190 Transactions.—Z oolojy. 
An egg of this species in the Canterbury Museum is ovoid or slightly 
ovoido-elliptical in form, yellowish-white, with a roughly granulate shell, 
wholly devoid of gloss or polish, but without any excrescences. It measures 
on its axis, 4.8-inches in length by 3.8 in width. Its longest cireumference 
is 12.6-inches, and its widest 10-inches. 
PHALACROCORAX BREVIROSTRIS. 
In the Canterbury Museum there are two nests of the White-throated 
Shag, differing entirely in their construction. One of them is very compact, 
rounded in form, with a diameter of more than a foot, and a thickness of 
five inches, and presenting only a slight depression for the eggs, and com- 
posed of weeds, grasses, and dry flags, on a foundation of broken twigs. 
The other is formed entirely of broken twigs, with the leaves attached, 
closely interlaced together, with a deep cavity for the eggs, the whole being 
securely placed in the fork of a small tree. - It is, in fact, a compact struc- 
ture, of a round symmetrical form, and very firmly put together. Each of 
these nests contains three eggs, all of which have the surface much soiled. 
PHALACROCORAX NOVH-HOLLANDIZ. 
A nest of this species, in the same collection, is a massive bed of flax 
leaves, toe-toe, and dry grasses pressed together into a thick flat layer, 
measuring about 20 inches by 15 inches, with a thickness of 8 to 4-inches, 
and with a slight depression on the top. It contains three eggs, elliptical 
in form, greenish-white, with chalky incrustations, and measuring 2.5- 
inches by 1.6-inches. 
PopicEPsS RUFIPECTUS. 
The frequency of albinos, of various species, is a very noticeable feature 
in New Zealand ornithology. We have now to add to the list an albino 
Dabchick, presented to the Canterbury Museum by Mr. Thomas Waters, of 
which the following is a desciption:—General plumage pure white, the 
sides of the head and throat shaded with brown; crown, nape, and hind , 
neck streaked and spotted with black; fore-neck and breast varied with pale 
rufous ; shoulders, back, and scapulars with numerous scattered black 
feathers, giving the upper surface a pied appearance ; wings dusky black, 
more or less varied with white ; bill and feet of the normal colours. 
Ps 
Arr. XVIII.—Note on Gerygone flaviventris. 
By Water L. Butuzr, C.M.G., D.8ce., ete. 
(Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 7th August, 1875.] 
Tue last volume of ‘“ Transaetions of the New Zealand Institute,’ contains, 
at page 524, an interesting note by Mr. Justice Gillies, on the habits of 
