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birds of new zealand.

volant ; and if the plates of Miss Stone in White, Latham in Phillip, and the 'Ibis' one can be in the least depended upon, it is a different species from the Vienna bird, now called Notornis (?) alba. It is difficult, however, to judge from a plate. Porphyrio melanotus is a bird of flight. It is strange that so many authors, acute observers, should never mention the spur on the wing, which I find present in P. melanotus, P. stanleyi, and Notornis mantelli, as well as in the Vienna bird. Messrs. Hartlaub and Finsch, on birds from the Pacific Islands (P. Z. S. 1871, p. 27), speaking of Porphyrio vitiensis, say "its size, as usually in Porphyrio, varies a good deal."

Just as this was going to press I received the following, for which I have to thank the Rev. George Weare Braikenridge, of Claremont, Clevedon:—

CATALOGUE OF THE LEVERIAN MUSEUM.

Part III.

Page 118.— Twenty-fourth day. Saturday, 31st May, 1806. 2782. White Fulica (Fulica alba). New Holland.

PRICE-CATALOGUE OF THE LEVERIAN MUSEUM.

Page 26.— Twenty-fourth day. 2782. 145. Od.