Birds of New Zealand. 43 



only indication of the normal colouring is a small patch of 

 faint grey on one of the primaries^ the whole of the remaining 

 plumage being a most clear white. 



As the unfortunate victim was killed with a full charge of 

 pow'der and an ounce of No. 4 shot, the internal anatomy 

 was so much knocked about that Mr. Drew was unable to 

 ascertain the sex. He has, however, by careful skinning and 

 mounting, succeeded in transforming the battered skin into 

 a really good museum-specimen, a result of which, as an 

 amateur taxidermist, he may well be proud. This is, I be- 

 lieve, the first notice of albinism in the Pied Tit. 



The specimen was procured at Paraekaretu, in the Rangi- 

 tikei district, by Mr. Tripe. 



2. Anthus nov^-zealandi^. 



Settlers' name " Ground Lark " ; native name " Pihoihoi.'* 

 Varieties inclining to albinism are known to occur occa- 

 sionally in this species ; but while travelling throvigh the bush 

 on the east coast of the Wellington province, I came on a Maori 

 plantation, and was shown by one of the natives a Ground 

 Lark exhibiting a tendency both to albinism and melanism. 

 The following is a description, jotted down in my pocket- 

 book : — Top of head, and down as far as a line through the 

 eye, dull black ; the whole of tlie body and wings, with the 

 exception of the two outer primaries, were a delicate creamy 

 white ; the outer primaries retained the normal greyish- 

 broAvu colour. The outside tail-feathers, which in an ordi- 

 nary specimen would be white, were in this case jet-black. 



This bird, Avhich was one of the most curious freaks of 

 nature I ever saw, had been tamed, would come when called and 

 allow itself to be picked up and examined, as though conscious 

 of deserving attention on account of its extraordinary and 

 fantastic dress. I endeavoured to eflFect a purchase, but 

 without success, the Maoris appearing to set great store by 

 their pet. 



3. Phalacrocorax punctatus. 

 Settlers' name " Spotted Shag.'^ 



Writing of this species, Dr. (now Sir W.) Buller says, '- This 



