BurrER.—On the specific Value of Prion banksii. 851 
Note on the Tuatara from East Cape Island. 
In a paper* read before this Society last year, I described a new form of 
tuatara / Sphenodon guntheri, var.), from East Cape Island, in the posses- 
sion of Mr. John White, of Napier. Referring to this specimen, Mr. White 
writes me :—“ The tuatara which my son Arthur has, was obtained in the 
year 1878 from the island called Whangaokino at the East Cape. The 
native who got it informs me that he saw on this island tuataras green in 
colour, and others like the one in question." 
Art. XLIII.—On the specific Value of Prion banksii. By W. L. BuLLER, 
C.M.G., Se.D. 
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 3rd August, 1878.) 
Iw treating of Prion banksii, in my “ Birds of New Zealand" (page 811), I 
made the following observations :—‘‘ The propriety of retaining the above 
specific distinction appears to me very doubtful; but I am unwilling to 
dismiss the supposed species till the subject has been further investigated.” 
In an article which I afterwards contributed to our Transactions,+ I 
expressed my belief that the species would stand, and pointed out what 
appeared to me good distinguishing characters. 
A recent visit to the West Coast, after very stormy weather, has enabled 
me to settle this point beyond all doubt. A north-west gale had been 
blowing for several days, and large numbers of Prion had been washed 
ashore. In travelling by coach from Waikanae to Otaki, a distance of only 
ten miles, I counted no less than twenty-seven lying on the strand, and 
there were probably many more. As I performed the rest of the journey 
to Manawatu in a buggy, I was able to stop and pick up specimens. 
In this way I was fortunate enough to obtain, during one day, twenty fresh 
birds. Of these, twelve were referable without hesitation to Prion turtur and 
eight to Prion banksii. The difference in the size and form of the beak 
was constant, and among individuals of each species there was only a slight 
variation. I selected the smallest of Prion banksii for the purposes of 
comparison, and I beg now to exhibit it together with an ordinary 
specimen of Prion turtur. It will be seen that the two birds are very 
readily distinguishable. 
Thinking that the difference in the size of the bill might possibly be a 
* Transactions New Zealand Institute, Vol. X., p. 220. t Vol. VII, p. 208, 
