148 Transactions —Zoology. 
No. 47—50.—PLATYCERCUS. 
We have a beautiful specimen of the nest of P. novc-zealandic, cup-shaped, 
built entirely of feathers, moss, and down from the tree-fern (Dicksonia 
squarrosa). A correspondent has communicated the following abnormal 
conditions of plumage in specimens of this genus :—* P. nove-zealandie.— 
Plumage yellow ; also a specimen with blue plumage, forehead and top of head 
dirty white, without any mark or spot on each side the rump. P. auriceps.— 
А. specimen with yellow plumage." 
No. 51.—Nestor MERIDIONALIS, Gn]. 
aka. 
Some eggs of this Parrot in the collection of the writer differ from the 
usual type, their surfaces being very coarsely granulated. The nest contained 
five eggs, and was taken from the bush near Invercargill, South Otago. 
A form of Nestor not yet described has been found near Cass River, in 
this Province. The dead bird was found in bad condition ; it had the tail 
feathers beautifully coloured with vermilion, without bars, the shafts much 
produced into hair-like points ; the wing-feathers with inner webs of delicate 
vermilion toning down to yellowish. 
Kakas, male and female, weigh from 11b. 2075. to 11, 5ozs. 
No. 57.—EUDYNAMIS TAHITIENSIS, Gl. 
Long-tailed Cuckoo. 
In December, 1872, two instances came under the writer's notice of this 
bird being reared in gardens in Christchurch ; somewhat later Donald Potts 
saw one being fed in the Irishman scrub (Discaria toumatou), close to the 
River Potts; in each of these cases the foster-parents were grey warblers 
(Gerygone flaviventris). The writer differs entirely from Dr. Buller in 
attributing compassionate philornithic feelings to the foster-parent ; he looks on 
the Gerygone as a dupe simply. In the paper on the crow (Glaucopis), 
page 154, “ History of the Birds of New Zealand,” we may again find 
something like a belief on the part of Dr. Buller that a philornithic spirit 
prompts the yellow-head to feed and tend the offspring of the crow. 
Through the “Ibis” the writer tried to obtain some information about the 
egg of Hudynamis, but without success; he was referred to the two eggs 
labelled koekoe, from the Buller collection. This bird abounds on the west 
coast of this island, and the Maoris say “it comes with the mosquitos." 
Crane-flies form a favourite portion of its food supply. The Long-tailed 
Cuckoo weighs 43 ounces, 
No. 58.—Curysococcyx LUCIDUS, (mÍ. 
Whistler. 
Having long since taken much interest in bird notes, many observations have 
