Kikk. — Variety of New Zealand Pigeon. 120 



A.RT. XXV. — A remarkable Variety of the Xew Zealand Pigeon 

 (Carpophaga novae-zealaudiae), with References to precious 

 Notices. By T. W. Kirk. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 24th June, 1885. | 



Head, neck, and fore part of breast, which iu ordinary specimens 

 are shining gold-green, are here thickly strewn with white 

 feathers. On the fore-neck, the coppery purple band is replaced 

 by a large patch of pure white feathers. The nape, shoulder, 

 and upper surface of wings are also thickly strewn with white 

 feathers ; back and uropygiurn have likewise many white 

 patches, but getting fewer towards the latter portion. The 

 bright green of the breast is succeeded by a band of pale grey, 

 which fades as it approaches the abdomen. Quills and tail- 

 feathers, normal colour. In no instance is a parti-coloured 

 feather to be found, the white feathers being pure ; even the 

 shafts are destitute of colour. 



Eves, pink, not carmine-red, as is usual. Feet, paler than 

 customary ; the soles flesh colour, rather than yellow. Bill, 

 normal colour. 



This specimen was shot at Eketahuna, in the Seventy-mile 

 Bush, Provincial District of Wellington, by Mr. R. R. Greville, 

 and by him presented to the Museum. 



References.— Bullet, " Birds of N.Z.," p. 158 : " Trans. N.Z. 

 Inst.," vol. viii., p. 196. 



Kirk, T. W., " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," vol. xii., p. 248. 



Art. XXVI. — Notice of an Instance of Abnormal Colouring in 

 Platycercus auriceps, with Record of precious Notices of 

 similar Variations. By T. W. Kirk. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 24th June, 1885.] 



On looking for previous notices of the occurrence of variations 

 from the type of this species, they were found to be so scattered, 

 that the thought struck me it might be of some help to students 

 of ornithology if they were collected together into one paper. I 

 have therefore prepared the description of the specimen now on 

 the table, with a record of all previous notices that I could find ; 

 and trust that the list is tolerably complete, 



