Notes upon some Rare New Zealand Birds. al 
much larger and unlike oweni, that that comparison may be at once put 
aside. ; 
The skins exhibited agree so completely with the published descriptions of 
A. haasti, that I think there is not the slightest doubt about their correct 
identification. 
Dr Ernest J. O. Hartert writes me from Tring, 15th March 1913.— 
“Years ago the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Ph.D., had three A. haasti alive, 
and their habits did not differ from other birds of the same genus.” 
Apteryx oweni. 
Letter, 10th February 1896.—Apteryx owen :—< As a rule the sexes can 
be defined by the beaks, but in two instances I have found myself deceived. 
During my trip I did not get one ege of Apteryx owen. I caught six birds 
alive, with eggs apparently fully formed, some in the shell. A few days 
after the birds were caught I found the eggs dwindling away and finally 
dissolve internally.” 
Mr Dall thought there was more than one variety of Apteryx owent, the 
larger variety being found on the Wakamarama Ranges, Collingwood, N.Z. 
He evidently refers to Apteryx occidentalis of Rothschild. 
Letter, 15th August 1896.—“The egg of Apteryx owenr sent is of the 
ordinary variety, not of the larger one.” 
Letter, 9th April 1898.—“I have not observed Apteryx owent on the 
side of the range where Apteryx haasti is.” 
Mr James Dall mentions an incident connected with the egg of Apteryx 
owenr, a skin of which is here. As you have heard, the Apteryr lays two 
eggs. In the case in question, the bird had laid one egg and was about to 
lay the second, when it was attacked by a dog which caught it across the 
loins, and must have slightly cracked the egg, as in the laying it broke in 
two. One half remained in the bird, causing its death. Naturally there is 
a suspicion that the dog had injured the bird, but Mr Dall does not seem to 
think so. 
Apteryx australis. 
The two skins exhibited are male and female. The male bird was obtained 
by a member of a government expedition about November 1888, when at 
a place in the bush near Lake Manipori in the South Island. It was killed 
along with a female, and the skins brought to Dunedin to be properly 
prepared. I heard of them, and found that the skin of the female had been 
purchased by a visitor from the United States. I, however, succeeded in 
getting the owner to sell me the skin of the male. The only other Kiwi 
with which australis is likely to be confused is mantelli, but as it is said to 
