BurrkR.— Further Notes on the Ornithology of New Zealand. 207 
Casarca VARIEGATA, Gray.—Paradise Duck. 
This fine duck is seldom met with north of Petane. A flock of five 
visited Rotomahana Lake in March, 1866, and a pair was seen in Lake 
Taupo in October, 1873. I have already recorded* the appearance of five 
some years ago in the Kaipara district, at the far north. These are the 
only instances that have come within my knowledge of the occurrence of 
this species beyond its ordinary range. 
STERCORARIUS ANTARCTICUS, Gray.—Southern Skua. 
In my “ Birds of New Zealand,” page 267, I mentioned the only local 
specimen then known—a female bird obtained by Dr. Hector in Woodhen 
Cove, on the south side of Breaksea Sound, and deposited in the Otago 
Museum. Other specimens have since been collected in the South Island, 
and I have now in my possession a living example taken some months ago 
at Waikanae, some forty miles from Wellington. 
LARUS DOMINICANUS, Licht.—Black-backed Gull. 
Simpkins, a publican at Whakatane, obtained a female of this species, 
when quite young, from White Island, a distance of some thirty-five miles. 
It became perfectly tame, answering to the name of “ Hinemoa,” and 
coming into the house at meal-times to be fed. When about two years old 
it suddenly disappeared, and after a lapse of six months it returned with 
two young ones, which have since become quite domesticated. By last 
advices both old bird and young were still inhabitants of the yard, and 
evinced no desire to leave it. 
PROCELLARIA PARKINSONI, Gray.—Black Petrel. 
This petrel is said to breed in large numbers on the Island of Karewa, 
in the Bay of Plenty. In March the Maoris visit the island and collect 
the young of this and other species. The most plentiful, however, is the 
oii or mutton-bird (Puffinus tristis). 
PHALACROCORAX BREVIROSTRIS, Gould.—White-throated Shag. 
In the Lake district there are ‘‘shaggeries” of considerable magnitude 
which are much valued by the natives, each colony of nests having its own 
proprietor, who exercises all the rights of ownership, visiting the ground at 
the breeding season for the purpose of collecting the young birds, which are 
potted in the usual manner and are considered a great dainty. Captain 
Mair accompanied one of the shag parties to the Tauranga River, at Lake 
Taupo, and saw 400 youug birds collected in the course of a single day. 
Both the white-throated and the small black shag breed together in these 
localities, although apparently never pairing. Captain Mair still adheres 
* * Birds of New Zealand," p. 242. 
