Order PELECANIFOBMES. 
No. 134. 
Family PH ALA OROOORA Cl DM. 
STICTOCARBO PUNCTATUS. 
(STEADI.) 
BLUE SHAG. 
Stictocarbo steadi Oliver, Trans. New Zeal. Inst., 1929, Vol. LNI., p. 138, May 29th, 1930. 
Otago stragler—Stewart Island. Falla, Rec. Auck. Inst. Mus., Vol. I., No. 3, p. 153, 
Sept. 23rd, 1932; Oliver, New Zeal. Birds, p. 199, August, 1930 (cut of head). 
Phalacrocorax oliveri Mathews, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, Vol. LI., p. 18, Oct. 30th, 1930, new name 
for above. (Not Garbo carbo steadi Mathews and Iredale, Ibis, p. 411. 1913, July,) 
Distribution. Stewart Island. 
Adult male. Differs from S. p. punctatus in having the back and wings darker grey, with a greenish 
tinge ; the top of the head is glossy-greenish, which colour extends down the upper surface 
of the neck till it meets the back, wdiere it spreads out; below T the second crest there are many 
strong white plumes covering that portion of the upper neck lying between the white lines 
running down the sides of the neck ; the chin and throat are also darker and more glossy than 
are these parts in punctatus ; all these glossy-green parts, together with the glossy-green rump 
and thighs have white plumes scattered all through ; the under-surface is about the same 
colour as in punctatus ; the white line on either side of the neck is narrower than that of 
punctatus and does not extend beyond the eye. Wing 255 mm., tail 102. culmen 61, tarsus 
59, long toe and claw r 90. Collected by H. H. Travers in Otago, South Island. 
Or more completely differs from punctatus in having the back and wings darker grey ; the 
white lines on the side of the neck narrower and not extending beyond the eye ; top of the 
head and upper neck glossy-green like the lower back and rump ; throat and lower part of 
the neck glossy-green, but not as pronounced as the top of the head ; white breeding- 
plumes distributed as in punctatus. 
Oliver says that in non-breeding plumage the crests are absent, also the larger 
filo plumes, though smaller ones are present on the neck and flanks. The 
white stripe on the sides of the head are mottled with black. Remainder 
of the plumage as in summer. Bare skin on the cheeks and throat sea-green. 
Pimples near the eye vivid verditer green. Feet lemon-yellow with dark-brown 
knuckles. (November, Stewart Island.) 
In his book, as quoted, Oliver says that this is the “ Blue Shag ” of Stewart 
Island where, in 1872, Professor Black recorded it as, perhaps, the most abundant 
Shag on the island, easily shot, and esteemed by the sailors as an article of food. 
These characteristics have been the undoing of the unfortunate species, for it 
was constantly shot by sailors and Maoris and was almost exterminated. It 
is now reported to be increasing in numbers. A specimen was obtained some¬ 
where in Otago many years ago and is now the type of the species and preserved 
in the Dominion Museum. The credit of recognising the species as undescribed 
belongs to Mr. E. F. Stead who, in November, 1929, procured two specimens 
on the islands off the west coast of Stewart Island. 
To those who put all Shags in the same genus, viz. Phalacrocorax , this can be 
known as Phalacrocorax punctatus oliveri . 
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