T. W. Kiek. — On Charadrius fulvus. 59 



n A. tuberculata. The transverse processes are finer and more numerous, 

 consequently the tubercles forming the keels are smaller, the space between 

 the keels is much less. 



Some of these differences have been noticed before, but were thought 

 to be probably due to age ; that such is not the case will be apparent to 

 all who examine the specimens on the table. 



A shell containing the animal having been sent to the Canterbury 

 Museum by Mr. Robson, Dr. von. Haast very kindly granted the loan of 

 them, and at once forwarded them for my examination. 



The animal proves to belong to the same species as a specimen from the 

 Chatham Islands, described by Professor Hutton on p. 2 of the Catalogue 

 of Marine Mollusca (1873), under the name of A. tuberculata. 



The specimen now under consideration was procured at Portland 

 Island, is somewhat larger than the Chatham Island one, and shows some 

 slight differences, but only such as are frequently found between members 

 of the same species. Such being the case, I cannot do better than quote 

 Professor Hutton's description. 



"Animal. — Body oblong, rounded behind, smooth, spotted with violet : 

 eyes large, prominent ; siphuncle united to the base of the arms by a lateral 

 membrane ; arms tapering, except the dorsal pair, which are palmate at the 

 end, these are the shortest, the next pair to them the longest, and the 

 others graduated ; the lowest pair are keeled on the outside ; membrane 

 small, all the arms equally webbed ; cups large, less than their own 

 diameter apart, in two rows, with a single row of rather small cups round 

 the mouth." 



To which he adds the following remark : — " As the shell of this animal 

 was not obtained, I refer it doubtfully to this species, as it differs from Dr. 

 Gray's description." 



It is satisfactory that conclusive evidence is now forthcoming, and that 

 this animal with its exquisitely beautiful shell is to enjoy specific distinc- 

 tion. I would therefore suggest for this latest addition to the fleet, the 

 name of Argonauta gracilis. 



Art. VIII. — Notice of the Occurrence of the Eastern Golden Plover (Charadrius 

 fulvus, Gml.) near Wellington. By T. W. Kirk. 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 9th July, 1884.] 

 This handsome little bird, although possessing one of the widest geographi- 

 cal ranges of any known species, was until recently included in the New 

 Zealand Fauna solely upon the authority of a single specimen in the British 



