a Pr BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA AND THE ADJACENT ISLANDS. JOHN GOULD, F.L.S., &c. Malurus Lamberti. | Nymphicus Nove-Hoilandiz. ~—_—_-— elegans. Nestor productus. Calodera maculata. Hemipodius melanogaster. Amadina ruficauda. Leptorhynchus pectoralis. Nanodes undulatus. Phalacrocorax punctatus. LONDON: PRINTED BY RICHARD AND JOHN E. TAYLOR, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET, PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 20, BROAD STREET, GOLDEN SQUARE. AUGUST, 1837. pes | i \ | | : | | | } , | uimnanded SO a Ss . PETITE ATIC] AEE TT ‘eet Siw 4 4 MALURUS LAMBERTI, Vig. & Horsf. Mae. Head, ear-coverts, and a streak upon the sides of the neck deep verditer blue, the centre of the crown being browner than the other parts; throat, chest, collar round the nape of the neck, and the rump jet black, the feathers being dense and velvety; a narrow line of rich blue borders the black collar at the nape and extends down the sides of the chest to the flanks; centre of the back rich blue; scapularies rich chestnut ; wings brown; tail bluish-green tinged with brown, and each feather tipped with white; centre of the abdomen white ; flanks and under tail-coverts light brown; bill black; feet light yellow. Femaue. Space between the bill and the eye brown; crown of the head, back of the neck, and sides of the chest greyish brown; shoulders and back chestnut brown; throat and centre of the abdomen greyish white, passing into brown on the flanks; wings brown; tail brown tinged with green; bill blackish brown; tarsi light brown. Total length 51 inches; bill, +; wing, 12; tail, 31; tarsi, 2. Syn. Malurus Lamberti, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 221. Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn., vol. ii., Pl. LXXII. fig. 2. Gould, Syn. of Birds of Australia. Variegated Warbler, Lewin, Birds of New Holland, Pl. XV. Superb Warbler, Phillips’s Voyage to New South Wales, Pl. in p. 157. Lath. Gen. Hist. vol. vii. p. 117. Tuts beautiful species of Malurus is abundantly dispersed over that portion of Australia denominated New South Wales, where, according to Lewin, it ‘inhabits thick bushy woods ; frequents the low bushes, creeping close to the ground in search of food. This bird always goes in flocks, among which it is remarkable that only one male is to be seen in full plumage, and they arrive not in that state till the third year. The male is cheerful, active, always singing on the little elevated bushes it meets with on the way; it does not migrate.” We regret exceedingly that we are unable to add anything to the above meagre account; but the circum- stance of so few birds being seen in the adult livery is easily accounted for by the long period of three years being required to elapse before the bird is said to obtain its mature plumage. ae é ' MALURUS ELEGANS 3G PE EEUU \ fe Ris 4 ! | | | | | MALURUS ELEGANS, Goud. Mas. Mal. summo capite, nucha, plumis auricularibus strigd collari et dorso medio metallice viridibus ; vittd nuchali, uropygio loro nigerrimis ; plumis villosis ; guld, pectore intense ceruleis, abdomine medio cinerascenti-albo, ad latera et ad crissum in fuscum mergente ; scapularibus castaneo-brunneis, alis brunneis ; caudd obscure cerulescenti viride Jusco lavatd ; rectricibus singulis ad apicem cinerascenti-albis ; rostro nigro ; pedibus intense brunneis. Fam. vEL MAs suN. Summo capite, nuchd, et dorso cinerascenti-albis leviter fusco tinctis ; plumis scapularibus brunneis, castaneo lavatis; alis intense brunneis ad marginem externum pallidioribus ; loro nigro; plumis auricularibus ad apicem metallice ceruleis ; corpore inferiore albo ; pedibus intense brunneis. Long. tot. 51 une.; rostri, i; ale, 14; caude, 31; tarsi, 1. Mae. Crown, hinder part of the head, ear-coverts, a streak upon the sides of the neck, and the centre of the back light verditer blue, the centre of the crown approaching to dark brown; space between the bill and the eye, a broad collar round the back of the neck jet black, the feathers thick and velvety; throat and chest intense indigo blue; centre of the abdomen greyish white passing into brown on the flanks and under tail- coverts ; scapularies chestnut brown; wings brown; tail dull bluish green with a tinge of brown, each feather being very slightly tipped with greyish white ; bill black; legs dark brown. FEMALE oR younG Mate. Crown of the head, back of the neck, and upper part of the back grey, with a tinge of brown; scapularies brown tinged with chestnut; wings dark brown, the external edges lighter; space between the bill and the eye black; tips of the ear-coverts verditer blue; under surface greyish white ; bill black ; feet dark brown. Malurus elegans, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. 