OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 557 
70. Ardea nove-hollandie, Lath. 
White-fronted heron, Matuku.—Is far from common in this 
district. I have scen it but rarely at the mouth of a tidal creek in 
Port Cooper. Campbell terms it a persistent breeder, and cites an 
instance of five clutches of five eggs having been taken from one nest, 
yet a brood was reared before the season expired. It makes a nest 
of sticks built on trees; the eggs are oval, smooth, rather blunt, of a 
pale bluish green. Length one inch ten and a-half lines with a 
breadth of one inch three lines. Specimens in my collection from 
Australia vary but very slightly in size and form. 
71. Ardea sacra, Gml. 
Blue, Purple, or Reef heron, Matuku.—May be observed alight- 
ing on reefs immediately on the ebb of the tide so that the birds 
stand in the water. I have noticed this many times at Kawau and 
elsewhere. I have the egg from near The Kidnappers, it was taken 
from a nest of sticks and debris in a recess amongst rocks, just above 
the sea. It is rather along oval, smooth, pale greenish white; one 
inch ten and and a-half lines in length, with a breadth of one inch 
four lines. : 
72. Ardea maculata, Lath. 
Little Bittern.—Its breeding habits to the present have nc{ been 
observed or recorded. 
73. Ardea peciloptera, Wagl. 
Bittern, Matuku.—Has an extended breeding season. The nest 
is built of raupo or other aquatic plants; it is flat on the top; when 
built in the water stands about six inches above the surface. The 
eges four in number, are oval; a set in my collection has the top ends 
rather inclined to be narrowed, they vary from a pale buffy brown or 
dun to pale olive green; in length they measure two inches one and 
a-half lines, with a breadth of one inch and a-half. They are small 
for the size of the bird. I have specimens from the Upper Ashburton, 
Swamp near the river Styx, de. 
Genus—Nycticorax. 
74. Nycticorax caledonicus, Lath. 
Nankeen Night Heron.—This straggler has not been known to: 
breed in this country. Gould describes the eggs, three in number, as 
of a pale green colour, two inches and five-eighths in length by one 
and a-half inches in breadth. 
Genus—Platalea. 
75. Platalea regia, Gould. 
Has a record of a single visit here. 
Family Snipes—Scolopacide. 
Genus— Limosa. 
76. Limosa mopygialis, Gould. 
I have not seen the egg of this bird, but have received information 
from Mr. F. Nairn that he has known it to breed on the East Coast just 
