21G Transactions. — Zoology. 



cinereous brown, fasciated on the sides and flanks with narrow markings 

 of fulvous. 



After fully describing the ordinary plumage of the adult male, I stated 

 that the female was smaller, with darker plumage and duller coloured legs ; 

 and that in immature birds the tints of the plumage generally are lighter, 

 the transverse markings are less distinct, and the colours of the bill and 

 legs are paler ; the irides are dark brown ; there is less rufous on the 

 head and often considerably more of the cinereous grey colour on the 

 breast and abdomen. 



OcYDEOMus Fuscus, Dubus. — Kelp-lieu. 



An apparently adult female specimen of this bird in the Canterbury 

 Museum (obtained at Preservation Inlet) has the general plumage brownish- 

 black ; throat dark grey mixed with smoky-brown ; the plumage of the 

 fore-neck, lower hind-neck, and upper surface of wings presenting dull 

 streaky marks of rufous, each feather being irregularly touched with this 

 on each web ; tail-feathers black ; under coverts obscurely marked with 

 rufous. On the under face of one of the primaries (an old feather which 

 came out on being handled) there are obsolete rufous bars ; and the 

 scattered new feathers appearing on the upper surface of the body are 

 almost entirely black ; bill, bright reddish-brown at the base, horn-grey 

 towards the tips of both mandibles ; legs and feet reddish-brown. 



It may be inferred from this state of plumage that the tendency of this 

 species is to darken towards maturity. I have not yet had an opportunity 

 of examining a first year's bird, but, judging by analogy, I think Captain 

 Hutton is probably right in his conjecture that his " O.finschi is only the 

 young of 0. fuscus.'"''' 



Dr. Finsch himself f ex^Dressed the suspicion that one was a variety of 



the other. 



OcYDEOMUS SYLVESTKIS, Sclatcr. 



This is a very distinct species inhabiting Lord Howe Island. There 

 were too living examples in the Gardens of the Zoological Society when I 

 last visited thera in 1873. 



OcYDROMus LAFEESNAYANUS, Verr. et Des Murs. 



This form is peculiar to New Caledonia. The Zoological Society received 

 a live specimen from Dr. Geo. Bennett in June, 1869, and another from the 

 same donor in May, 1873. 



* " Trans. N.Z. lust.," IX, p. 331. t " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," VII, p. 232, 



