393 Letters, Announcements, !^'C. 



comparing it with specimens from the Chatham Isles in the 

 Otago Museum, I have not the slightest doubt that the two are 

 identical. But the Snipe from the Auckland Isles seems to me 



different in size and colouring It struck me at the time 



that after all there might be differences between Gallinago 

 auckhiaiVica and G. ims'iUa, which I believe are at present 

 considered synonymous. 



But the best bird I have got (and that, I think you will 

 admit, is a good thing) is a Meryus from the Auckland Isles. 



I procured a pair of ^Mergansers with a few other skins in 

 Invercargill, from a man who had just returned from a sur- 

 veying trip to the islands. He had not even turned the skin 

 after taking it off the body ; but as soon as I saw the back 

 through the opening, and felt the beak through the skin of 

 the neck, I knew Mdiat I had. 



By next mail (that is, as soon as I have unpacked ray boxes 

 in Melbourne) I will send you the exact measurements and 

 descriptions of my birds. I am sorry not to be able to do so 

 now ; but I have had not a moment's time. However, I have 

 compared the Meryus with the original description of Meryus 

 ttustraVis in the ' Voyage of the Astrolabe / from it I judge 

 that either the description is a very poor one, or my two birds 

 must belong to a new species. But what agrees well, and 

 made me first think they were an immature pair of birds, is 

 the lower surface of the body, which, instead of being white, 

 as in M. serrator, is of a dull slaty grey, variegated with 

 white bands (the feathers being edged with white) . 



The whole plumage is very dark, approaching black on the 

 back, the crest well formed, and the size, I fancy, considerably 

 smaller than the British Red-breasted jNIerganser {M. serrator) . 

 From the great difference in size and brightness of colouring 

 in bill and feet, I deem them to be male and female ; but in 

 plumage there is little difference. The birds were killed the 

 latter end of November last ; and I procured them on the 27th 

 of the following month. But my luck with Auckland things 

 did not end here ; for I have received a Rail killed on that 

 island by the unfortunate Capt. Musgrave of the ' Grafton.' 

 As soon as I grot the bird I was struck with its resemblance 



