37 



clove-brown, the latter darker ; the higher interscapular region or shoulders and the small wing- 

 coverts rich vinous-brown ; some of the outer coverts pale brown with vinous edgings ; the whole 

 of the under surface pure white. Bill and feet red. The other bird was shot in the same spot 

 about eight days later. It is a lovely albino, the entire plumage being pure white, with just the 

 faintest tinge of cream, or, so to speak, another shade of white on the breast ; and on the smaller 

 wing-coverts there is a pale wash of cream. The primaries and tail-feathers are pale cream with 

 pure-white shafts. Bill and feet red. 



A specimen which I afterwards received from Nelson has the white of the underparts, 

 especially along the junction with the bronze plumage of the breast, washed with chrome yellow, 

 and the under tail-coverts are entirely of that colour. It is apparently an adult bird, and is 

 marked " female " by the collector. 



A partial albino from Martin's Bay has the breast metallic-blue and green intermixed ; upper 

 part of breast and small upper wing-coverts rich vinous-brown ; back pale bluish-green and grey ; 

 scapulars largely marked with white ; upper surface of wings pale bluish-green and brown inter- 

 mixed ; quills margined and tipped with pale brown ; tail-feathers brown, tipped with brownish 

 white ; under tail-coverts dark-cream colour. 



In the Hawke's Bay Museum there is an almost perfect albino, the whole of the plumage 

 being white, with the exception of a sprinkling of coppery-brown feathers on the head and upper- 

 surface of wings. In the Wanganui Museum there is a peculiar example of partial albinism, 

 already described by Mr. Drew. This bird looks just as if it had been sitting out in a fall of snow, 

 the head, shoulders, and more-exposed portions of the back being perfectly white, and presenting a 

 striking appearance. 



A partial albino received from Wanganui has the head, neck, breast, and upper surface of 

 wings and back dull yellowish-brown, with numerous yellowish-white feathers on the back and 

 rump, and a few widely-scattered ones among the larger wing-coverts ; all the smaller wing- 

 coverts and the interscapulary feathers rich vinous-brown, with a perceptible sheen, forming a sort 

 of mantle ; wing-feathers and tail-feathers of the same yellowish-brown colour as the body 

 plumage, with paler tips ; bill and feet normal. 



Another specimen (obtained from the woods near Levin) has the plumage entirely white, with 

 only a tinge of cream colour on the upper surface of wings and on the hind-neck. 



Two other examples are thus referred to by me in a communication to the Wellington 

 Philosophical Society : — " To the many instances of albinism reported from time to time I have 

 now to add two more. One of these is a pure albino, from the Wanganui district. The entire 

 plumage in this bird is pure white, with just the faintest tinge of buff on the shoulders and 

 upper wing-coverts. The other specimen is from Collingwood, and being only partially an albino, 

 presents a very peculiar appearance. The entire plumage is pure white with the following- 

 exceptions : from the lower mandible, on each side, a broad patch of purplish black, with metallic 

 reflections, passes under the eye, spreads over the ear-coverts, and extends downwards almost to 

 the shoulder. On the inner flexure of each wing there is a patch of coppery brown ; some of the 

 wing-coverts are brownish grey, and the secondaries are almost wholly of that colour, the inner- 

 most ones more or less washed with coppery brown. One of the tail-feathers is of the normal 

 colour, freckled towards the base with white, as are several of the upper tail-coverts ; bill, 

 eyelids, and feet bright arterial red."* 



To the numerous eccentric varieties I have already recorded I must add another which is 

 fortunately preserved in the Nelson Museum :• — Head, neck and breast bronzy green, each feather 

 with a broad purplish margin ; shoulders, scapulars and upper wing-coverts ash white, each 



* Trans. N. Z. Inst., vol. xxviii., p. 347. 



