230 Essmjs. 



corTiynchus. The last named is a genuine mountain cluck, frequenting tlie 

 river sources, and subsisting chiefly on a species of caddis-worm. 



Pam. Colymbid.t:. — A small dabcliick {Podiceps rufipectus) is common in 

 our fresh-water lagoons ; and a large crested grebe, hitherto undescribed, 

 inhabits the lakes of the south. Dr. Hector obtained several specimens of 

 this fine bird during his exploration of the Otago Province, and they are now 

 deposited in the Provincial Museum. The author proposes to name this 

 species Fodiceps liectori, in honour of the discoverer, who enjoys a high 

 scientific reputation, not only in this colony, but also in Europe and 

 America.* The first specimens of P. rufipectns were forwarded to Europe 

 by the late Dr. Sinclair, R.N. 



Pam. ALCiDiE.— Pour species of penguin have been found on our shores, 

 viz. Apienodi/tes pennantii, Eiulyptes pacliyrhynclius, JE. antipodes, and 

 Splieniscus oniiior, but the two former are of very rare occurrence, and have 

 been detected only in the extreme south. The last-named species, which is 

 also common to Australia, is found on all our coasts. It is comparatively 

 plentiful in Cook Strait, and the island of Kapiti is resorted to annually as 

 a breeding place. 



Pam. PBOCELLATiiDiE. — The Southern Seas are peculiarly rich in petrels, 

 nearly 40 species having been recorded by Mr. Grould in the Birds of Aus- 

 tralia. As all the members of this family have a strictly oceanic range, we 

 have comparatively little knowledge of their habits and economy. The 

 following 14 sjoeeies belong to our list : — Pelecanoides iirinatrix, Pitffiiius 

 assimllis, Procellaria gigantea, P. ceq^iiinoctlaUs, P. parJcinsoni, P. glacialoides, 

 P. capensis, P. cooJcli, P. gavia, P. ariel, P. ccendea, Prion viitatus, Diomedea 

 exuJans, and D. fuliginosa. 



Pam. LAEiDiE. — In this division the author has recorded the discovery, 

 on the West Coast of the Wellington Province, of a fine specimen of the 

 Lestris antarcticits, or plundering gull. It was unknown to the natives of 

 that coast, and is therefore probably of very rare occurence. f 



* Fodiceps hectori, BuUei*. — The clistiuguishing feature iu this bird is au occipital crest 

 nearly two inches in length, and au ample ruff of loose silky plumage which surrounds the 

 vipper part of the neck. Forehead, crown and crest-feathers glossy black ; lores, intercrural 

 space and cheeks, white shading into pale rufous ; ruff, bright rufous, brown towards the 

 throat, but glossy black in its outer portion. G-eneral upper siirface, greyish-black, with 

 rufous touches on the sides and wings. Under parts white, diluted with grey on the 

 foreneck. Bill greyish-brown, paler towards the tip ; feet olivaceous black. (In the 

 female there is less white about the head and neck, and the general tints of the plumage 

 are paler). Extreme length 24 inches; wing from flexure 7i ; rictus 2^ ; tarsus 2j ; 

 longest toe and claw, 85. 



t Dr. Hector found another species of Lestris in Dusky Bay, on the south coast of the 

 Otago Province. It is considerably larger than L. antarcticus, measuring 26 in. in length, 

 and 17 in. from the flexure of the wing to the end of the first primary. 



