56 Papers and AhstrattH. 



10. Ourisia modesta Diels, eine neue Art Neuseelands. \^\ L. Diels. 

 (Fcddc, li^'pertuiiuin, Vol. 7, p. 114. J DO!).) 



The following is the original description uf Uiuisia /iiudcsta Diels, an inconj- 

 plete account of which was given by Cockayne in his " lleport on a Botanical 

 Survey of Stewart Island," p. 44 : — 



■' Herba niinuta. Caulis procuiiibus repens radicans. Folioruni petiolus hinc 

 inde villosulus vel ciliatus, 2-4 mm. longus ; lamina crassiuscula glabra, e basi 

 leviter cordata reniformis vel rotundato - elliptica, 3-5 mm. longa, 2'5-4'5 mm. 

 lata ; flores solitarii ; pedunculus 5 mm. longus ; calyx 4- (rarius 5-) lobus, tubus 

 circ. 5 mm. longus, lobi r5mm. longi, lati, obtusi ; corolla 5-fida, tubus 4 mm. 

 longus 2"5 mm. latus, lobi anguste elliptici apice truncati vel levissime emarginati 

 3'5 mm. longi, 1'5 mm. lati ; staminum antherae reniformes, loculi demuni con- 

 flvientes ; ovarium glabrum ovoideum 1") nun. Jongum, syiiis 2u mm. longus; stignuv 

 capitato-discoideum. 



" Neu-Seeland : Stewart Island, Uakialuia Valley, auf nassem Boden (Dr. L. 

 Cockayne !). 



" Species minuta Oiiiisiar (■.ue.'</jita-'<ui- Ilouk. f. al(j(uc eius varietati ijificl/ifi 

 Hook. f. pioxima videtur, sed petiolis li)ngii)ribus et floribus iiinlt(j minoribus 

 facile distinguitur." L. C. 



11. Pecten multisquamatus Duuker, and Pecten radiatus Hutton. By 

 W. liavay. (BuUctii: du Museum National d'Histuirc Nalurelle, 

 Paris, 1909, No. 5, pp. 277-80, pi. iv, fig. A.) 



Diagnosis of Pecten (Chlamys) radiatus Hutton : Shell rather thin, orbicular, 

 very little convex, nearly equilateral, inequivalve, the right valve a little more 

 convex than the left, finely ribbed, the riblets spreading radially from the beak, 

 dividing into two or three, this process being repeated once or several times, and 

 thus the number of riblets is increasing with the distance from the beak. There 

 are 100 to 150 riblets, according to the size of the valves, and amongst them about 

 20 are stronger than the others. The riblets are, except at the beak, ornamented 

 with small, transverse, erect, and close scales. The ears are unequal, the anterior 

 ears larger, the posteiior ears with an oblique margin, all with riblets similar to 

 those of the valves, but they are stronger on the anterior ears. Sinus denticulate, 

 irregularly quadrangular. Colour, purple or orchraceous, paler on the right valve ; 

 the umbonal region is either paler or of a deeper tint, sometimes spotted with 

 white. 



Hab. The specimens in the Museum de Paris are from Stewart Island, and 

 also from the Tonga Islands. 



Bavay says that the sculpture resembles that of Pecten Dieffenhachi Gray 

 (the author of this species is Reeve, and it is a synonym of /'. zelandiae Gray), and 

 is of the same type as that of Chlamys islandicus Miiller and 6'. ruhidus Hinds — 

 viz., that characteristic of the section Chlami/s. 



The author states that he formerly considered our Pec/en radiatus to be 

 identical with P. multisquawatus Dunker, from the ^Vntilles, and he expressed his 

 astonishment at the wide distribution of the species (Journ. de Conch, vol. liii, 

 1905, p. 26). 



A note and figure published bv Mr. C. Hedlev. of Sydney (Ohlamys radiatus 

 Hutton, P.L.S. N.S.W., vol. xxx"iii, 1908, p. 472", pi. 10, fig. 28), has, however, 

 convinced Mr. Bavay that he was mistaken in his identification, and he now states 

 that the two species, though nearly allied, are distinct. H. S. 



12. Bird-life on the Kermadec Islands. JJy Tom Iredale. (The Emu, 

 vol. X, pt. i, p. 2; July, 11)10.) 



This paper deals principally with the habits of the birds of the Kermadec 

 Islands, as observed by Mr. Iredale during the year 1908. 



The following is the list of the species of birds enumerated : — 



I. Resident LANU-Bmns bbeedino in the Group. 



/'rost/ieniadera aocae-zfahnidiac (Tui). 



Ifolryoii vagans (New Zealaiul Kingfisher). 



('yauor/iamij/ius cyan urns (Parrakeet). .V doul)tful species, specimens from 



Macauley Island having been referred by Sir Walter Buller to C. novae- 



zealandiae. 

 Porzana plumbea (Spotless Crake). 