1837. In size this lovely species rather exceeds the Malurus Lamberti, and also differs from that species in the lighter colour of the verditer blue on the back and ear-coverts and in the deep blue colouring of the throat, which part is always black in MZ. Lamberti; and in the absence of the narrow band of blue which bounds posteriorly the black of the throat and back; the legs also differ in their darker colouring, and in their greater length. The bird, which I have figured in doubt as to whether it is a female or young male, will in all probability prove to be the latter, as in no instance have I detected any bright colouring on the female of any member of this group. A fine specimen of this bird forms a part of the collection at the British Museum ; two examples have also been lately presented to the Linnean Society which were received we believe from the eastern coast of Australia. ees a WAN) INUU0 1) HUT UAHA UI ee ee HAY C001) INN) Trovn from Nature & on Stone by 7h LE. Coald: CALODERA MACULATA, (Goutd/ fronted by C atimandd CALODERA MACULATA, Gow. Spotted Calodera. Cal. capite supra, auricularibus, et guld nitide brunneis, singulis plumis cinereo-argentato cinctis ; fascia nuchali rosacea ; corpore superne cauddque intense brunneis ; apicibus plumarum in dorso, uropygio, scapulisque fulvo largé guttatis ; remigibus albidis ; rectricibus ad apicem flavido-albo notatis ; corpore subtus cinereo; lateribus transversalitéer brunneo striatis ; rostro et pedibus fusco-brunneis. Long. tot. 114 une.; rostri, 11; ale 6; cauda, 42; tarsi, 14. Crown of the head, ear-coverts, and throat rich brown, each feather surrounded with a narrow line of black; feathers on the crown small, and tipped with silvery grey ; a beautiful band of elongated feathers of a light rose pink crosses the back of the neck, forming a broad fan-like occipital crest ; all the upper surface, wings, and tail of a deep brown; every feather of the back, rump, scapularies, and secondaries tipped with a large round spot of rich buff; primaries slightly tipped with white; all the tail-feathers terminated with buffy white ; under surface greyish white, feathers of the flanks marked with faint transverse zigzag lines of light brown ; bill and feet dusky brown. Calodera maculata, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part IV. 1836, p. 106; and Synopsis of the Birds of Australia, Rare ple o- fies i. I wave been induced to consider the present beautiful bird, together with an allied species published in the Illustrations of Ornithology by Messrs. Jardine and Selby, as sufficiently distinct in structure to warrant their separation from the genus Péclonorhynchus, to which group the species figured by those gentlemen had been referred ; consequently the two species, which are all that are at present known, will stand as Calodera nuchalis, (Prilonorhynchus nuchahs, Jard. & Selb.) and Calodera maculata ; both species being strikingly marked and widely distinct from each other. In size the Calodera nuchahs exceeds the bird here represented by nearly a third in all its proportions ; its upper plumage is also of a light ash brown of a uniform tint, offering a great contrast to the present bird, whose spotted upper surface is very conspicuous. They are both from that portion of Australia called New South Wales, and the eastern part of the country. The Calodera nuchalis, which forms a part of the collection of the Linnean Society, was I believe sent from the eastern coast, which doubt- less also forms a habitat of the present bird, as it is found in tolerable abundance to the north and east of Liverpool Plains. Although it is extremely probable that the female is entirely devoid of the beautiful nuchal frill which adorns the neck of both these species, we are not certain that such is the case; the young certainly do not possess this character, as we have several examples almost fully grown, without the slightest trace of it. Of their habits, manners, and nidification nothing is at present known. Habitat, New South Wales. The figure is of the natural size. Remark. Since I characterized this species in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, I have been informed that the term Ca/odera had already been applied to a genus in Entomology: if therefore it should be deemed objectionable in the present case, I would beg to substitute that of Chlamydera. — — DUN OA A. ~ Grey \ Mi N I ) | NN \ ity Kt NE NS ae\NG We { 5 NAVIN AMA NO’ MININOVA HAAYINNNVN00T 1 —— Seer AMADINA RUFICAUDA, Gould. Mas. Ama. fronte genisque coccineis, his albo striatis ; corpore superné olivaceo-fusco ; tectrictbus caude, caudaque