Neio-Zealnnd Birds. 297 



and Manawatu Railway Company's land, and was presented 

 to the Colonial Museum by Mr. Charles Gillespie. 



I have been informed by a settler in the Manawatu district 

 that the season before last a pair of these birds nested in the 

 bush at the back of his property, and successfully reared 

 their brood. He is positive as to the species. This would 

 seem to show that they are not quite so scarce in the North 

 Island as is usually supposed, even if they are not to be 

 deemed indigenous. 



2. Carpophaga Nov^-ZEALANDiiE. Wood Pigcou. " Kuku, 

 Kereru." 



I have yet another instance of abnormal colouring of this 

 magnificent bird to record. The specimen was shot at Kai- 

 koura in June 1887, and presented to the Colonial Museum 

 by Mr. H. Inglis. The following is a description of it: — 

 Head, neck, and breast normal colour, but of a duller shade. 

 Hind neck and front portion of scapulars and wing-coverts 

 rich brown, profusely interspersed with white (the body of 

 each feather is quite white, but broadly tipped with rich 

 chocolate-brown, which gives the colour to those parts) ; 

 hind portions of scapulars and wing-coverts white, the fea- 

 thers in some places tinged and edged with slaty grey; 

 shafts of feathers deep brown, almost black. Wings slaty 

 grey, much blotched with white, the feathers in most instances 

 edged with coppery green, shafts normal colour. Rump 

 white, but bluish-grey feathers are profusely intermixed. Tail- 

 feathers white, but margined all round with bluish black, 

 shafts black ; beneath, these feathers are white, but so thickly 

 spotted with brown as to appear of that colour; the two 

 outer shafts are nearly white. Abdomen and lower tail- 

 coverts white. Sides and lining of wings pale silvery grey, 

 in places almost white. Beak and feet normal colour. 



3. LoBivANELLUs LOBATUS. Wattled Plover. 



In a previous paper (Ibis, 1888, p. 45) I recorded the occur- 

 rence of the Masked Plover (L. personatus) in New Zealand. 

 The identification was made from a drawing and description 

 supplied to me, but I have since had an opportunity of examin- 



SER. VI. VOL. I. X 



