60 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Museum. It is true there is another in the Bremen Museum which was 

 stated to have been received from New Zealand, but it now appears that 

 there is considerable doubt as to the correctness of the statement. 



In the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, vol. xiv., p. 264, 

 Mr. T. F. Cheeseman records the occurrence of a small flock of them on 

 the Manukau Harbour. Mr. E. A. Plumby being fortunate enough to 

 secure two specimens for the Auckland Museum. 



Two years later Dr. Buller recorded the capture of another pair on 

 Portland Island near Napier, and also communicated a notice by Mr. C. H. 

 Eobson on the breeding habits of this rare species. 



The point of interest in connection with the specimen now exhibited is 

 the occurrence of this beautiful little wader in the Wellington district. 



In November last a specimen in splendid plumage was shot at the Pilot 

 Station in Worser Bay, and procured for the Museum. Subsequently a 

 pair was seen at Island Bay ; these also were shot, and I am informed by 

 the taxidermist who prepared them, are now in the possession of a resident 

 of this city. 



It is very curious that its right to a place in ..the Avifauna of this 

 country should for so many years have rested on a single specimen, and 

 that during the last three years upwards of fifteen examples have been 

 noted, in three different and widely separate localities. 



Art. IX. — Notes on some New Zealand Birds, exhibiting curious Variations 



of Colour. By T. W. Kirk. 



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



1. Glaucopis wilsoni, Bp. Blue-wattled crow, Kokako. 

 Several instances of abnormal colouring in this genus have already been 

 recorded. The first specimen showing a leaning towards albinism belongs 

 to the South Island species or orange- wattled crow (Olaucopis cinerea). It 

 is of the usual dark bluish-grey, with the exception of a few white feathers 

 scattered indiscriminately over the whole body ; a description will be found 

 on page 154 of Dr. Buller's •' Birds of New Zealand." 



All the specimens subsequently obtained belong to the North Island 

 species or blue-wattled crow. 



In 1877 a pure albino having bright pink eyes and very small pink 

 wattles was captured in the Piimutaka mountains, and kept alive for several 

 months by Mr. Elliott of Pakuratahi, during which time it became sufficiently 

 domesticated to feed from the hand of its owner. 



