Morton. — New Zealand Birds. 225 



Art. XXIY. — Notes on some of the New Zealand Birds. By James Morton. 

 (Communicated by Capt. Hutton.) 



[Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 20th Jidy, 1872. 



Graucalus concinnus, Hatton. 



Colluricincla concinna, Hutton, " Cat. Birds N.Z.," No. 40. 

 A specimen of this species was shot at a farm four miles from Invercargill, 

 and the skin is now in my possession. 



Platycercus, sp. 



I think that we have near Invercargill another species of paroquet, 

 which differs from P. auriceps in being of a much bluer green, with a band 

 of orange on the forehead, and one of light yellow above it j the spots under 

 the wings and on each side of the rump orange, corresponding with the 

 forehead. It is about the same size as P. auriceps. (See note by Captain 

 Hutton.) 



Ardeoj alba, L. 



I have had great experience in handling and watching the habits of this 

 bird, having been to the breeding-places on several occasions, and having 

 kept two in confinement for six months. They had to be treated with great 

 caution to preserve their health, for although they well knew the hand that 

 fed them, and would always recognize me, still if I came upon them suddenly, 

 or in any way disturbed them beyond what they were accustomed to, they 

 would instantly vomit and sometimes remain sick all day, or even for two or 

 three days at a time, and would sometimes lose the power of their legs. 



After a close study I came to the conclusion that this bird is three years 

 in arriving at maturity. 



The first year they are pure white, with the skin on the sides of the head 

 greenish or greenish yellow ; bill yellow ; legs black. 



In the second year the bird increases in size and the doi-sal plumes appear 

 a little in May, and the tip of the upper mandible commences to get dark. 



In the third year the dorsal plumes are elongated beyond the tail in a 

 most graceful manner ; the bill is now black or dusky, and the base of the 

 bill along with the naked skin round the eye is of a beautiful bright blue. 

 Both male and female have the power of erecting their dorsal plumes at 

 pleasure in a similar manner to the peacock ; this I have seen them do on 

 their nests, uttering their hoarse croak at the same time. 



The adult bird is migratory, but to what extent I am not yet certain, but 

 all birds shot near Invercargill throughout the winter are young birds of the 

 first and second year. 



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