144: Transactio7is. — Zoology. 



25. Sterna caspia. (Caspian Tern.) 

 Very numerous. 



26. Porphyrio melanotus. (Swamp-hen.) 

 Common. 



27. Rallus philippensis. (Banded Eail.) 

 Common. 



28. Ortygometra tabuensis. (Swamp-rail.) 



Eare. My specimens were taken from a settler's cat. 



29. Ortygometra aflinis. (Marsh-rail.) 



Very rare. I have obtained two from Waikare. On dis- 

 section the stomach of one contained minute shells. 



30. Ocydromus greyi. (North Island Woodhen.) 

 Plentiful, especially in the neighbourhood of Eussell. 



31. Ardea sacra. (Blue Heron.) 



Common. I have obtained its eggs at the Black Eocks. 

 The nest is loosely built, and is composed of twigs and rushes 

 placed in some almost inaccessible chasm. 



32. Botaurus poeciloptilus. (Black-backed Bittern.) 



Not very common, owing to the absence of extensive 

 swamps. 



33. Phalacrocorax novse-hollandiaa. (Black Shag.) 

 Common. I have obtained eggs at a shaggery above the 



Waitangi Falls, where there were three varieties — P. nova- 

 liollandia, P. varius, and P. brevirostris — all nesting in a 

 puriri-tree, which hung over the river. 



34. Phalacrocorax varius. (Pied Shag.) 



Very common. Often on a bright morning I have stood 

 on the side of a cliff and watched this bird fishing in the clear 

 water beneath me. It swims under water with great rapidity, 

 and I have seen it dodging in and out of the seaweed and 

 stones in pursuit of some small fish. The nest is loosely built 

 of twigs, and is generally found on pohutukawa-trees which 

 hang over the water. I have obtained eggs at Cape Brett 

 and in the harbour. 



35. Phalacrocorax brevirostris. (White-throated Shag.) 

 Very common. These birds, P. nova-hollandicB, and 



P. varius have a common shaggery. I have obtained eggs 

 and fully fledged young ones, which are black. An old bird 

 which I shot was white on the breast, with black feathers 

 interspersed, and I have shot others with more or less white 

 on the breast. 



