BurrnER.—Ovrnithology of New Zealand. 229 
band and rufous colouring of the head and neck being less prominent. This 
is the land-rail of the colonists. 
We have placed provisionally in this genus a rare and handsome rail, of 
which a description has been communicated to the Philosophical Institute of 
Canterbury, and of which only one example is known. It has been named 
Rallus featherstoni* in honour of the present Superintendent of the 
Wellington Province. 
Two members of a smaller group inhabit our r marshes and low river 
banks. Their swiftness of foot, retiring disposition, and semi-nocturnal 
habits render an acquaintance with their history difficult and necessarily 
imperfect. The slate-coloured rail (Ortygometra tabuensis) is very generally 
dispersed, and is said to exist in Norfolk Island. In the adult bird the eyes 
and legs are of a delicate crimson tint, and offer a lively contrast to the 
sombre plumage. The other species (O. affinis) is equally diffusive in its 
range and apparently more plentiful. It is represented in Australia by the 
Porzana palustris. 
The next representative of the family to be noticed is our graceful 
pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus). This fine rail is one of our commonest 
birds. It runs swiftly and flies well, and consequently, unlike its more 
feeble congeners, it thrives and multiplies in the settled districts, fre- 
quenting the corn fields and potato grounds by night, and retiring to the 
swamps during the day. It is easily domesticated, and is considered 
excellent eating. 
Fam. Anatip.x.—Our finest representative of this section is the paradise 
duck (Casarca variegata). To adopt the words of Macgillivray in treating 
of the Casarca rutila of Europe, “it is one of those birds which one might 
call a duck, and another with equal propriety a goose ;” but although the 
genus approaches to Chenalopex both in form and colouring, it may safely 
be placed in the group Anatide, assigning it there a station indicative of its 
approximation to the Anserine. It is very common in the South Island and 
in some parts of the Wellington Province, but is rarely met with further 
north. 
The other species are Anas superciliosa, Anas chlorotis, Spatula variegata, 
Fuligula nove-zealandia, ‘Nesonetta aucklandica, and Hymenolaimus mala- 
* Rallus Jeatherstoni, Buller.—Crown and surrounding parts brown, variegated with 
yellowish brown, obscurely barred. Scapularies and tail-feathers greyish brown, with a 
broad dash of black down the centre of each feather. Extreme length 113 inches; wing 
from flexure 5}; tail 2}; rictus 2; tarsus 1$ ; hind toeand claw $; middle toe and claw 1$. 
