ea 
198 Transactions.— Zoology. 
obtained in the Manawatu district. He remarked on the frequency of 
albinism in this species, and invited the attention of the meeting to the 
plate of Porphyrio stanleyi, im Mr. Dawson Rowley’s “ Ornithological Mis- 
cellany,’’ which bears unmistakable indications of being merely an albino. 
The Canterbury Museum contains a specimen in partial albino-dress, very 
closely resembling the one exhibited. 
7. On the validity of Aplonis zealandicus. 
Dx. Butter read to the meeting an extract from a letter which he had 
recently received from the well-known ornithologist, Dr. Otto Finsch, of 
Bremen, to the following effect :— 
‘‘ It will interest you to hear that the specimen of the so-called Gerygone 
igata, in the Museum at Paris is positively Geryyone flaviventris, and that 
Aplonis zealandicus is a good species, of which there are undoubted speci- 
mens from New Zealand in the museums of Paris and Leiden. I have 
been working several weeks at Leiden, and have gathered some further 
material on the ornithology of New Zealand.” 
Dr. Buller remarked on the singular fact that since this species was 
collected by M.M. Quoy and Gaimard, at Tasman Bay, during the voyage 
of the “ Astrolabe,” it has never been met with in any part of the country. 
There is no confirmation, however, of the allied species Aplonis obscurus™ 
as a New Zealand bird, and A. caledonicus, Bonap. (which is a native of New 
Caledonia and Norfolk Island) has apparently been admitted into our list 
by mistake. 
8. On the specific value of Hudyptula undina. 
Dr. Butter exhibited a specimen of the small Penguin (Hudyptula undina) 
with remnants of down adhering ; to show that this species assumes the full 
plumage from the nest, the blue on the upper surface being very bright. 
He compared it also with specimens of Eudyptula minor, and pointed out 
the specific characters—the latter form being readily distinguished by its 
larger size, duller plumage, and more robust bill. As to whether FE. albosi- 
quata (Finsch), can be considered distinct from this species, Dr. Buller re- 
ferred to his former remarks (‘ Trans., N.Z, Inst.,” Vol. VIL, p. 210) and 
quoted the following passage from the last letters he had received from Dr. 
Finsch :— 
“« Very likely it may turn out to be only a variety of KF. minor; but, if 
the latter, I have seen many other specimens, and not a single one showed 
the peculiar markings on the wings characteristic of albosiquata. 
it has a white spot on the upper tail-coverts, 
E.. minor.” 
Besides, 
which I have not observed in 
* Dubus, Bull. Acad. Sei, Brux., 1839. Part Lp: 207, 
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