212 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Art. XXIII. — On the Egg of the Hula (Heteraloclia acutirostris). By 

 Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., Sc.D. 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 12th January, 1878.] 

 In a paper read before this Society last year,- I described, as a great 

 novelty, the egg of the huia, from a specimeu (coutaiuing a well- developed 

 embryo) obtained by Mikaera in the Waiuiiiomata bush. The same native 

 brought in to me this season another huia's egg obtained in the same 

 locality. It differs so much in apj)earance from the one in the Colonial 

 Museum as to create a doubt at first sight of their identity. Mikaera, 

 however, stoutly affirms that he is right; and on proceeding to blow the egg 

 I found the shell extremely thin and fragile, agreeing in this respect with 

 the one already described. The present specimen is more elliptical in form, 

 measuring 1"8 inches in length by !•! in its widest diameter. It is of a very 

 delicate stone-grey, inclining to grejish-white, without any markings except 

 at the larger end, where there are, chiefly on one side, some scattered 

 rounded spots and dots of dark purple-grey and brown. Towards the small 

 end there are some obsolete specks, but over the greater portion of its 

 surface the shell is quite plain. 



The egg when brought to me was perfectly fresh, and the native declares 

 that he took it from the ovary of the bird just as it was ready for extrusion. 

 This may perhaps account, in some measure, for the extreme delicacy of the 

 shell, which fractured under the gentlest handling in blowing, as well also 

 for the absence of markings. I see no reason to doubt the authenticity of 

 the specimen, for any one who has taken the trouble to examine and 

 compare the eggs of the common house-sparrow will be aware how much 

 the eggs of some species differ from each other in this respect, even those 

 taken from the same nest ; and we have no sufficient data at present for 

 deter minmg the extent of variability in the eggs of this rare form. 



Mikaera brought this specimen to me on or about the 11th October. 

 The egg pre"\aously described, which was apparently within a day or two 

 of hatching, was obtained about the 20th October. These dates will there- 

 fore give approximately the period of incubation. 



The Museum specimen (which I am XDermitted to exhibit this evening for 

 comparison) measures 1-45 by 1*05 inches, and is of a pale stone-grey, 

 irregularly stained, freclded, and speckled with purplish-grey, the markings 

 iu some places running into dark wavy lines. 



" Trans. N.Z. Inst.," VHI., p. 192. 