fusco- coccineis, illis guttis pallido-rubris ornatis ; guld corporeque inferné olwaceo-griseis, albo transversim notatis, abdo- mine intermedio crissoque flavido-albis ; rostro coccineo ; pedibus pallidi-brunneis. Fam. corpore toto cinereo-fusco, abdomine intermedio albo ; caudd rufescente-brunned. Long. tot. 44 une.; ale, 24+; caude, 12; tarsi, }. Mate. Face and cheeks scarlet, the latter covered with narrow feathers, which are finely spotted with white at the tip ; upper surface and wings olive brown; upper tail-coverts and tail deep crimson brown, the former having a large spot of pinkish white near the tip of each feather; throat, chest, and flanks delicate olive grey, each feather having a large oval white spot transversely disposed near the tip; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts dirty yellowish white; bill scarlet; legs fleshy brown. Femare. All the upper surface, cheeks, chest, and flanks uniform greyish brown; centre of the abdomen white ; tail-feathers dark brown, the shafts of the centre feathers strongly tinged with dark crimson brown ; bill and legs brown. Amadina ruficauda, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part IV. 1836, p. 106, and in Syn. of the Birds of Australia. Srverax specimens of this elegant species of Amadina formed a part of a very fine collection of birds obtained by Mr. C. Coxen during his last expedition into the interior of New South Wales. I believe that this species inhabits the country north of Liverpool Plains; but as no account either of the localities in which it was procured, or of its habits and manners have been transmitted to us, we are unable to enter into any details on the subject. In its general contour this species is particularly elegant, besides which, its markings are both chaste and delicate, and it may be easily distinguished from most of its congeners by the rufous colouring of the tail; to which our specific appellation refers. Habitat, New Holland. The Plate represents the male and female of the natural size. tH | { i ri ; i | a 3 KS UNDULATUS:/%. & Lorsf') uy ii 1 25.-t: VI Lyi NANODES UNDULATUS, Pie. § Horsy. Mate. Crown of the head and throat pale yellow, the latter ornamented on each side with several rich blue spots, a row of which, but of a darker tint, crosses the throat in the form of a crescent; sides and back of the head, back of the neck, upper part of the back, scapularies, and wing coverts olive brown, each feather having a crescent-shaped mark of black near its extremity, and margined with yellow: primaries green on their outer edges, the tip and internal web brown; secondaries crossed by a broad band of yellow, which is continued but much narrower across some of the primaries; breast, all the under surface, lower part of the back and the tail-coverts fine pale green; two centre tail feathers deep blue at the base, passing into deep green at the tip; the remainder of the tail-feathers bright yellow tipped with dark green; bill horn-colour at the base passing into pale yellow at the tip; feet flesh colour. Femaue. Differs in being less brilliant in all her markings and in having the blue spots on the throat less defined and irregular in form. Total length, 74 inches; wing, 33; tail, 44; tarsi, 3. 4) Psittacus undulatus, Shaw, Nat. Misc., Pl. 673. Kuhl, Nov. Act. &c., vol. x. p. 49, No. 76. Shaw, Zool., vol. viii. p- 469. Undulated Parrot, Lath, Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 179, No. 95, Pl. 26. Nanodes undulatus, Vig. & Horsf., in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 277 Lear’s Il. Psitt., Pl. 13, female. Selb., Nat. Lib., vol. vi. Parrots, p. 181., Pl. 28. Euphemia undulata, Wagl., Mon. Psitt. in Abh, &c., pp. 492 and 545. A stnane example of the female of this very elegant little Parrot has been for many years in the collection of the Linnean Society ; two other collections are referred to by Dr. Latham, as containing specimens, viz., those of Gen. Davies and Mr. Harrison ; these also were females, and it is only within the last few years that the male has become known. It was discovered in the greatest abundance by Capt. Sturt during his journey into the interior of New South Wales; and specimens were transmitted by him to the Zoological Society, together with many other interesting birds. This gentleman informed me that on the extensive plains bordering the Morumbidgee he met with this lovely species in immense flocks, feeding upon the seeds and berries of the low stunted bushes called scrubs, so abundant in those flat countries. I have also received several individuals in a collection sent to me by Mr. C. Coxen which he had procured to the north of Hunter's River. In their habits all the members of this group are extremely quick and active, running on the ground with great facility much after the manner of the true Platycerci or Ground Parrakeets to which they are closely allied in affinity. The present species differs from all the other members of the group in the round drop-like markings of the cheeks and throat, in its rich green colouring, and in the prolonged centre tail-feathers. Of its nest, eggs, &c. nothing is known. - The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size. Habitat. New South Wales. NYMPHICUS NOVA.