feather with a terminal spot of reddish brown, the surface presenting a decidedly spotted appear- 

 ance ; quills and tail-feathers ash grey, darker and with greenish metallic reflections on their 

 outer vane and at the tip ; croup or rump bronzy green; the upper tail-coverts ash grey with dark 

 tips. 



A specimen purchased by me from Mr. Jacobs, of Wellington, taxidermist, has the general 

 plumage delicate cream-colour ; under-surface pure white, the line of demarcation on the breast 

 being quite distinct ; nape, shoulders, interscapulars, and small wing-coverts rich chocolate-brown 

 forming a very conspicuous mantle ; bill and feet carmine. 



Lastly, just before leaving the Colony, in 1898, I received from the Waitara district, New 

 Plymouth, a very handsome albino :— Head, neck, breast, back, wings and tail pale fawn colour ; 

 interscapular region, shoulders and smaller wing-coverts thickly marked with rich vinous brown ; 

 under-surface of body creamy white. 



What traveller on the West Coast of the South Island has not heard of the " White Pigeon 

 of Eoss " ? Its story is quite romantic. A settler named Ogilvie was out shooting in the woods, 

 and saw a snow-white Pigeon, but to his great disappointment he could not get near enough for 

 a shot. Night after night he dreamt of this wonderful Pigeon, and, a fortnight later, he was out 

 shooting again for the pot. He was just in the act of pulling the trigger on a sitting Pigeon when 

 the snow-white bird moved into position alongside, and the billing and cooing mates came down 

 together at one shot. He had the albino stuffed and mounted in a glass case. For several years 

 it has been a centre of attraction at the Half-way Accommodation House, till at length the 

 expression, " Come and see the White Pigeon," has become the equivalent among the diggers, at 

 Eoss, of " Come and have a drink." I remember hearing Lord Onslow tell his own experience 

 of this. He was driving through the district, with the Premier of the Colony in attendance, 

 when the coach pulled up at the Half-way House. His Excellency was invited to come in and 

 see the bird, but declined. On reappearing the Premier remarked, "Well, I have seen the 

 White Pigeon," to which the Governor promptly responded, "And what did it taste like 

 Mr. Seddon ? " 



It is certainly a very beautiful object, the whole of the plumage being pure white, stained 

 with light fawn on the shoulders and upper wing-coverts. This "White Pigeon" is such an 

 unfailing source of revenue that I tried in vain to induce the landlady to name a price for it. 

 Someone, she said, had offered her ten pounds, but she had only " laughed at the idea " of 

 selling it. 



Only a few miles south of this place another albino was shot some time later, and this is 

 now in the possession of Mr. Bruce, of Eoss. This is a less handsome bird, being creamy white 

 with a deep tinge of fawn on the shoulders and wings. 



A Maori at Otaki had a tame bird of this species in his possession for some months. It had 

 the freedom of a large hut, where I saw it, and would perch on the hand or shoulder in the most 

 confiding manner. In the end it was killed by one of those mongrel curs that infest every native 

 village. I also had one confined in an aviary for some months, intending to forward it to the 

 Zoological Society of London ; but, unfortunately, some children, taking compassion on the bird's 

 solitary appearance, deliberately opened the door and turned it loose. This Pigeon had been 

 brought in by a party of bush-fellers, who reported that it was stunned by becoming en- 

 tangled in the branches of a falling tree. It seemed quite unhurt, and adapted itself readily 

 to captivity, feeding freely on wheat, cooked potato, and almost anything offered to it. It 

 consorted with a tame Silver-runt, confined with it. The latter laid two eggs, but they proved to 

 be infertile. 



The protection extended to this bird by the Legislature, in having every sixth year made a 

 close season, is a great boon, and will save this fine Wood-pigeon from the extermination which at 



