122 Transactions. — Zoology. 



separated by an interval of soft skin from the latericorn. In 

 this respect the present species is somewhat intermediate 

 between Diomedea and Thalassogeron, but the base of the 

 culminicorn, though not so well developed, distinctly spreads 

 and has a well-defined posterior margin." 



Diomedea salvini, Kothschild. (Salvin's Albatros.) 



On the same unimpeachable authority, Mr. Kothschild has 

 renamed the bird which has hitherto been known to us as 

 Diomedea cauta, and has referred it to the genus Thalassogeron. 

 The type of Gould's T. cauttts is in the British Museum, and 

 the present form is distinguished thus : Similis Th. canto, sed 

 rostro multo minore, ad basin minus elevato, plumbescente 

 nee albido, tarsis et digitis brevioribus quoque dignoscendus. 

 He adds, " In coloration this species is apparently greyer on 

 the head and neck, the dark loral mark in front of the eye 

 being very conspicuous." 



Majaqueus aequinoctialis, Linn. (The "Stinker" of 

 whalers.) 



In a former paper (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxv., p. 62) I 

 mentioned, on the authority of the carpenter of the " Hine- 

 moa, " a new species of Petrel at the Auckland Islands, of 

 which he had obtained two specimens, and which, from his 

 account of it, I referred to Majaqueus aquinoctialis. I have 

 now the pleasure to lay before you two specimens (male and 

 female), lately obtained through Mr. Smyth, the well-known 

 taxidermist at Caversham, so that the claim of this fine species 

 to a place in our list is beyond question. The peculiar 

 odour which is characteristic of all Petrels in life, and never 

 entirely quits the dried skin, is very pronounced in this 

 species, and quite justifies the name by which whalers and 

 sailors distinguish it. 



*o v 



Majaqueus parkinsoni, Gray. (Black Petrel.) 



Mr. J. Brough, of Nelson, in sending me a skin of this 

 Petrel, furnishes the following notes: "This bird was killed 

 in February on a dividing-range between the head of the 

 Heaphy and the Big Eiver. It was found in a hole at the 

 roots of a huge rata, in the midst of dense forest. I am quite 

 satisfied that this bird is the ' Night Demon ' of our diggers. 

 I had a live one some time ago from Collingwood, and I kept 

 it for three months ; so I had every opportunity of observing 

 its habits. It was strictly nocturnal, and would never feed by 

 day. On windy nights the bird would become very excited, 

 and then it would give vent to the hysterical laugh or scream 

 from which it takes its name of ' Night Demon.' ' 



