Okder AJMSEKES.] [Eam. PELECANID.E. 



PHALACROCORAX FEATHERSTONI. 



(CHATHAM-ISLAND SHAG.) 



Graculus africanus, Hutton, Ibis, 1872, p. 249 (nee Gm.), 

 Phalacrocorax featherstoni, Buller, Ibis, 1873, p. 90. 



Ad. pileo et collo undique indigotico-nigris, fronte et occipite conspicue cristatis, collo postico filamentis albis 

 paullo dilatatis ornato : dorso summo cum scapularibus et tectricibus alarum olivascenti-brunneis, 

 plumis nigro conspicue apicaliter maculatis, tectricibus minimis sordide iudigotico-nigris : dorso postico, 

 uropygio et supracaudalibus indigotico-nigris : remigibus nigricanti-brunncis, secundariis extiis cane- 

 scentibus : cauda nigra : subtiis pulchre canescens, abdomine imo cum subcaudalibus subalaribusque 

 indigotico-nigris : rostro saturate brunneo : pedibus aurantiacis : iride cana viridi reticulata. 



Adult. Head, upper portion of neck, and the whole of the nape, with the vertical and occipital crests, shining 

 indigo-black ; sides and hind part of neck ornamented with scattered filamentous white feathers, having 

 the tips produced and somewhat spatulate ; the shoulders, mantle, and upper surface of wings olivaceous 

 brown, glossed with green, each feather marked with a conspicuous terminal spot of black ; back, rump, 

 and upper tail-coverts, as well as the small wing-coverts, dull indigo-black ; quills blackish brown, the 

 secondaries greyish on their outer webs ; tail black j lower part of fore neck, breast, and middle portion 

 of abdomen beautiful grey ; sides of the body, flanks, under surface of wings, lower abdomen, and under 

 tail-coverts indigo-black. Irides grey, streaked with green ; bill dark brown ; legs and feet orange- 

 yellow. Length 22 inches ; wing, from flexure, 9 ; tail 4 ; bill, along the ridge 22, along the edge of 

 lower mandible 2"6; tarsus l"6j longest toe and claw 3"25. 



This beautiful addition to the ornithology of our country was one of the novelties brought from 

 the Chatham Islands by Mr. Henry Travers on his return from the exploratory visit mentioned 

 on a former page. It was referred by Captain Hutton to Graculus africanus; but having had an 

 opportunity of examining the original specimen, which was courteously forwarded to me through 

 the Colonial Office, I am satisfied that it represents a totally new and hitherto unrecorded species. 



I have already associated the name of Mr. Henry Travers with one of the new species 

 discovered by him ; and, in assigning a distinctive title to this bird, I desire to pay a slight tribute 

 to one who, having originally assisted in founding a colony at the Antipodes, has devoted more 

 than thirty years of his life to its political affairs, and now fills the important office of its Agent 

 General in Great Britain. I do this the more readily as Dr. Featherston has always used his 

 influence to encourage and promote scientific researches in New Zealand, while he has manifested 

 a special interest in the progress and success of the present work. 



As will be at once apparent on a comparison of the accompanying Plates, this species bears 

 a general resemblance to P. pv/nctatus : like that bird it has a vertical as well as an occipital crest, 

 and the distribution of the colours is somewhat similar, although the plumage altogether is much 

 darker. It is readily distinguished, however, by its black head and neck, and by the absence of 

 the white stripes which are so conspicuous in the other species. 



