Bulleb. — On some rare Sjiecies of New Zealand Birds. 311 



one very fine male I will send you in April. I am going to Lyttelton at 

 that time, and I will forward it by the first steamer bound for "Wellington. 

 I will likewise send you another owl's egg, but hardly such a fine specimen 

 as any of the two I sent. I intend to search the rocks carefully for more 

 birds, and, if I succeed in finding more, I will not fail in sending you a 

 pair. You may, however, rely on getting a second specimen from me. I 

 should mention that I have collected a quantity of pellets at different times, 

 composed of the hair of rats and mice and the elytra of beetles. Three 

 large species of the latter swarm among the debris beneath the main rock, 

 and certainly constitute part of the bird's food." 



Hylochelidon nigricans. 



In a communication which I made to this Society in August, 1878, I 

 quoted a letter I had received from Mr. J. E. W. Cook, of Blenheim, reporting 

 the appearance, on the 9th June, of a swallow hawking in the air on the 

 banks of the Opawa Kiver. From the account which Mr. Cook gave of the 

 bird, I felt no hesitation in identifying it with the Australian Tree Swallow, 

 two occurrences of which in New Zealand had been previously recorded by 

 me. I wrote accordingly to Mr. Cook and begged him to keep a sharp 

 look-out for this rare visitant, and, if possible, to obtain a specimen. 



In April last I had the pleasure of receiving from him the specimen 

 which I now exhibit, accompanied by the following letter : — 



" Since writing to you in June, 1878, reporting the occurrence here of 

 the Australian swallow, I have not again noticed the bird until the 16th of 

 February last, when I saw another hawking over one of my stubble pad- 

 docks. I watched it for some time, and had good opportunities of remark- 

 ing plumage. The bird appeared to me either immature or weary, the 

 flight being weak and uncertain. I found, too, that the white on the rump 

 was dingy, and the chestnut on the breast faded-looking. There was a 

 stiffish nor'-west breeze blowing at the time, and the bird tried in vain to 

 get past a belt of willow and poplar so long as I was watching. 



" On the 20th of last month (March) when duck shooting, I mentioned 

 the occurrence to a party of sportsmen, when one remarked, ' Oh ! there 

 have been some birds answering to your description flying about Grove- 

 town for some time back.' Grovetown, I may remark, is situated about 

 four miles from this, and nearly in the centre of the Wairau Valley. 

 After a little talk on the subject it struck me that possibly the birds had 

 been bred there. I said — ' The next time you see them, shoot one and 

 send to me.' Yesterday morning one was handed in, but unfortunately I 

 did not see the man who brought it. Fearing that the weather might not 

 allow me to send it to you in the flesh, I have skinned the bird and now 

 send it to you." 



