LITTLE GORFOU. 



Figured and described by Latham : Size of a 

 Teal : length fifteen inches : beak an inch and a half 

 long ; in shape like that of the Red-footed ; colour 

 dusky ; the under mandible somewhat truncated, and 

 blue at the base : irides livid : the upper piarts of the 

 bird, from head to tail, appear cinereous blue, the 

 ends of the feathers being of that colour, but the base 

 of them is brown-black ; the shafts of each feather 

 black : round the eye and a little way below on each 

 side is a bed of pale brownish-ash colour : the under 

 parts, from chin to vent, white : wings dusky above, 

 and white beneath : tail very short, and consists of 

 sixteen stiff feathers, but is scarce perceivable, except 

 in the feathers appearing a little elongated at that 

 part : legs dull red : webs dusky : claws black." 



Not unfrequent on the rocks of the southern parts 

 of New Zealand, especially in Dusky Bay : they lay 

 their eggs in deep burrows formed on the sides of 

 the hills : the natives knock them down with sticks, 

 and feed upon their flesh. 



