258 



THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



tree-ferns, and generally its burrow is made at the foot of the 

 latter. It is altogether nocturnal in its habits, and rarely leaves 

 its burrow in the daytime, and therefore it is not seen at sea. 



Black-capped Petrel. 



(Cat. Brit. ^Im.) 



The Kermadec Island Mutton Bird. 



(Estrclata neglecta. 



Very variable in colour. Back, brown. Head and lower surface 

 sometimes white, sometimes brown, or sometimes partly one and partly 

 the other. Under wing coverts and axillaries, brown. Primaries, blackish 

 brown. The bases of the inner webs and the adjoining shafts, white. 

 Bill black. Tarsi and basal portion of toes, yellow; their tips black. 

 Length of the wing, 11.3 inches; of the tarsus, 1.5 inch. Egg — 2.55 inches 

 in length. Kermadec Islands. 



This species does not form burrows, like the other members of 

 the genus, but breeds in the open. The great variation in 

 plumage is very remarkable ; it has not yet been explained. It is 

 certain, however, that the darlv birds are not the young of the 

 light ones. Accounts are rather confused, but it seems probable 

 that three varieties can be recognised, with different habits. 



