218 Transactions. — Zoology. 



instance, but the female was attracted by the plaintive cry of the young one! 

 which I had caught. I caught sight of the male bird also, but it was too dark] 

 to pursue it amongst the scrub. 



90. Ortygometra afflnis. 



I obtained this bird on Chatham Island. It inhabits wet swamps, and is' 

 very rare and difficult to obtain. When hunted with dogs it takes wing, but 

 only for a short distance, and, after dropping, it runs with great rapidity 

 through the long sedges and swamp grasses. Many of the oldest white 

 inhabitants had never seen it, and the Maoris but seldom. In the only 

 specimen I obtained was an egg, which was unfortunately broken during the 

 dissection of the bird for ascertaining the sex. The egg was about the size of 

 an ordinary walnut, of a brownish-olive colour, spotted with darker brown. 



92. Ortygometra tabuensis. 



This bird is extremely rare, and occupies grassy spots in swampy places. 

 I only obtained one young specimen. 



94. Porphyrio melanotus. 



Common on the banks of the lagoon on Chatham Island, but rare on Pitt 

 Island, and not found on the smaller ones. 



99. Anas superciliosa. 

 Common throughout the islands. 



100. Rhynchaspis variegata. 



Not common, and chiefly found in small lagoons. 



106. Lestris catarractes. 



The common name of this bird amongst sailors is the " sea-hen." I only 

 found it in certain places on Pitt Island, and on a small islet about two miles 

 from that island. It commences breeding in the beginning of December. 

 The eggs, two in number, are laid on a nest roughly made of grass, and placed 

 on rocky spots near the shore. The egg and nest are scarcely distinguishable 

 from those of Larus dominicanus, except that the former are a little larger. 

 One egg only is usually hatched. Whilst attempting to take the eggs of these 

 birds both parents attacked me most savagely, and I had some trouble in 

 obtaining them. Both parents take part in the work of incubation. Hound 

 the nests I found remains of several small sea birds, chiefly Prion turtur. 

 During the day time I saw this bird usually sitting in sunny places on the 

 higher clifis, only now and then taking short flights. I never saw it hunting 

 for food during the day time, but whilst I was on Mangare I heard it 

 constantly during the night, swooping at the small birds which come on shore 

 to roost. I examined the stomachs of a good many, always finding the 



