THE CHATHAM ISLAND PIGEON 175 



very plentiful, the "kill" amounted to no fewer than 200 in one 

 day. Another method was used in connection with the birds' 

 habit of feeding on the miro berries, which create thirst. Before 

 the birds began to collect round the trees to eat the berries, 

 troughs of water were placed close by, some being suspended in 

 the trees. The birds were allowed to become accustomed to 

 drinking from the troughs. Snares with running nooses were 

 then placed along the edge of the troughs. The pigeons, on going- 

 to drink, placed their heads through the nooses, and were caught 

 and strangled when they endeavoured to Avithdraw. The spear 

 was also used on the pigeons. 



Albino pigeons have been reported from time to time. In 1882, 

 one was shot on the AVest Coast of the South Island. Its 'plumage 

 was (juite wliite. with the exception of a few lilotches of brown on 

 the back and upper part of the wings. The beak and the feet 

 were the same colour as those of the ordinary wood pigeon. In 

 another specimen, shot about the same time near Holcitika, part 

 of the breast was white, as in the normal white pigeon, but the 

 rest of the plumage was of a silver grey, light about the neck and 

 head, and gradually darkening towards the wing-tips and tail, 

 which was the darkest. The feathers on the back, as far as the 

 wings, were tipped with brown, making a very even and distinct 

 marking. 



The Chatham Island Pigeon. 



Hemipliaga chathame )tsis. 



Like the last species, but the outer wing-coverts and the back are 

 grey, and the under tail-coverts are green. Length of the wing, 10.75 in.; 

 of the tarsus, 1.0 in. Chatham Island. 



Order Gallipormes. 

 Bill short. Legs strong, sometimes armed with a spur. Hind 

 toe more or less developed. 



Fatn ilij Ph asian idae. 

 Nostrils not hidden by feathers. Tarsi and toes naked, the hind 

 toe raised above the ground. 



