117 
Ornithology of New Zealand. 
Glaucgpis cinerea. 
Captain Hutton and Mr. Travers are quite right about the 
peculiar feeding-habit of this bird. I frequently observed it 
in my captive specimen of G. wilsoni, but somehow omitted 
to record it. I have noticed this habit in Porphyrio melanotus 
(B. ofN. Z. p. 186). 
CaRPOPHAGA NOViE-ZEALANDL/E. 
My description of the egg of this species was taken from 
one obtained by me in the Upper Manawatu many years ago. 
The specimen came into my hands very much broken; and as 
my measurements were consequently uncertain, I adopted 
those given by Captain Hutton as from a perfect specimen, 
never supposing that he could mistake the egg of a Petrel for 
that of a Pigeon ! The addition “sometimes marked with ob¬ 
scure purplish spots” was on the same unfortunate authority ; 
for my specimen had no spots whatever, and the natives had 
always described the egg to me as being perfectly white. 
OcYDRQMUS EARLI. 
Captain Hutton expresses some astonishment that I did 
not preserve Dr. Hewson’s specimen of the hybrid Wood-hen, 
or ascertain what it developed into. The bird was promised 
to me, but unfortunately was shortly afterwards consigned to 
the pot; and this put an end both to the specimen and its 
“ development.” Captain Hutton quotes me incorrectly in 
stating that I carefully examined several supposed hybrids. 
OcYDROMUS AUSTRALIS. 
Dr. Fins eh is probably right in distinguishing a second 
species (O. troglodytes ). I have myself stated (B. of N. Z. 
p. 171) that “ examples from different localities exhibit so 
much variety in size and plumage as to suggest the existence 
of another, closely allied species.” 
Rallus dieffenbachii. 
In my letter which appeared in the last number of f The 
Ibis/ I stated that Captain Hutton was entirely wrong in as¬ 
suming that Rallus dieffenbachii and R. philippensis are the 
same, or very nearly allied species (Ibis, 1873, p. 350). The 
ser. hi.—VOL. IV. K 
