BuLLEB. — On the Ornithology of New Zealand. 13 



close vegetation, although I spent a considerable time hunting 

 for it. 



Sphenoeacus punctatus, Quoy and Gaim. (Fern-bird.) 



I have lately noticed, at Papaitonga, that this species has 

 a habit of hopping over the ground to feed under the thick 

 marsh vegetation. This may probably account for the usually 

 abraded condition of the tail-feathers at the close of the 

 season. 



As mentioned on a previous occasion, I have received from 

 Stewart Island two skins (male and female) that seem to 

 represent a larger race — possibly a distinct species — but I am 

 anxious to procure more specimens before forming any definite 

 conclusion. This bird is darker than the common Fern-bird 

 of the mainland, the whole of the foreneck and throat being 

 thickly studded with black spots. These black markings 

 become more conspicuous on the breast and sides, occupying 

 the whole centi'e of the feather. 



Sphenoeacus rufescens, Buller. (Chatham Island Fern- 

 bird.) 



I have in my possession a partial albino of this now very 

 rare species from the Chatham Islands. 



Anthus novae-zealandise, Gmelin. (New Zealand Pipit.) 



Mr. Langley, of Foxton, has forwarded to me for examina- 

 tion the skin of a pure albino of this species, very skilfully 

 prepared by himself. There is also another perfect albino in 

 the Colonial Museum collection, obtained, I believe, in the 

 Hawke's Bay District. 



I notice that Captain Hutton, when exhibiting to the 

 Philosophical Society of Canterbury an albino Skylark, 

 referred to it as the first example of the kind obtained in New 

 Zealand. This is not exactly the case, however, for in 1886 I 

 received two specimens from Mr. W. W. Smith, of Ashburton. 

 One of these I presented to the British Museum and the other 

 to the Cambridge Zoological Museum. The fact is interesting 

 in itself, as showing the strong tendency to albinism in this 

 country even among introduced birds. 



Rhipidura fuliginosa, Sparrm. (Black Fantail.) 



At Half- moon Bay (Stewart Island) I saw a Black Fantail 

 paired with a Pied Fantail, the former looking, as it moved 

 about among the twigs on the roadside, half as large again as 

 its mate. Rhipidura flahellifera is the common species on 

 the island, there being only stray individuals of the black 

 form. 



