218 



Transactions. — Zoology. 



broad stripe of the same from the base of the mandibles on each side of the 

 upper neck ; also in having rusty red stains on the under side of the throat. 



Description of Hokitika Specimen. 

 Crown, nape, hind part of neck and shoulders blackish-brown, mottled with 

 white, each feather being narrowly edged with it ; the whole of the back and 

 rump black ; quills and tail-feathers black, the inner webs of the former 

 tinged with purplish brown, and the three innermost secondaries with a broad 

 longitudinal stripe of white on their outer vane ; bastard quills and the 

 superior primary coverts black, the inner ones slightly tipped with white ; the 

 larger secondary coverts are white on their outer webs and beyond the shaft, 

 then black with a sharply defined edge ; the smaller coverts white in their 

 central portion, with a black lanceolate stripe on each web and narrowly 

 margined with white j towards the edge of the wing the feathers are black 

 with a central arrow-head spot of white, becoming entirely greyish white at 

 the carpal flexure ; scapulars black with a broad stripe of dull white on their 

 outer webs ; the coverts white in their central portion with black shafts, a 

 broad stripe of black on each web with a narrow outer margin of white ; 

 throat, foreneck and all the under parts buffy white ; under surface of the 

 wings and tail black. A broad line of black extends from the posterior edge 

 of the eyes down the side of the neck, sejjarating the dark brown of the hind 

 neck from the white plumage of the under surface. The middle tail-feathers 

 and the innermost scapulars on the outer webs have a peculiar crimped surface. 

 Bill yellowish horn colour, brownish towards the base of the upper mandible ; 

 the inner cutting edges of both mandibles armed with minute sharp barbs 

 inclined backwards. Feet dull yellow, shaded with brown ; claws yellowish 

 brown. 



Extreme length (approximately) 



Wing from flexure 



Tail (consisting of eight feathers) 



Culmen 



Bill, along edge of lower mandible 



Tarsus 



Longest toe and claw 



Hind toe and claw 



40 inches 



14 





10 





3-15 





4-25 





2 





3-8 





1-5 





