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Tee es Re SNM See Eee eRe ene a Oy ae eT Bee ES PS Ree EW Sor enn MeCN ES erase 
Cuerseman.—On Australian Roller (Eurystomus pacificus). 265 
published in 1848. The only specimen known to Mr. Gray appears to have 
been one presented to the British Museum by Miss R. Stone. From 
Gray’s list the species was copied into all subsequent catalogues; but I 
cannot ascertain that any further examples found their way to Europe, 
with the exception of one stated by Finsch and Hartlaub, in their work 
already quoted, to exist in the Bremen Museum. With the history of this 
specimen I am not acquainted.* Dr. Buller, in his “ Birds of New 
Zealand ” avowedly bases his description upon Miss Stone’s specimen. As 
far back as 1856 there existed in the old Auckland Museum a single speci- 
men said to have been obtained somewhere in the Auckland district ; but this 
was forwarded to Dr. Finsch for examination some ten or twelve years ago, 
and has not been returned. None of the other museums in the colony have 
ever contained specimens ; and although New Zealand ornithologists have 
often searched for the bird during the last twelve or fifteen years, no further 
examples were procured ; and doubts have even been expressed as to whether 
any of the specimens mentioned above were really killed in this country. 
The two examples now exhibited were shot by Mr. E. A. Plumley near 
Penrose, on the Manukau Harbour, early in December, 1880. In all, ten 
or twelve individuals were observed, three of which were killed, but one 
proved to be unfit for skinning. Mr. Plumley was kind enough to imme- 
diately forward the birds to the museum, so that I was able to examine 
them in a fresh condition. They proved to be male and female respectively. 
Like all the specimens hitherto obtained in New Zealand, they are in winter 
plumage, but show signs of being about to put on their summer dress. It 
is not improbable that birds in summer plumage may sometimes occur here; 
indeed, I have had particulars given me by Mr. Plumley which seem to show 
that this is the case. 
Ant. XXXV.—Notice of the Occurrence of the Australian Roller (Eurystomus 
pacificus) in New Zealand. By T. F. Cuszseman, F.L.S. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 14th November, 1881.] 
Tue Auckland Museum has lately received a specimen of the Australian 
Roller (or Dollar Bird, as it is often called in New South Wales), obtained 
under circumstances which clearly prove it to be a straggler from the Aus- 
tralian continent. he bird was shot by Mr. Charles Cowan, at Piha, a 
‘arsine i inet 
* Dr. Finsch has siz wad vos that had Se 
