No. 1.] THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD 17 



EuDYPTULA MINOR (Forster). 



In the Ibis 1913, pp. 222-3, Mathews and I recognised 

 three subspecies as occurring in Nfew Zealand, viz. 

 E. minor minor (Forster), Both Islands ; E. m. albosignata 

 Finsch, South Island (Banks Peninsula, breeding) ; and 

 E. m. iredalei Mathews, Chatham Islands. 



This conclusion was based upon the results obtained 

 by Mathews, as set forth in the Birds of Australia, 

 Vol. I., 1911, pp. 281-286, where my own experience 

 was embodied. 



In the Vienna Museum is a fine series of E. minor, 

 collected at various places both in the North and South 

 Islands, and they clearly show that the undina recognised 

 by Reischek is merely a stage in the progress of the 

 species from infancy to maturity. From the fact that 

 E. minor ranges practically unchanged through both 

 islands, while E. albosignata is so well differentiated by 

 means of its pecuHar pale slate-blue coloration, I would 

 now recognise the latter as specifically distinct. This 

 seems the more reasonable course in view of the very 

 close relationship that the Australian breeding forms 

 bear to the typical E. 7ninor. The fully-adult Australian 

 specimens I have examined, have the bill longer than in 

 the New Zealand forms. The very short, thick bill of 

 E. m. iredalei Mathews from the Chatham Islands seems 

 to be quite constant. 



The names, therefore to be used would be — 



E. minor minor (Forster). Both Islands (breeding), 



E. minor iredalei Mathews. Chatham Islands 



(breeding). 



E. albosignata Finsch. Banks Peninsula, South 



Island (breeding). 



Reinholdia keinholdi (Mathews). 



In the Vienna Museum, specimens of this species are 

 labelled Pufjinus obscurus and P. gavia, and most inter- 

 esting are specimens of the young in all stages. 



In the Birds of Australia, Vol. II., 1912, pp. 53-74, 



B 



