^°ic2o^'] Stuart-Suthkrland, Penguins. yg 



This species tonus moderately large rookeries, diftering therel)y 

 from C. chrysocomc, which nests only in very small colonies. 



A melanistic form of probably C. pachyrhynchus or C. chrysocomc 

 also occurs, which is listed by many writers as a separate species 

 under the title of Catarrhactes (Eudyptes) atrata. I think it is 

 gencially admitted that all melanistic forms differ somewhat in 

 structure from their normal variety, and this is no exception. 

 Prof. Evans says in his opinion a form of E. vittata, but this can 

 hardly be so, if due regard is paid to the thin broken line of 

 yellow running from the bill over the eye, and produced posteriorly 

 into a. long yellow cre?t. 



Catarrhactes atrata. Black Penguin. — The upper surface dark 

 bluish-black, with the sides of the head and throat jet black ; 

 under surface also jet black. Crest yellow, inclining to orange. 

 Bill very massive and deep, hght brownish-red. Feel black 

 excepting the toes, which are dark reddish-brown ; hind toes very 

 much reduced. Length (dried skin), 27 inches ; wing, 7.6 inches ; 

 bill, 2.7 inches. 



Specimens are very rarely taken at the Snares and Campl)ell 

 Islands, but I think that if systematic searches were made amongst 

 the nesting colonies of Crested and Thick-billed Penguins, probably 

 many more would be secured. I have no record of any albino 

 forms in this genus. 



Catarrhactes schlegcli. Royal Penguin. — The upper plumage 

 dark slaty-grey ; under surface, including the throat, white, 

 sometimes marked with isolated slaty-grey feathers. The yellow 

 eye stripes, which meet on the forehead and form a crown rather 

 than a crest, are continued backwards and very finely streaked 

 with black. The gape pale yellowish. Bill reddish-brown. 

 Length very variable, ranging from 26 to 30 inches ; wing, 6.5 

 to 8.2 inches ; bill, 2.6 to 2.9 inches ; tail, 1.4 inches. Egg chalky 

 white, 3.1 to 3.4 inches. 



As a "straggler I have on numerous occasions observed this 

 variety on the beaches a.round Taiaroa Heads (Otago Peninsula). 

 The majority of the specimens seen, however, were injured in 

 some manner. Of three seen on one day, two had injured legs 

 and one had a damaged wing. This is peculiar, and would give 

 one the impression that the birds only landed when absolutely 

 compelled to do so. An injured bird, although repeatedly placed 

 in the water, always returned to the same spot. One specimen 

 had scraped a hollow in the sand just a few feet above high water 

 mark, and allowed itself to be handled without the least move- 

 ment. Its leg had been injured in some manner. When placed 

 in the water it swam away, always below the surface, but within 

 one hour had returned to the hollow in the sand. This happened 

 repeatedly, but our game was cut short by a sportsman, who 

 despatched the dangerous beast with a military rifle at close 

 range. I have no records of its breeding on the New Zealand 

 coast, the principal rookeries being on the Macquarie and Campbell 

 Islands. 



