CHIONIS MINOR. 89 



October 26, 1868,* the receipt of two specimens of G. minor by the 

 Zoological Society, from Mr. Layard, was recorded without farther par- 

 ticulars. They came from the Crozet Islands. 



In the Journal of Anatomy and Physiology for November, 1889, t ap- 

 peared a letter from R. O. Cunningham, M. D., naturalist to Her Maj- 

 esty's surveying-ship jS"assau, with a figure of the coeca, part of the in- 

 testine, the stomach, and larynx of Chionis alba, accompanied by some 

 measurements. He found that " the legs present a decided resemblance 

 to Rwniatopus, and the sternal characteristics are similar." 



An eg^ of G. minor was received by the Zoological Society, January 

 17,1871,1 concerning which Prof. Alfred ISTewton said: '^ No egg of 

 either species of this genus had before been known, and this confirms, 

 by its appearance, the systematic position of the form shown by oste- 

 ology, its affinity, namely, to the plovers." 



We have been able to find a record, therefore, of but four specimens of 

 this species, viz : 1. That in the Museum at Leyden, from which the 

 original description was made, of unknown locality; 2. A specimen 

 sent to the Zoological Society by Mr. Layard, from Cape Town, brought 

 from the Crozet Islands ; and, 3, 4. Two specimens from the Crozet Isl- 

 arrds, also sent to the Zoological Society by Mr. Layard, in 1868. 



The literature of the species is meagre, and we do not find that any 

 attempt has been made either to verify or refute De Blainville's conclu- 

 sions, otherwise than by inspection of external characters, beyond Mr. 

 Cunningham's brief notes upon the digestive system. Authors who 

 have differed from De Blainville respecting the systematic position of 

 the genus have simply placed it where they pleased, apparently without 

 feeling called upon to show cause for the faith that was in them. 



The late expedition to observe the transit of Venus at Kerguelen Is- 

 land afforded an opportunity to improve our acquaintance with this spe- 

 cies, which was taken advantage of. Several specimens were preserved 

 in alcohol, a number of skins were secured, and, during a stay of 

 four months upon the island, as frequent and careful observations as 

 possible upon the behavior of the bird during life§ were made by Dr. 

 Kidder. 



It bears a strong resemblance to the pigeons in form and mode of 



'Proceedings Zool. Soc. 1868. 



t Pp. 87-89. 



t Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 57. 



$ See Bull. No. 2, Nat. Mus. 187.S . 1 et seq., for full description of habits, etc. 



