T. W. Kmx.— Variations of Colour in Birds. 61 
Five years later two specimens almost identical, having the body, head, 
and neck of a pale slaty-grey, but the wings and tail white, were shot in the 
mountains near Featherston, and secured for the Museum.* 
I have now to note the capture of two additional examples further 
illustrating the tendency which this bird shows to depart from the typical 
colour ; both specimens, like those above-mentioned, were procured in the 
Wairarapa district, which locality appears from some cause or other to 
afford peculiar facilities for the production of these “freaks of nature.” 
(Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xii., 248; xiii., 285; xiv., 544.) 
The first of these additional specimens is a pure albino shot near 
Greytown by Mr. W. C. Creff. 
The next may be regarded as the second step in the progress towards 
albinism. This species is an uniform bluish-slate colour, with the exception 
of the wings and tail which are lighter, the shafts of the quills being quite 
white. It was obtained on the Dry River, Wairarapa, by Mr. Sinclair 
Liardet. 
2. Ardea peciloptila, Wagl. Bittern, Matuku. 
A specimen of this bird lately procured at Foxton was shown to me a 
few days ago. It had a large white patch on each shoulder and on the 
back of the neck, the remainder of the plumage was of the usual colour, 
though somewhat dimmed. I do not remember the record of any similar 
description in this species. 
8. Anas chlorotis, Gray. Brown Duck, Pateke. 
In 1878 Dr. Buller described an albino of this species which was shot 
on the Horowhenua Lake. 
The capture of a partial albino on the Wairarapa Lake was recorded by 
myself in vol. xiii., Trans. N.Z. Inst. 
The specimen to which I have now to direct attention also comes from 
the Wairarapa, and is more remarkable than either of those before men- 
tioned. The head and neck are pure white, with the exception of a few 
feathers of the normal colour near the base of the bill. A band of white, 
with a few coloured feathers interspersed, runs across both wing coverts, 
primaries and tail with numerous patches of white. The white head and 
neck, together with the band of the same colour'on the wings, give it some- 
what the appearance of a paradise duck (Casarca variegata), and suggest the 
possibility of its being the result of a eross with that species. 
4. Ossifraga gigantea, Gml. Nelly, Giant Petrel. 
On page 84 of the“ Manual of New Zealand Birds" issued by the Geological 
Survey Department, appears the following remark by the author: **A 
variety with white plumage is not uncommon, a fine specimen captured 
* Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xiv., p. 544. 
