136 Transactions.—Zoology. 
* LARUS BULLERI. 
* This bird is, no doubt, identical with Z. pomare. It does not ‘ deposit its 
eggs on the ground,' but forms a very good nest." 
[Altheugh this bird may sometimes form a rude nest of dry bents, it 
usually deposits its eggs on the ground. So also does Larus scopulinus.] 
* DIOMEDEA MELANOPHRYS. 
* Dr. Buller will find more information on the subject of Petrels flying at 
night in * The Ibis' for 1867, p. 192." 
[I had unfortunately overlooked Captain Hutton's paper, or would certainly 
have quoted it, especially as it qualifies his former statement (‘ Ibis, 1865, 
p. 278) that D. melanophrys is “ quite diurnal in its habits."] 
* PELECANOIDES URINATRIX. 
* This bird flies very fairly ; and it is quite incorrect to describe it as ‘a 
rapid fluttering movement along the surface of the water.’ " 
[Mr. Gould, in his account of this species, says that **its flight is a curious 
fluttering motion, performed so close to the surface that it rarely rises high 
enough to top the waves, but upon being met by them makes progress by a 
direct course through instead of over them;" and Latham states that it 
congregates in flocks “fluttering upon the surface of the water, or sitting upon 
it.”] 
* PUFFINUS BREVICAUDUS. 
* This bird is not by any means abundant on our coasts; only one specimen 
has as yet been obtained, which was exhibited by Dr. Buller in the New 
Zealand Exhibition of 1865. The nesting-places mentioned by Dr. Buller, in 
the Kaimanawa ranges, and in the Taupo-Patea country, are no doubt those of 
Procellaria parkinsoni.” 
[My specimen was picked up on the sea beach between Waikanae and 
Rangitikei, where this bird is often cast ashore. The natives on that coast 
identified it as the same that breeds in the Kaimanawa and Taupo-Patea 
ranges. I can hardly think they would confound it with Procellaria 
parkinsoni, which is a very different bird.] 
* PUFFINUS GAVIUS. 
“ Dr. Buller gives P. opisthomelas (Coues) as a synonym of this species. 
In this he probably follows me, as he does not say that he has been able to 
compare it with any typical specimens. But this is another of my mistakes 
that he has unfortunately adopted without acknowledgment ; for on a further 
examination I find that our bird always has the tail-coverts pure white, while 
in P. opisthomelas most of them are fuliginous. P. gavius can hardly be said 
to ‘enjoy a wide oceanic range,’ when it has never yet been found out of sight 
of New Zealand.” 