-HOLLANDIA A a3 (Wagl) NYMPHICUS NOVA-HOLLANDIA, Wagi. Mate. Forehead, crest, and cheeks lemon yellow; ear-coverts rich reddish orange; back of the neck, two centre tail-feathers, and the external margins of the primaries brownish grey; back, shoulders, all the under- surface and outer tail-feathers greyish chocolate brown, the shoulders and flanks being the darkest ; a white mark extends from the shoulders lengthwise down the centre of the wing; bill and bare space round the eye brownish grey; feet blackish brown. Femaue. Differs from the male in the colour of the face and crest, being of a dull olive yellow, the latter becoming still darker at its extremity ; in having the throat greyish brown, and the back lighter than in the male; the lower part of the abdomen, upper tail-coverts, and tail-feathers yellow, except the four middle ones, which are grey, the whole transversely and irregularly barred with lines of brown. Total length, 12 inches; wing, 62; tail, 7; tarsi, barely 2. Psittacus Nove-Hollandie, Lath., Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 102. Gmel., Linn., vol. i. p. 323. Crested Parrakeet, Lath., Gen. Syn., vol. i. p. 250. Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. il. p. 174. No. 88. Shaw, Zool., vol. vii. p. 452. Paleornis Nove-Hollandia, Lear, Il. Psitt. Pl. 27. Nymphicus Nove-Hollandig, Wagl., Mon. Psitt. in Abhand, &c., pp. 490 and 522. Selb., Nat. Lib., vol. vi. Parrots, p. 186, Pl. 30. Leptolophus auricornis, Swains., Zool. Ill. 2nd. Ser. Pl. 112. Calopsitta Guy, Less., Il. Zool., vol. iii. 2nd. sp., Pl. 112., female. Tue accompanying Plate of this elegant species is copied by permission from a beautiful lithograph by Mr. Lear, whose drawing was made from two living birds in the possession of the Countess of Mountcharles. It will be seen on reference to the synonyms that this bird was known to Dr. Latham nearly forty years ago, when he published a good description of both sexes under the name of Psittacus Nove-Hollandie : it is only lately, however, that it has become abundant in the collections of Europe; previous to which specimens were so rare, that when they became more numerous several modern ornithologists characterized and described the bird as a new species under various names, but the old appellation of Nove-Hollandie should in my opinion be retained for it. A fine example of the female is at this time living in the gardens of the Zoological Society, in excellent health and in full plumage. This species has many of the actions of the Platycerci, being extremely active, and running round its cage with a surprising agility, in which particular it is equalled only by the most terrestrial members of the family. To give some idea of the immense flocks of this bird which inhabit the interior of Australia, I may mention that in a letter lately received from my brother-in-law Stephen Coxen, Esq., | am informed that he procured more than two hundred examples during a single excursion into the interior. Habitat. New South Wales. i a ind ‘US: (Gould) renin trom Naiwre &omsione by J: NESTOR PRODUCTUS, Gould. Long-billed Parrot. Nest. brunneus ; rostro elongato ; capite nuchdque pallidée brunnescenti-griseis, harum dorsique plumis saturatiore margi- natis ; uropygio, ventre, crissoque saturate rubris ; gutture pectoreque flavis, illo ad gulam rubro tincto ; alarum flenurd subtis flavd olivaceo-rufo tinetd ; rectricibus ad basin aurantiaco-flavo brunneoque fasciatis ; remigu pogonits internis ad basin subtisque sordidé rufo brunneoque fasciatis ; rostro pallido ; pedibus saturate brunneis. Long. tot. 15 une.; rostri, 24; ale, 10; caude, 6; tarsi, 14. General colour of the upper surface brown; beak elongated; head and back of the neck tinged with grey, the feathers of these parts as well as of the back margined with a deeper tint; rump, belly, and under tail-coverts deep red; cheeks, throat, and chest yellow, the former tinged with red; shoulders on their inner surface yellow tinged with rufous olive ; tail-feathers banded at the base with orange yellow and brown; the imner webs of the quill-feathers at the base and beneath, with dusky red and