544 Mr. W. 11. Ogilvie-Grant on Birds 



of H.M.S. 'Archer/ procured living specimens of P. ranfurlyi 

 from the Bounty Islands and skins of several other species ; 

 Lt. Kennett Dixon, also of H.M.S. 'Archer/ forwarded an 

 example of the rare Merganser {Merganser australis) from 

 Auckland Island and a number of other birds in formaline ; 

 and Commander R. F. Ayscough, H.M.S. ' Ringdove/ sent 

 the skin of a new species of TVeka Rail (Ocydromus scotti) 

 from Stewart Island, as well as other skins of birds. 



A second trip was made in the year 1901 on the s.s. 

 ' Tutanekai.' Starting on the 20th December, Lord Ranfurly 

 visited the same islands with the addition of the Macquaries, 

 where examples of Phalacrocorax traversi were procured. 

 This Cormorant was new to the British Museum Collection. 

 Here also two white examples of the " Nelly " {Ossifraga 

 gigantea) were shot. This white form was considered to be 

 extremely rare, as no other specimens were seen. 



Two trips were made at other dates to the Cook and 

 Harvey Islands, visiting Penrhyn, IViue, Tonga, and the 

 Kermadecs. As these trips were strictly official, and were 

 entirely occupied by business, no birds could be collected, 

 but jars filled with formaline solution were left at various 

 places with people who undertook to procure specimens. 

 Some of these jars have since been returned, but a large 

 number are still to come, and may in time be productive of 

 good results. The Southern Islands may be generally classed 

 as uninhabited, and, when visiting them, there is therefore 

 no official work to be done. 



Obtaining specimens of the Southern Merganser {Merganser 

 australis) proved a difficult task. A visit to the comparatively 

 well-known harbours produced no result, and Lord Ranfurly 

 therefore entered every sound in the Auckland Islands, the 

 only place where these Mergansers are known to exist. To 

 show how scarce they are, a gentleman went round the crew 

 of the Government steamer, prior to its sailing from the 

 Bluff, and offered £3 10s. to any of the men who would 

 procure a skin for him. As this offer was made with a view 

 to reselling, probably at a large profit, the rareness of this 

 duck may be easily understood. 



During these two trips six examples of Merganser australis 



