14 PREFACE 



On the scientific side, the present volume may be considered 

 as the third edition of the Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds of 

 New Zealand,^' much enlarged, with an account of the 

 dominion's mammals and reptiles, as well as its birds. It Avas 

 first published in 1871, and, in 1888, a second edition. Avith 

 illustrations, was edited by Sir Walter Buller. Both editions 

 have been out of print for many years. 



A large portion of the volume represents original research, 

 and a great deal of the information is now published for the 

 first time. 



We have supplied as many illustrations as possible. Most of 

 them are reproductions of photographs of coloured plates, and 

 it is necessary to state that blue colours appear white, and 

 yellow dark. This is noticeable in the wattles of the crows and 

 the skin on the faces of the cormorants, in the blue feathers on 

 the wings of the parrakeets, on the head of the bell-bird, and in 

 the yellow on the bills of the mollymawks and the crests of the 

 penguins. In connection with the illustrations, we have to 

 thank Mrs. Potts for the excellent portrait of Mr. Potts. Also 

 the Director of the British Museum, the Council of the 

 Zoological Society of London, the British Ornithologists' Union, 

 the proprietors of Nature, Sir Walter Buller, Dr. R. B. Sharpe, 

 Dr. P. L. Sclater, the Hon. W. Rothschild, Professor J. H. Scott, 

 and Mr. F. E. Beddard, for permission to reproduce illustrations 

 published by them, and also Dr. L. Cockayne for the 

 photograph of the nesting albatross on page 271. All the 

 nests are from specimens in the Christchurch ]\Iuseum. 

 These, as well as almost all the other illustrations, 

 have been reproduced from photographs taken by ]\Ir. W. 

 Sparkes, Taxidermist to the Museum. As far as possible, we 

 have gone to classical works for illustrations, thinking that this 

 will add to the value of the book. 



In dealing with the birds, we have omitted the wanderers ; 

 but every bird that belongs to New Zealand is described. The 

 list of the dominion's avifauna, probably, is now closed, the 



*By F. W. Hiitton, published by the Govermnent Printer, Wellington, New Zealand, lb71. 



