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Transactio7is. — Zoology. 



inner web, this mai-k slightly impinges on the outer web, third feather has the 

 basal portion chiefly white, fourth feather has the inner web silver grey, 

 margined with black, all primaries except the first tipped with white spots ; 

 bill yellowish, slightly stained near the point on each mandible with horn 

 colour ; tarsi and feet yellowish ; claws black. 



Inches. 

 Bill from gape . . . . , . .1-75 



Depth of bill at base -29 



Width of bill -25 



Wing from flexure . . . . . . 11'25 



Tarsus . . . . . • . .1-58 



Middle toe with claw 1-42 



Total length from point of bill to extremity of tail . 1 4' 5 

 In structure this species exhibits a gradual departure from the typical 

 form of Larus, as seen for instance in L. Novae Hollandice, Step., and with which, 

 and X. joomare, Bruch., it has here been hitherto confused. An examination 

 and comparison of the bill, tarsus, and foot, shows an evident approach to the 

 groiap of Sternidoi, in their more slender proportions, this is equally manifest 

 in the comparatively slight bill, delicate tarsus, and feeble foot. 



Should this sea bird be allowed by ornithologists a place in our fauna as 

 a new species, I propose to name it after Mr. Walter Buller. 



Two specimens in the Canterbury Museum were obtained by Mr. Fuller, 

 near the mouth of the Waimakariri River ; both are young birds that have 

 nearly attained the adult state ; in looking at the description of B. Jamesoni, 

 in Gould's " Handbook of the Birds of Austi-alia," I do not find that the bird 

 there described answers for the species L. Bulleri. It is probable that a 

 more intimate acquaintance with this pretty gull will cause it to be identified 

 as the one known to some of our shore-folk as the " painted gull " sometimes 

 seen about Port Levy rocks. 



[Not L. Bulleri, Hutton, No. 110, " Cat. Birds N.Z.," p. 41, but appears to 

 correspond with L. Jamesoni, Wils., No. Ill of Catalogue.] — Ed. 



Akt. XXXIII. — Notes on a New Species of Apteryx. (A. Haastii, Potts.) 



By T. H. Potts. 



[Read hefore the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 2nd August, 1871.] 



In the collection of the Canterbury Museum the Aptert/gidce are well repre- 

 sented, more especially in the species which are peculiar to the Middle Island. 

 Some time last summer, amongst a consignment of skins received from 

 Westland, was a specimen of a large Apteryx, which presented such peculiarities 



