MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 25 1 



notably the following: — (1) Platycercus unicolor, a green parrakeet from 

 Antipodes Island, rediscovered by Captain Fail-child half a century 

 after the type specimen had been placed on the shelves of the British 

 Museum. Platycercus erythrotis, another parrakeet from Antipodes 

 Island, intermediate in character between P. unicolor and the New 

 Zealand bird (P. novce-zealandupj, which was also referred to. The 

 author stated his views as to the manner in which the specific characters 

 of Platycercus unicolor had, by isolation for countless generations, 

 become developed, under the natural operation of the laws of evolution. 

 He accounted for the piesence of an intermediate form subsisting sid ■ 

 by side with Platycercus unicolor by the theory of an irruption or 

 colonisation by Platycercus novce-zedlandice at a later period of time, 

 but sufficiently remote to have produced a certain amount of divergence. 

 He described the differences that presented themselves, remarking that 

 these were first such changes and modifications as would naturally 

 mark the gradual transition from P. novct-zealandw to P. unicolor. 

 (2) Ocydromus earli, a live example of which had been brought by 

 Captain Fairchild from Macquarie Island, thus supplying a very 

 interesting fact in geographical distribution, seeing that the range of 

 this particular species of Woodhen, so far as hitherto known, was 

 restricted in- New Zealand to a portion of the West Coast of the South 

 Island. (3) Ocydromus yreyi, of which species a veiy singular albino 

 was described. (4) Diomedea canta, (the Shy Albatross), of which a 

 very interesting account was given, the result of personal observation. 

 (5) Diomedea regia, (the Royal Albatross), which had been described 

 and named by the author at a previous meeting of the Society, and in 

 relation to which some further particulars were given. The author 

 stated that the distribution of the various species of Albatross on their 

 breeding grounds is very curious. Although Mollymauks are plentiful 

 on the Snares and on the Bounty Islands, neither Diomedea regia nor 



D. exulans are to be found there. On Campbell Island where O. regia 

 reigns supreme, D. exulans is never seen. On the Auckland Islands, 

 with the exception of the small colony of D. regia mentioned in a 

 former paper, all the breeding birds belong to D. exulans. At the 

 Antipodes Island, again, there are no Diomedea regia, whilst the 

 breeding birds of the other species are for the most part in the dark 

 plumage of immaturity. (6) Adamastor cinereus, of which rare species 

 several specimens had lately been captured by Captain Fairchild half 

 way between Wellington and the Chatham Islands. (7) Ta.cliyptes 

 aquila, (the Great Frigate Bird), of which an example — only the second 

 known in New Zealand waters, and exhibited at the meeting — struck 

 itself against the lantern at the Cape Farewell lighthouse on the 15th 

 April last, and was picked up in an injured state, and (8) the following 

 seven species of Penguin, respecting each of which most interesting 

 information was given as to habits and distribution, namely : — Apteno- 

 dytes longirostris, Eudyptes chrysolophus, E. rachorhynchus, E. sclateri, 



E. chrysocome, E. antipodum, and Eudyptula undina. In treating of 

 this group the author stated that he had satisfied himself as to Eudyptes 

 clirysolophus being only the young of E. schlegeli ; but that the former 

 name, being of older date, would have to take precedence according 

 to the accepted rules of zoological nomenclature. 



