116 Transactions. — Zoology. 



in this they are thickly barred. In this species the three 

 outer tail-feathers on each side are attenuated, with a white 

 edging ; in the others only the two outer pairs of tail-feathers 

 appear to be so attenuated." 



Gallinago tristrami, Eoths. (Antipodes-Island Snipe.) 



I have much pleasure in exhibiting a specimen of this rare 

 Snipe, obtained on the last visit of the " Hinemoa " to Anti- 

 podes Island, and kindly lent to me by Mr. Bethune, the 

 second engineer. 



In his communication relating to Gallinago huegeli, cited 

 above, Canon Tristram made the following remarks : "There 

 would appear to be three species of Gallinago in the islands 

 round New Zealand: G. auchlandica in the Aucklands, 6r. 

 pusilla in the Chathams, and G. huegeli in the Snares, all being 

 sedentary, or nearly so, in their several localities. To these 

 further research will probably add a fourth from Antipodes 

 Island, whence a single specimen has been received by Sir 

 James Hector, who states it to be larger, darker in plumage, 

 and with a more curved bill than the Auckland-Island species. 

 Unfortunately he has not described it." Shortly after this 

 a specimen was obtained by the Hon. Walter Eothschild, 

 who described it at a meeting of the B.O.C., and dedicated 

 it to Canon Tristram. 



Larus dominicanus, Licht. (Black-backed Gull.) 

 Larus scopulinus, Forst. (Bed-billed Gull.) 



We have an excellent proof of the wisdom of protective 

 legislation in the numbers and increasing tameness of the Sea- 

 gulls that now frequent our harbours and estuaries. Not only 

 are these birds very ornamental as they rest on the wharves 

 and jetties, or hover lightly among the shipping at its anchor- 

 age, but they do good service to mankind as scavengers of the 

 water by devouring the garbage which will inevitably find its 

 way into the water in the vicinity of human habitations, and 

 which, unless consumed, decomposes, and vitiates the atmo- 

 sphere. On my last visit to Auckland I was much interested 

 at seeing scores of seagulls of both species (Larus dominicanus 

 and L. scopulinus) crowded together on the ridge-boards of the 

 sheds on the Queen-street Wharf, in the very midst of the busy 

 traffic. After years of rigid protection the birds have become 

 quite familiar with the presence of man, and are, indeed, 

 practically domesticated. What will happen in the course of 

 time I saw exemplified at Glasgow, where hundreds of Kitti- 

 wake Gulls are to be seen all day long disporting themselves 

 in the turbid waters of the Biver Kelvin, as it flows through 

 the grounds in front of the Hunterian Museum. They are 

 just as fearless and confident as domestic fowls, being wholly 



