196 Transactions. — Zoology. 



licis. The irides are clear sea-green. I measured the larger 

 male, with the following result : Extreme length, 33in. ; 

 extent of wings, 50in. ; wing from flexure, 12-5in. ; tail, 

 6-75in. ; bill, along the ridge, Sin. ; along the edge of lower 

 mandible, 4in. ; tarsus, 2-25in. ; longest toe and claw, 4in. 

 The female is similar to the male, but somewhat smaller in all 

 its proportions. 



The nest of this Shag is comparatively small for the size 

 of the bird, and is composed of dry twigs laced together, 

 and becoming so compact under the pressure of the sitting bird 

 that it is a difficult thing to dislodge them from the tree. The 

 cavity is rather deep, and carefully rounded off on the inside. 

 I could only examine one of them, which the boy, who had 

 partially climbed the tree, succeeded in dislodging with the 

 boat-oar. 



I obtained only two eggs, and these wei-e too much incu- 

 bated to be blown. They are ovoido-elliptical in shape, but 

 with a distinctly smaller end, measuring 2'37in. by l-37in. 

 The shell is of a pale-green colour, but this is much obscured 

 by a rough, chalky matter which is pretty evenly distributed 

 over the entire surface. Both of the eggs were much soiled 

 through contact with the birds' feet, and they contained 

 embrj^os apparently just ready for extrusion. This was at 

 the end of February. 



Phalacrocorax novaB-hoUandiae, Stephens. (Great Sea-shag.) 



I had recently an instance of the marvellous vitality of 

 this bird. I was standing, gun in hand, on the western point 

 of the island in Papaitonga Lake when I observed one of these 

 Shags at a high elevation coming in from the sea. Taking 

 a very long shot, I gave him the choke-barrel, and saw at 

 once that my bird was hard hit, for he immediately doubled 

 back and made for the sea. After a flight of nearly half a 

 mile, at full speed, he came down into the lake with a splash, 

 and on being picked up shortly afterwards was found to be 

 shot in the head. 



I have received from Stewart Island a female of this 

 species in full plumage with a well-defined "mane," or nuchal 

 crest, from which it is clear that both sexes possess this adorn- 

 ment at that season. 



Phalacrocorax stictoceplialiis, Bonap. (Black Shag.) 



I have much pleasure in adding this species to our list of 

 indigenous New Zealand birds, on the authority of a skin 

 recently received by me from Mr. A. T. Pycroft, of Opua, 

 Bay of Islands. It is the same bird as that inhabiting 

 Australia, and named Phalacrocorax sulcirostris in Gould's 

 folio edition, although, subsequently, in his " Handbook of 



