208 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Lestris longicaudatus. (Trans. N. Z. Institute, Vol. V., p. 209). Mr Sharpo 

 and myself went very carefully into the matter, and examined all the 

 specimens in the British Museum. We came to the conclusion that L. longi- 

 caudatus, Degl., L. buffbni, Boie, and Stercorarius cephus, Gray, were all 

 referable to the above species. The full synonymy will be found at page 268 

 of the Birds of New Zealand, 



Procellaria parkinsoni, Gray. — Black Petrel. 



The young is covered with sooty down, which adheres to the plumage for 

 a considerable time, as in other petrels, imparting to the body an appearance 

 of unnatural size. It comes off first from the head, breast, and upper surface ; 

 and in this operation the bird itself no doubt assists. 



Prion banksii, Gould. — Banks' Dove-petrel. 



A further investigation of the subject has satisfied me of the propriety of 

 retaining this species. Apart from the slight differences of colour, P. banksii 

 has the tail longer and more conical, the wing decidedly longer, and the bill 

 appreciably broader at the base than in P. turtur ; besides which the unguis 

 or hooked extremity has a very different form. This will be at once apparent 

 on reference to figs. 3 and 4 (Plate VIII). Prion vittatus is readily 

 distinguished from the other species by the greater expansion of its bill, and 

 the conspicuous pectination along its edges. (Figs. 1 and 2.) 



The young are covered with slaty-grey down. 



Puffinus tristis, Forster. — Shearwater. 



On the last occasion of my coming through the French Pass (Sept. 27), I 

 observed a flock of these birds numbering about 200. They flew in a 

 compact body, fluttering near the water and occasionally resting upon it, 

 keeping so close together as quite to darken the surface. A few terns (Sterna 

 frontalis) were mingling with the flock. 



The young of this species is covered with thick sooty-grey down, which is 

 not cast off till the feathers beneath are fully developed. The fledgling has 



\ larger than the parent bird. This is not due, 



bein 



Mr 



stance that at the end of the true plumage there are downy filaments, about 



an inch long, matted closely together, and forming a warm outer covering for 



the body. A thick tuft of down, about 2 inches in length, represents the 

 tail. 



alacrocorax 



mm 



Sparrm. — Spotted Shag. 



bird figured in the Birds of New Zealand is the young and not the adult 



been 



* Trans. N. Z. Inst., V., p. 200. 



