BuLLEE. — On the Notornis. 243 



colour; but tlie sides of both mandibles, in the present condition of the 

 specimen, are reddish horn colour, fading to whitish horn along the cutting 

 edges. The tarsi and toes appear to have been originally light-red, having 

 now faded to a transparent reddish-brown, paler on the toes. Claws dull 

 brown, lighter towards the tips. * 



The texture and general appearance of the plumage on the head, neck, 

 and under parts generally, is very similar to that of the Pukeko (Porphyrio 

 melanotusj, although the latter bird lacks the produced bright-coloured 

 pectoral plumes which overlap the sides of the body, under the wings, in 

 Notornis. The plumage of the back is very long and thick, but at the same 

 time soft and somewhat silky to the touch, being evidently adapted to 

 haunts where the bird is constantly subject to drippings from wet herbage. 

 On moving this plumage with the hand it is found that the basal portion, 

 comprising more than two-thirds of the feathers, is of a uniform blackish- 

 brown, whereas the basal plumage on the other parts of the body is dark 

 grey. The plumage of the head and neck is short and close, as in Porphyrio, 

 the feathers having a soft texture. The whole of the upper surface has a 

 slight sheen upon it (amounting almost to a glint on the tips of the shoulder- 

 plumage), and the bright hues of colour on the back and wings change 

 slightly under different lights. The plumage covering the flanks and over- 

 lapping the thighs is dense and long, while its brilliant blue and greea colours 

 contrast strongly with the olive plumage of the back and rump. When 

 looked at in fi-ont, with the wings closed in against the body, the purplish 

 vivid blue already described is very conspicuous. The carpal spur is shaped 

 like the claw of the hind toe, but is less arched. It is nearly one-eighth of 

 an inch thick at the base, and is dark brown, fadmg into horn-colour at 

 the tip. 



Measurements. — Approximate length (measuring from tip of bill, follow- 

 ing its curvature, and from the forehead to the end of the tail) 24-5 inches 

 wing, from flexure, 10 ; from humerus to flexure 3*75 ; carpal spur -4 ; tail 

 (to extreme tips) 4-75 ; bare part of tibia 1 ; tarsus 3*5 ; middle toe 8, its 

 claw I'l ; inner toe 2-2, its claw 1 ; outer toe 2*4, its claw '8 ; hind toe '15, 

 its claw -75. Bill, from posterior edge of frontal plate to tip of upper 

 mandible, 3*4 ; from gape along edge of upper mandible 2-5 ; along edge 

 of lower mandible 2-25 ; greatest width of bill, measuring across from the 

 summit of the arch, or culmen, to the junction of the rami, 2. 



Observations. — Taken altogether, the specimen is a very fine one — probably 

 an adult female. The plumage is somewhat worn, the primaries and tail- 

 feathers having their webs more or less abraded on their outer edges and 

 tips. The edges and sides of the mandibles are considerably worn, indi- 

 cating a fully adult state. The claws of the toes, and particularly that of 



