.Okder ANSERES.] 



[Fam. PELECANID^E. 



PHALACEOCOEAX CHALCONOTUS. 



(GEAY'S SHAG.) 





Graucalus auritus, Gray, in Dieff, Trav. ii. App. p. 201 (1843). 



Ereb 



xxi. (1845). 



Phalacrocorax glaucus, Hombr. & Jacq. Voy. Pole Sud, Zool. iii. p. 127, pi. 31. fig. 1 (1853) 

 Graculus glaucus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 171 (1857). 



] 



Ad. pileo cristato coUoque toto, dorso postico et uropygio purpurascenti-nigris, vix viridi lavatis : inter- 



scapulio, scapularibus et tectricibus alarum brunneis, plumis sordide viridi marginatis, tectricibus 

 minimis purpurascente lavatis : remigibus brunneis, secundariis olivaceo-viridi lavatis : cauda nigra, 

 scapis ad basin albis : subtus sordide nitide viridis, jugulo vix purpurascente : rostro cinerascenti- 

 brunneo, culmine saturatiore : pedibus sordide flavis : iride thalassino -viridi. 



Adult, 



Head, including the crest, and the whole of the neck, back, rump, aud upper tail-coverts shining 

 purplish black, glossed with green in certain lights ; mantle and upper surface of wings purplish brown, 

 each feather margined with dull shining green ; the whole of the under surface shining purplish black, 

 but not so highly glossed as the upper parts ; quills dark brown, the secondaries tinged with olive ; tail- 

 feathers black, the shafts white towards the base. Irides green; bill greyish brown, darker on the 

 ridge; legs and feet dull yellow. Total length 28 inches ; wing, from flexure, 12; tail '5-5 ; bill, along 

 the ridge 2"6, length from gape to extremity of lower mandible 3*5 ; tarsus 2*25 ; longest toe and 

 claw 3-25. 



This species is extremely rare in New Zealand ; and it has not yet been met with elsewhere. 



Mr. Gray's type specimen in the British Museum 



Mr 



I believe I am right in referring to this species a pair of Shags which I observed at the 

 mouth of Port Chalmers in February 1865. I saw one of them dive, and, after a considerable 

 interval, come to the surface with a small sea-lobster, which the bird battered to death on the 



surface of the water before devouring it. 



