

 from that of any other species found here. Both birds, for a 

 month previous to laying, remain in the burrow daring the 

 day. None have ever struck the lantern. 



Picffiniis zealandicus , n. sp. 



As previously mentioned, this species was secured by me 

 in January, 1886, when it flew against the lantern, and up to 

 June, 1888, no description of it has been found. The following 

 description was taken from the living bird : — 



Top of head (to a little below the eye) greyish-black. A 

 small white spot beneath the lower margin of eye. Wings 

 above, brownish-black ; secondaries slightly edged with white. 

 Neck, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts slate-grey. Tail- 

 feathers brownish-black above and below\ Chin, throat, 

 lower part of wings, and the whole under-surface white, 

 excepting the feathers on tibia, which are light-grey. Lower 

 part of both mandibles bluish, remainder black. Outer 

 margin of tarsus, and two outer toes, black ; remainder pale, 

 with a bluish tinge. Interdigital membrane pale, shaded with 

 black. 



Measurements: L., 18in. ; W., 12in. ; B., 2-15in. ; tarsus, 

 2-llin. 



I have sent to Auckland for the specimen, for, so far, I 

 regret to say, nothing has been done to preserve it, and it has 

 been kept in spirits since I first sent it up. 



Procollaria parkinsoni. 



Does not breed on any of the Mokohinou Islands, and 

 only one example, which struck the lantern some years ago, 

 has come under my notice. 



Procellaria cookii. 



Does not breed here, but numbers annually strike the 

 lantern during calm, thick nights in October and November, 



