56 Transactions. 



Herr Einscli in tlie opinion that Ocydromus hracliypterus has no real exist- 

 ence. Individuals vary, to a considerable extent, both in size and in the 

 colouration of their plumage. 



Two specimens, however, brought by Dr. Hector from the south-west 

 coast of the South Island belong unmistakably to a new species, which I 

 propose to name Ocydromus nigricans. The following is the diagnosis of this 

 new species : — 



General 'plumage, hrownisli-llaclc, each f earlier margined with rufous; 

 throat, cinereous, tinged loith iroivn ; tail, hlacJc ; under coverts, transversely 

 harred tvith pale rufous ; primaries ohscurely handed with rufous. The rufous 

 colouring prevails on the hreast, hut shades into darh cinereous hrown on the 

 ahdomen. 



jExtreme length (stuffed specimen), 20 inches; iving, from flexure,'! ; tail, 

 5|- ; tarsus, 2\ ; middle toe and claiv, 2^ ; hallux and claio, 1 ; hill, along 

 the ridge, 2 ; along the edge of loioer tnandihle. If. 



In one of the specimens {apparently a young hird) the colours are alto- 

 gether darker, and the marhings on the under tail-coverts are wanting. 



Dr. Hector found this sjDecies frequenting the sea beach, and feeding on 

 shell-fish and other marine productions. He never met with it at any dis- 

 tance from the sea shore. 



23. There is no observable difference between our Ballus assimilis and 

 some examples of the Australian Ballus pectoralis. The species is liable to 

 great variation of plumage. Sypotcenidia dieffenbachi must, however, be 

 regarded as a distinct species, and peculiar to the Chatham Islands. My 

 specimens of Ortygometra affinis differ somewhat from the Australian O. 

 palustris, Grould. 



24. Another interesting species of duck (Anas gracilis, BuUer) has re- 

 cently been added to the I^ew Zealand list. (See " Ibis," 1869.) 



25. I have never met with Lanes schimperi in this country, nor is there 

 a specimen in any of our collections. The authority on which it rests as a 

 New Zealand bird— a label in the Mayence Museum — is Avholly insufficient. 



By Larus pacificus, Latham, Mr. Layard evidently meant the common 

 black-backed gull (Larus dominicamis, Licht.). 



Larus (Bruchigavia) melanorhynchus, BuUer, has recently been added to 

 the list. (See " Ibis," 1869.) 



26. On a more careful examination of the specimen from which my 

 original notes were taken, and on comparison of the description in Grould's 

 "Handbook," (I., p. 536), I am induced to consider this bird not only a true 

 Anthochcsra, but also identical with Anthochcera carunculata, Gould, in 

 which case the name proposed by Herr Einsch, AntJiocJicera hulleri, must 

 of course sink into a synonym of the former; 



