120 
Mr. W. L. Buller on the 
“ its flight is a curious fluttering motion, performed so close 
to the surface that it rarely rises high enough to top the 
waves, but upon being met by them makes progress by a direct 
course through instead of over them;” and Latham states 
that it congregates in flocks “ fluttering upon the surface of 
the water or sitting upon it.” 
PtJFFINUS BREVICAUDUS. 
My specimen was picked up on the sea-beach between 
Waikanae and Rangitikei, where this bird is often cast ashore. 
The natives on that coast identified it as the same that breeds 
in the Kaimanawa and Taupo-patea ranges. I can hardly 
think they would confound it with Procellaria parkinsoni, 
which is a very different bird. 
PuFFINUS GAVIUS. 
In giving P. opisthomelas (Coues) as a synonym of this 
species, I had no wish to ignore Captain Hutton; but it is 
manifestly impossible in a list of synonyms to do more than 
give the leading reference in each case. Captain Hutton 
has apparently forgotten that we went into the question to¬ 
gether before I left the colony, and came to the conclusion 
that P. opisthomelas and P. gavius were the same. Dr. Coues 
states that the former species is abundant on the south Pa¬ 
cific coast of North America. Assuming, therefore, their 
identity, I was justified in assigning our bird a “ wide oceanic 
range.” To Dr. Finsch belongs the credit of having since 
put us right on this point. This author says (J. f. O. 1872, 
p. 256), “ Hutton's account of this species, which, since 
Forster's time has not been examined, appears to be perfectly 
correct; but he is certainly mistaken when he asserts most 
positively that P. opisthomelas (Coues) is the same species. 
This could only be determined by actually comparing the ty¬ 
pical specimens; and this would clearly show a difference be¬ 
tween the two species. Hutton's description is far too super¬ 
ficial to allow of any thing approaching to a correct opinion.” 
As Captain Hutton is so very sensitive about not being 
acknowledged, it is a little surprising that when he wrote to 
* The Ibis,' some time ago, stating that he “ had found out 
l&n £o( 
