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but there is a tinge of rufous on the dark plumage of the sides immediately under the wings; the primaries 
are of a uniform blackish brown^ with darker shafts ; the secondaries, tertials, and a broad band on the 
anterior edge of the wings pure white ; primary and secondary coverts blackish brown ; lining of wings and 
axillary plumes pure white. 
Younger state. No appearance whatever of crest or ruif, but the position of the future growth is indicated by a 
pale wash of rufous on the sides of the neck. 
Obs. The above descriptions are taken from fine examples of this bird in the Colonial Museum ; but it should 
be mentioned that individuals exhibit slight differences of plumage, especially in the amount of chestnut 
and rufous colouring. A fine adult male in my collection has the sides of the neck and shoulders, as well 
as the sides of the body and thighs, pale rufous, whilst the rest of the underparts are silky white. 
Nestling. Covered with soft down ; the head, neck, and upper parts generally, pale buff, with numerous longi- 
tudinal stripes of black, which are broadest on the back ; the underparts yellowish white. Bill yellow, 
crossed at the base and in the middle with black, changing to white near the tips of both mandibles ; legs 
and feet light olive-brown. (Obtained by Sir James Hector on Lake Whakatipu.) 
A down-covered chick killed by Mr. Cheeseman (out of a brood of seven) on Eotoiti lake. South 
Island, in January 1881, is preserved in the Auckland Museum : — Upper parts huffy white with longitudinal 
stripes of brownish black running the whole length of the body ; on the hind neck these stripes become 
darker, but narrower, and somewhat broken or irregular ; on the sides of the crown they spread out into 
broad patches, meeting again acuminately at the base of the upper mandible, and enclosing a small trian- 
gular spot of bare skin ; on the wings a narrow irregular stripe of black ; throat, fore neck, and underparts 
white. Bill blackish brown, with a white horny tip ; feet apparently greenish black, but faded in the dried 
specimen. 
More advanced stage. Little or no occipital crest, but a perceptible ruff which is white clouded with chestnut- 
red ; throat marked with interrupted streaks of brown. (Prom a specimen in my own collection.) 
Progressive state. An immature bird in the Otago Museum has the occipital crests only about half an inch 
long ; there is scarcely any ruff, and what there is of it is white with faint reddish blotches ; and in the 
wings, which are open, the white on the secondaries is very distinct. 
The species described above is no doubt identical with that inhabiting Australia, and named Podiceps 
australis by Mr. Gould. On a careful comparison of specimens, however, I can see no reason for 
separating it from the well-known Podiceps cristatus of Europe ; and I therefore agree with Dr. 
Finsch in the adoption of that name. 
The specimen on which I founded my original description of Podiceps hectori was in an imper- 
fect condition, and the supposed absence of white on the secondaries proved afterwards to be merely 
accidental ; but, as I have already pointed out in a published paper *, there appears to be a distinct 
race inhabiting some of the South-Island lakes, and distinguished by the dark colour of the under- 
parts. Sir James Hector considers this a good species, and states that he found it on the Whakatipu 
lake, accompanied by young, and exhibiting the double crest and red ruff which characterize the 
fully adult bird ; while in brackish lakes by the coast, where old and young birds, as well as eggs, 
were obtained, none but white-breasted ones were ever shot. 
On a comparison of the two forms, I find that the Whakatipu bird (of which there are several 
examples) is father larger than ordinary specimens of P. cristatus, has the upper parts perfectly 
black, and the fore neck and underparts greyish brown tinged with rufous ; the lores, moreover, are 
black, the rufous white commencing at the angle of the mouth and passing under the eyes to the 
ear-coverts. It will, of course, be necessary to obtain a larger series of specimens, establishing the 
* Trans. N.-Z. Inst. 1869, vol. ii. p. 388. 