brown; bill brown; feet blackish brown. Plyctolophus productus, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part IV. 1836. p. 19. Nestor productus, Gould, Syn. of the Birds of Australia, Part I. In his elaborate Monograph of the Psittacidee published in the first volume of the Transactions of the Royal Academy of Munich, Dr. Wagler, in pointing the divisions into which the family is naturally grouped, has characterized the Psittacus Nestor of Latham as the type of a new genus, and the bird now stands as the /Vestor hypopolius of Wagler. It is with considerable pleasure that I have been enabled to add a second species to this limited group possessing all the essential characters of the genus, whose native habitat, is I believe confined to Norfolk Island and the most eastern portions of New South Wales. Like all the other members of this extensive family, it bears captivity remarkably well, readily becoming cheerful and contented, at least such is the case with an individual in the possession of Sir J. P. Millbank, Bart.; and as might have been reasonably expected, the variation in the form of the mandibles which renders these birds so conspicuous is accompanied by a marked difference in the nature of their food; the powerful bills of the other members of the family enabling them to feed upon hard seeds and stony fruits, while from the elongated form of this organ in the present birds this power is denied to them, and we find that they give a decided preference to the leaves of succulent plants and the softer kinds of fruit. Sir J. P. Millbank informed me that the living bird in his possession evinced a strong partiality to the leaves of the common lettuce and other soft vege- tables, and that it was also very fond of the juice of fruits, of cream and butter. Its voice was hoarse and inharmonious, frequently resembling the barking of a dog; and in Yate’s New Zealand we are informed that the Nestor hypopolius, known there by the name of Kaka, is ‘‘ capable of learning to imitate the human voice to a remarkable degree. . . The cry of this bird, when ranging at large in the woods, is harsh and disagreeable in the extreme.” Although I cannot assert it for a certainty, I have every reason to believe that both these birds frequently descend to the ground, and grub up with their lengthened bills the bulbous and other roots which form a portion of their food; particularly as [ have found earth still adhering to the mandibles of the specimens I have examined; besides which I have been informed by Captain Sturt that a Parrot inhabiting Australia having a similar bill but belonging to another group, is frequently in the habit of so doing. This bird is extremely rare in collections, notwithstanding which we have had opportunities of examining six or eight specimens, judging from which it appears that the sexual differences in colour are but trifling, while on the contrary the young have but little of the rich yellow and red markings of the breast ; that part being olive brown like the back. Our Plate represents what we conceive to be an adult, and a young bird nearly so, but exhibiting traces of the immature plumage on the chest. The figures are of the natural size. ee (7729) *CALSVIONVITN SHICOdINAL 4 3 t 2 1 a. PINOUT AL UAN)NVN (0001 Ne \ oe Se Se ae —, HEMIPODIUS MELANOGASTER, Goud. Hem. Capite, auriculis, gula abdomineque nigris ; lined super oculum et ad nucham excurrente, plumis singulis macula ad apicem alba ; nuche plumis nigris et castaneis, maculis pluribus albis ; dorso superiore castaneo-fusco, plumis singulis macula albd, lineis duabus nigris cum fascia unicd nigra apical ; scapulis, tectricibus primarus secundarusque rufo- | brunneis, plumis singulis macula alba nigro circumdatd ; remigibus primariis saturate brunneis ; femoribus et tectri- cibus superioribus et inferioribus caude brunneis nigro fasciatis et wroratis ; rostro pallide brunneo ; pedibus carneis. Long. tot. 8 unc.; rostri, 1; ale, 44; caude, 13; tarsi, 1}. Crown of the head, ear-coverts, throat, and the centre of the abdomen black; over the eye extends a line of feathers having each a small white spot at the tip ; this line extends to the nape, which part is also thickly spotted with white, on a black and chestnut-coloured ground; feathers on the sides of the chest and flanks black, having a large crescent-shaped mark of white near the tip; mantle and upper part of the back rich chestnut brown, each feather having a spot of white, and a stripe of black on each side, and barred with black at or near the tip; shoulders, greater and lesser wing-coverts rufous brown, each feather having a white spot surrounded with a black line; primaries dark brown ; thighs and upper and