BuLLER. — Re2)lies to Hutton's Notes. 137 



• ' [In giving F. opisthomelas (Coues) as a synonym of this species, I liad no 

 wish to ignore Captain Hntton ; but it is manifestly impossible, in a list of 

 synonyms, to do more than give the leading reference in each case. Captain 

 Hntton has apparently forgotten that we went into the question together 

 before I left the colony, and came to the conclusion that P. opistliomelas and 

 P. gavius were the same. Dr. Coues states that the former species is abundant 

 on the South Pacific coast of North America. Assuming, therefoi-e, the 

 identification, I was justified in assigning our bird a " wide oceanic range." 

 To Dr. Finsch belongs the credit of having since put us right on this point. 

 This author says (Journal fiir Ornithologie, 1872, p. 256) : — "Hutton's account 

 of this species, which, since Forster's time, has not been examined, appears to 

 be perfectly correct, but he is certainly mistaken when he asserts most 

 positively that P. opisthomelas (Coues) is the same species. This could only 

 be determined by actually comparing the typical specimens, and this would 

 clearly show a diflference between the two species, Hutton's description is far 

 too superficial to allow of anything approaching to a correct opinion." As 

 Captain Hutton is so very sensitive about not being acknowledged, it is rather 

 surprising that when he wrote to " The Ibis " stating he " had found out his 

 mistake " in describing Graucalus melanops as CoUuridncla concinna, he did 

 not also state to whom that discovery was due.] 



" Thalassidroma fbegata, 



" This species is far more plentiful in New Zealand than T. melanogaster." 

 [My experience differs from Captain Hutton's, for I have always found 

 'Thalassidroma melanogaster more plentiful on our shores than T. fregata.'\ 



" PrOCELLARIA PARKINSON! 



is common all round the New Zealand coasts, and not by any means confined 

 to the Hauraki Gulf, as Dr. Buller would seem to imply. It breeds in the 

 Eimutaka Mountains near Wellington." 



[When I left the colony all the known examples had been obtained in the 

 Hauraki Gulf. I am aware that it has since been met with in Cook Strait, 

 and on other parts of our coast.] 



" Daption capensis. 



" I cannot agree with Dr. Buller that the history of this bird has been 

 fully recorded, when even its breeding-place is not yet known." 



[What I meant, of course, was the known history of this familiar species, 

 for I bad nothing to add to it. It is equally common in the Atlantic and 

 Pacific oceans, and many excellent accounts have been written of it.] 



" Phalacrocorax nov^-hollandi^. 



" This bird differs from European specimens in never getting so white on 

 the head and neck ; but this is not, in my opinion, sufficient to entitle it to 



s 



