^"'I'ojo^'] Stuart-SiitiiivRi.anii, Penguins. Si 



Bill short unci stout. Tail w-ry slujrt, almost wholly coiucalrd 

 by the upper tail coverts. 



Kiidyptiila minor. Blue Penguin. — Upper plumage variable, 

 ranging from pale metallic blue to dull bluish-grey ; each fe'ather 

 streaked centrally with black. Under surface up to the throat 

 and chin glossy white ; the chin is sometimes pale greyish. The 

 flipper edged on thc^ posterior margin with white. Eye silvery- 

 grey. Length fairly constant^iy.S inches — but specimens 

 measure from 1O.5 to 18.5 inches or mc^rc ; wing, 5.75 inches ; 

 bill, 1.9 inches. Egg white, roundish ; 2.2 to 2.5 inches in length. 



The Blue Penguin is too well known tcr need much special 

 treatment. The range extends from about 32° S. latitude to some 

 of the islands off the New Zealand coast, most numerous at the; 

 Chathams. Small numbers nest in caves and holes in Preservation 

 Inlet, and the young are a common sight on the beaches. The 

 foregoing remarks apply also to the beaches between Cape Saunders 

 and Taiaroa Heads. Hutton says the female is smaller than the 

 male, but I do not think regularly so. I have a female skin 

 (dried) which measures 19.4 inches. 



Eudyptula undina. Little Blue- or Eairy Penguin. — Similar to 

 the last in general appearance ; the white patch formed by the 

 under tail coverts relatively larger than in the preceding. Length, 

 13.6 to 14.3 inches ; bill, i.i or 1.2 inches ; wing, 4.7 to 4.9 inches. 

 Egg similar to the above, but smaller ; 1.9 to 2.1 inches. 



Probably even more abundant on the coast than E. minor. As 

 far as the southern portion of the South Island is concerned, I 

 might add that it does not nest in the same cave rookeries as its 

 larger congener, although they mingle freely at other than nesting 

 times. However, the usual nesting-place is a burrow, which may 

 sometimes extend 10 feet in soft soil. The two eggs are laid in 

 November, and the young when hatched are a dingy drab colour 

 on the back and head and a dull dirty white on the under surface. 



Eudyptula albosignata. White-flippered Penguin. — Like E. 

 minor, save that the wings are widely bordered on both edges 

 with white ; and Hutton says, " with a more or less distinct white 

 patcii near the middle of the posterior margin." Length, 17.0 

 inches ; wing, 5.6 inches ; bill, 1.8 inches ; tail, 0.8 inch. Egg 

 white ; 2.1 to 2.3 inches. 



When my attention was fiist drawn to this variety I somewhat 

 doubted its existence, thinkmg that it was probably only a freak ; 

 but I had the opportunity of seeing a couple of skins and an egg 

 in Dunedin, and am now quite convinced. I know httle about 

 this bird, M'hich is said to be obtained Only in the vicinity of Banks 

 Peninsula. In" nesting and other habits it apparently does not 

 differ from E. minor and E. undina. 



