BuLLER.—Zeplies to Hutton’s Notes. 135 
telescope when feeding, neither have I examined the contents of the stomach 
to ascertain on what they feed ; but it must be remembered that the curve in 
the bill would not prevent the bird from eating insects and other animals 
also.” 
[Captain Hutton says he has never seen this bird run round a stone in the 
manner described by Mr. Potts. But this is merely negative evidence. Mr. 
Potts describes this habit from actual observation. Captain Hutton’s principal 
argument against it is, that ‘unless the bird is also furnished with some means 
of seeing round a corner, it would not be able to see the insect it wanted to 
catch”; but an essential part of his own theory of the use of the bent bill is, 
that it enables the bird “to search over a greater extent of Algs for creatures 
that i£ could not see, than if it used only the point of the bill.” 
* NYCTICORAX CALEDONICUS. : 
* Dr. Buller says that several instances have been reported of this bird 
occurring in the South Island ; but both Dr. Haast and Mr. Fuller assure me 
that they never heard of it. The only authenticated New Zealand specimen 
appears to be the one mentioned by Dr. Buller as having been shot in the 
Province of Wellington sixteen years ago; but when I came to the Colonial 
Museum I found two or three specimens, without labels, among the New 
Zealand birds, and I somehow got the idea into my head that they had been 
obtained in the South Island : this made me state, in my ‘Catalogue of the 
Birds of New Zealand, that the bird was found in both islands, a mistake 
which has probably led Dr. Buller astray." 
[Captain Hutton acknowledges that his only reason for recording this 
Species as occurring in both islands was that he “somehow got the idea into 
his head." Statements made in this * loose and unscientific manner” are not 
very creditable to a professed naturalist. My specimen of Nycticorax 
caledonicus was obtained in the North Island, and I heard of two instances of 
the occurrence of this bird at Hokitika, in the South Island. This was my 
authority for including the species in my work; and Captain Hutton is, 
therefore, mistaken in supposing that his * Catalogue " had led me astray. 
I did not give any particulars of locality, etc., when I handed my collection 
of New Zealand birds over to the Colonial Museum ; but a number was 
_ affixed to each specimen, corresponding to that on my list. With Dr. Hector's 
concurrence, and for obvious reasons, all further information was reserved for 
my own work, then in course of preparation.] 
* LARUS SCOPULINUS. 
“The young of this bird takes a year and a half to arrive at the full 
colours of the adult. "When one year old they lose the brown feathers of the 
wings and back and assume the plumage of the adult ; but the red bill and 
legs are not got until the second spring. 
