148 Transactions . — Zoology. 



No. 47-50. — Plattcercus. 



We have a beautiful specimen of the nest of P. novce-zealandice, cup-shaped, 

 built entirely of feathers, moss, and down from the tree-fern (Bicksonia 

 squarrosa). A correspondent has communicated the following abnormal 

 conditions of plumage in specimens of this genus : — " P. novce-zealandice. — 

 Plumage yellow ; also a specimen with blue plumage, forehead and top of head 

 dirty white, without any mark or spot on each side the rump. P. auriceps. — 

 A specimen with yellow plumage." 



No. 51. — Nestor meridionalis, Gml. 

 Kaka. 



Some eggs of this Parrot in the collection of the writer differ from the 

 usual type, their surfaces being very coarsely granulated. The nest contained 

 five eggs, and was taken from the bush near Invercargill, South Otago. 



A form of Nestor not yet described has been found near Cass River, in 

 this Province. The dead bird was found jn bad condition ; it had the tail 

 feathers beautifully coloured with vermilion, without bars, the shafts much 

 produced into hair-like points ; the wing-feathers with inner webs of delicate 

 vermilion toning down to yellowish. 



Kakas, male and female, weigh from 15). 2ozs. to IS). 5ozs. 



No. 57. — EUDYNAMIS TAHITIENSIS, Gml. 



Long-tailed Cuckoo. 



In December, 1872, two instances came tinder the writer's notice of this 

 bird being reared in gardens in Christchurch ; somewhat later Donald Potts 

 saw one being fed in the Irishman scrub {Discaria toumatou), close to the 

 Piver Potts ; in each of these cases the foster-parents were grey warblers 

 (Gerygone Jlaviventris). The writer differs entirely from Dr. BuUer in 

 attributing compassionate philornithic feelings to the foster-parent ; he looks on 

 the Gerygone as a dupe simply. In the paper on the crow (Glaucojns), 

 page 154, " Plistory of the Birds of New Zealand," we may again find 

 something like a belief on the part of Dr. Puller that a philornithic spirit 

 prompts the yellow-head to feed and tend the offspring of the crow. 



Through the " Ibis " the writer tried to obtain some information about the 

 egg of Eudynamis, but without success ; he was referred to the two eggs 

 labelled koekoe, from the Puller collection. This bird abounds on the west 

 coast of this island, and the Maoris say "it comes with the mosquitos." 

 Crane-flies form a favourite portion of its food supply. The Long-tailed 

 Cuckoo weighs 4| ounces. 



No. 58. — Chrysococcyx lucidus, Gml. 

 Whistler. 

 Having long since taken much interest in bird notes, many observations have 



