Order ANSERES.] [Fah. PELECANID^l. 



PHALACROCOKAX CHALCONOTTTS. 



(GRAY'S SHAG.) 



Graucalus auritus, Gray, in Dieff. Trav. ii. App. p. 201 (1843). 

 Gracalus chalconotus, Gray, Voy. Ereb. & Terr. Birds, p. 20, pi. xxi. (1845). 

 Phalacrocorax glaucus, Hombr. & Jacq. Voy. Pole Sud, Zool. iii. p. 127, pi. 31. fig. 1 (1853). 

 Graculus glaucus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. ii. p. 171 (1857). 



Ad. pileo cristato colloque toto, dorso postico et uropygio purpurascenti-nigris, vix viridi lavatis : inter - 

 scapulio, scapularibus et tectricibus alarum brunneis, plumis sordide viridi marginatis, teclricibus 

 minimis purpurascente lavatis : remigibus brunneis, secundariis olivaceo-viridi lavatis : cauda nigra, 

 scapis ad basin albis : subtus sordide nitide viridis, jugulo vix purpurascente : rostro cinerascenti- 

 brunneo, culmine saturatiore : pedibus sordide flavis : iride thalassino-viridi. 



Adult. Head, including the crest, and the whole of the neck, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts shining 

 purplish black, glossed with green in certain lights ; mantle and upper surface of wings purplish brown, 

 each feather margined with dull shining green ; the whole of the under surface shining purplish black, 

 but not so highly glossed as the upper parts ; quills dark brown, the secondaries tinged with olive ; tail- 

 feathers black, the shafts white towards the base. Irides green ; bill greyish brown, darker on the 

 ridge; legs and feet dull yellow. Total length 28 inches; wing, from flexure, 12; tail 55 ; bill, along 

 the ridge 2 - 6, length from gape to extremity of lower mandible 35 ; tarsus 2 - 25 ; longest toe and 

 claw 3 25. 



This species is extremely rare in New Zealand ; and it has not yet been met with elsewhere. 



My description is taken from Mr. Gray's type specimen in the British Museum, which was 

 obtained by Mr. Percy Earl at Otago, in the South Island. 



I believe I am right in referring to this species a pair of Shags which I observed at the 

 mouth of Port Chalmers in February 18G5. I saw one of them dive, and, after a considerable 

 interval, come to the surface with a small sea-lobster, which the bird battered to death on the 

 surface of the water before devouring it. 



