188 Transactions.— Zoology. 
This description is taken from a specimen,in the Canterbury Museum, 
collected by Mr. Potts in Westland. On looking at the structure, it 
seems difficult to understand how the bird can incubate the eggs without 
their falling out of this rude flat nest, or getting broken against the rough 
twigs on which they lie, without lining or protection of any kind. 
ARDEA SACRA. 
An egg of this species, received from Hawkes Bay, is of a narrow oval 
form, measuring 1.9-inch by 1.85-inch, very finely granulate on the surface, 
and without any gloss. The colour in the dried shell is a delicate pale 
green, but it was no doubt brighter when fresh. 
Boravrus paecmopriuvs. 
A nest of this Bittern in the Canterbury Museum is small, flat-topped, 
and rounded, with a diameter of about nine inches, and a depth of three 
inches. It is composed entirely of dry rushes and flags, and contains three 
eggs, ovoido-elliptical in form, and of a uniform delicate creamy stone 
colour. There is a specimen of the egg, however, in the Museum, of a 
delicate dull green, and three others of a greenish-cream colour. The 
green tinge is no doubt more pronounced in the shell when fresh. 
CasaRca VaRrEGATA, 
r. J. D. Enys writes me that, in the Upper Waimakariri, he met 
with a brood of thirteen young birds. 
Larus pominicanvs. 
bents of grass or other dry materials loosely collected round the edges being 
deemed a sufficient preparation.” Captain Hutton contradicted this, and 
stated that it “forms a very good nest.” 
As arule the Black-backed Gull forms a very rude nest, and as often 
merely deposits its eggs in a depression in the sand. In some localities, 
» mie centre there is a slight depression, for the 
reception of he eggs, Mr, Enys (who was present when this nest was 
found) informs me that it was placed between the roots of a drift stump of 
