''^WHHmMHMHHHHI^^BHmm 





Order ARDEIF0RMES.1 



[Family PLATALEID^E. 





PLATALEA EEGIA. 



(EOYAL SPOONBILL.) 



Platalea melanorhyncha, Eeichenb. ; Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p. 144. 



In vol. ii. (p. 144) I gave an account of the occurrence of this fine Australian bird at Manawatu. 

 The specimen, for which I was indebted to the kind assistance of Mr. C. Hulke, is now in 

 the mounted collection of the Colonial Museum. 



The only example of which I have heard, since the publication of the ' Birds of New 

 Zealand,' is one of which Mr. Townson informed me, as having been shot on the Buller 

 River, about January, 1892. It was preserved in Dr. Gaze's collection, at Westport ; but 

 I am sorry to learn that it has since been utterly destroyed by moths. 



I have followed Dr. Sharpe's ' Handlist ' in referring this bird to Platalea regia, Gould. 



Order ARDEIFORMES.j 



[Family ARDEID.E. 



AEDEA CINEEEA. 



(COMMON HERON.) 



Ardea cinerea, Linn. ; Buller, Trans. N. N. Inst., vol. xxxi., p. 28. 



This widely-spread species has been met with in all suitable localities throughout the whole 

 of Europe, Africa, and Asia, reaching Japan, many of the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and 

 even Australia. In the latter country it is evidently very rare, for Mr. Gould saw it only once in 

 the course of his explorations. He says : " During my journey into the interior of South 

 Australia, in 1839, I saw a fine example of this bird, but, although I resorted to every possible 

 stratagem in my power to get within shot of it, I regret to say that I was unsuccessful. I have 

 since, however, received a skin direct from New South Wales. Mr. Blyth considers that this 

 Heron is not specifically distinct from the Ardea cinerea of India and Europe; and, if this 

 be really the case, the species enjoys a very extensive range over the Old world." 



We have now to include New Zealand in the range of this noble bird, Mr. A. Waley having 

 obtained in Auckland the skin of one which was caught on board a schooner off the east coast, 

 the authenticity of its capture being beyond all doubt. It was carefully stuffed by Mr. Spencer, 

 of Queen Street, Auckland ; and, on Mr. Whaley's collection becoming dispersed in London, it 

 came into my possession. 



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