116 



In a later communication I wrote : — 



I find that, in quoting Mr. Bethune in relation to this species (' Transactions New Zealand Institute,' 

 vol. xxvii., p. 133), I rather overstated what he had said. He informs me that, although he saw many of 

 these birds mated in the breeding season, as a matter of fact he 'collected' only one pair— the specimens 

 which I had the pleasure of exhibiting at the meeting of our Society on September 5th last. But, as far as 

 he could observe, the two phases of plumage were always associated; so that my general argument is not 

 affected in any way. But, as Mr. Bethune is a very careful observer, I am anxious that he should be reported 

 with strict accuracy. On another point also I appear to have misunderstood him. This species, he assures 

 me, does not deposit its eggs in a burrow, like so many of the other Petrels, but places them in an open 

 depression on the surface of the ground. 



I have in my collection a series of four specimens from Sunday Island, one of the Kermadec Group, which 

 appear to bear out completely Mr. Salvin's view as to (Estrelata leucophrys (of Hutton) being only a condition of 

 that species. They are all of pretty nearly the same size. No. 1 is in the ordinary uniform dark plumage of 

 (E. neglecta. No. 2 has whitish throat ; breast, sides of the body, and abdomen white. No. 3 has the fore- 

 head and lores whitish ; throat, sides of the head, and the whole of the fore-neck pale-grey and white inter- 

 mixed, the former colour assuming the shape of small crescents on the cheeks and lower part of throat ; 

 feathers on vertex and crown with obscure, narrow margins of greyish-white ; nape and hind neck inclinino- 

 to greyish-white, being paler than the rest of the upper-surface, but without any markings. No. 4 is in the 

 perfect plumage of the so-called (E. leucophrys. No one examining this series critically could come to any 

 other conclusion than that they all represent one and the same species in various states of plumage. 



Mr. Bethune afterwards sent me the following note : " Three varieties of this Petrel are 

 known on Sunday Island by the name of the Summer Surface Mutton-bird. This is the only 

 name that the Bell family (the principal collectors) have for it. They do not make any distinc- 

 tion between the light and the dark varieties. This species was laying when we were there in 

 November. It lays its egg on the surface of the ground : hence the name." 



Captain Hutton writes to me (October 7th, 1902) : — 



I have received the following interesting information from Captain Bollons in answer to my enquiries 

 about the Mutton-birds of the Kermadecs : 



The White Titi ((E. neglecta) commences to breed early in November, inland, on ridges ; does not 

 burrow ; young covered with white down. First plumage resembles the adult ; throat white, breast and back 

 of the neck speckled. 



The Black Titi {(E. phillipi) commences to breed late in November, on the coast, on the edges of cliffs ; 

 does not burrow. Young covered with greyish down. First plumage like the adult, all black. 



Evidently this is not a case of dimorphism, but of incipient species. Whether they should be called 

 varieties or species is a matter of opinion ; but the difference should not be lost by lumping them as one species. 

 I have not yet found out through him anything about (E. leucophrys, but it also will probably have different 

 breeding habits. 



Bollons can be relied upon. I have found him most accurate. 



Captain Hutton writes to the Zoological Society : — 



Mr. Cheeseman informs me that (E. neglecta is certainly the winter Mutton-bird of the Kermadec settlers, 

 which is said to be breed only on Meyer Island and other outlying rocks during the winter months, the young 

 being ready to depart when the true Mutton-birds arrive at the end of August. Mr. Cheeseman says that at 

 the time of his visit (August, 1887) the slopes of Meyer Island were crowded with nearly full-grown fledglings 

 sitting at the roots of the trees. At his approach they uttered hoarse cries and endeavoured to escape by 

 rolling down the hill, the old birds circling about among the trees above his head. . . . Mr. Cheeseman 

 also informs me that some of the young birds were dark-coloured, but closely resembled the old ones in 

 plumage. Mr. Bell says that the Winter Mutton-bird breeds from May to September, and that its egg is 

 rather larger and rounder than that of the true Kermadec Mutton-bird. 



Off the Tasmanian Coast, in March, 1904, I saw several Petrels which appeared to me to be 

 (Estrelata neglecta. They are powerful on the wing and fly high, often in pairs, crossing in front 

 of the ship, and never astern like many other species, such as Profinus cinereus. 



