34 Transactions. — Zoology. 



states that, in his opinion, this species breeds twice in the 

 year. He found it quite numerous in the mountain streams 

 or river-beds, and met with many broods of young ones. He 

 counted generally seven or eight, and on one occasion 

 thirteen, in a clutch. 



Formerly, however, it was far more abundant. Mr. Mc- 

 Donald, of Blenheim, informs me that in the old days he has 

 known as many as five thousand taken in a single season. 

 The numbers have been greatly diminished of late years by 

 the laying of poisoned wheat for wild rabbits. 



Rhynchaspis variegata, Gould. (Spoonbill Duck.) 



A pair of these beautifully marked Ducks have nested for 

 three successive seasons in the sedge near my boat-house on 

 the PapaitongaLake. This year the brood came out in the 

 last week of November. 



Podiceps rufipectus, Gray. (New Zealand Dabchick.) 



This is one of the most interesting birds on the Papaitonga 

 Lake, where it is extremely plentiful, as the result of close 

 protection. A pair brought out their brood of five about the 

 15th December. It was very pretty to observe one of the old 

 birds swimming over the smooth water followed by her little 

 crowd of young ones, and then detaching herself for a time to 

 gambol with her mate, and to skim the surface of the water, 

 a,pparently in the height of playful enjoyment. 



This bird is called " Taihoropi " by the Ngapuhi Tribe, 

 " Weweia " by the Rotorua natives, and " Taratitomoho " in 

 the Waikato. 



Eudyptes chrysolophus, Bx'andt. (The Royal Penguin.) 



I have lately had an opportunity of examining four curious 

 specimens of this bird from the Macquarie Islands. Three of 

 them are partial albinoes. No. 1 has the entire surface of 

 the flippers and the whole of the body below their insertion 

 white, tinged with cream-colour on the upper parts. There is 

 no distinct line of demarcation against the dark plumage above 

 the wings, but each feather has a brown centre, and this in- 

 creases in extent till the darker plumage is reached ; above 

 the tail there are also a few touches of brown ; and the tail- 

 feathers, which are white, have brown margins ; rest of the 

 plumage normal, the golden-yellow on the forehead being 

 extensive and very vivid. Nos. 2 and 3 have less white on 

 the upper surface, the plumage of the back being pale yellow- 

 ish-brown. The fourth specimen has a strong tendency to- 

 wards melanism. On the right-hand side of the body there 

 sxe large irregular patches of slaty-black feathers covering 