under tail-coverts brown, freckled and crossed with black ; bill ight brown ; feet flesh colour. Hemipodius melanogaster, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part V. 1837; and in Syn. Birds of Australia. We regret exceedingly that we are unable to communicate any information respecting the history of this species of Hemipodius. It is in all probability a native of New Zealand, as we have lately seen a collection from thence, in which was a fine specimen of the male; at all events New Zealand or Van Diemen’s Land, or both, will be found to constitute its native habitat. In size it excels all the other known members of the genus, and it is second to none in the beautiful, bold and varied style of its markings. . I am only acquainted with two examples of this fine bird, one of which is in the collection of King’s Col- lege, London, the other in that of the Zoological Society. In its habits and manners this species doubtless resembles the other members of the genus, but on these _points nothing is at present known. The present form is almost universally distributed over the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia, oe the whole of the islands of the Indian Archipelago, but does not exist in America. The birds of this group frequent the most sterile and arid plains, run with great rapidity, and often depend for safety more upon their powers of running than upon those of flight. The birds in the Plate are of the natural size. ge - seat a Se sameness - a : aaa et FETE al Sf} 1 a) N A iH WO AL dl ell "ll (2947) FST VU O LL D al ialiemacaaas 4 |UIAYLUNNY A co v t 2 1 IUI)U ILIA 0 LEPTORHYNCHUS PECTORALIS, Dubus. Body white; breast crossed by a broad band of chestnut bordered anteriorly with black ; wings and centre of the abdomen black ; bill black ; legs reddish yellow. Total length, 163 inches; bill, 22; wing, 8; tail 3; tarsi to the first articulation, 34; bare space above, 2. Leptorhynchus pectoralis, Dubus, in Mem. Roy. Acad. Bruss. Aug., 1835, Pl. XLV. Guerin. Mag. Zool. 1836, BEX. Himantopus palmatus, Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, Part II. Srvce the publication of the Second Part of my Synopsis of the Birds of Australia, in which I gave a descrip- tion and part figure of this species under the name of Himantopus palmatus, 1 have discovered that the bird had been previously characterized as Leptorhynchus pectoralis by the Chevalier B. Dubus, in a memoir presented to the Royal Academy of Brussels on the 17th of January, 1835. 1 have therefore taken the earliest opportu- nity of correcting my own error, being anxious in every case to give the priority to any appropriate name already published. During the time that has elapsed since the appearance of my description of this bird, I have had an opportunity, through the kindness of Mr. Leadbeater, of examining two other examples, one of each sex, upon a more minute inspection of which, and after carefully comparing them with specimens of both Hinan- topus and Avocetta, 1 am led to coincide with M. Dubus in the propriety of separating it into a distinct genus : my name will therefore sink into a synonym. M. Dubus is of opinion that this form is more nearly allied in its affinities to 4vocetta than to Aumantopus, to which opinion I am also disposed to agree ; the bill is altogether more slender than in Himantopus, is slightly curved upward, depressed through its whole length, and has the groove of the nostrils less extensive; the wings are not so long, and the secondaries are tipped with white; the tarsi and toes are much shorter and the latter palmated. The principal characters in fact by which this form differs from Avocetia is in the total absence of the hind toe and in the straightened form of the bill. The adult female has the band on the chest greyish brown instead of chestnut, and is destitute of the black mark on the centre of the abdomen; from the appearance of one of the specimens above alluded to, in which the pectoral band was apparently disappearing, I think it probable that this mark is merely seasonal, or only exists during the breeding season. Habitat. The South coast of New Holland. The Plate represents the bird of the natural size. i 4 ; 4 q 3 uv qc yuuyivyi p> (HETIL HTH t PHALACROCORAX PUNCTATUS. Vertical and occipital crest, crown of the head, and throat sooty black; back of the neck, lower part of the back, and rump glossy green; a white stripe commencing above the eye passes down each side of the neck to the flanks ; lower part of the neck, chest, and abdomen beautiful leaden grey ; under tail-coverts and tail black ; mantle, scapularies, and wings brownish ash, all the feathers except the secondaries and primaries having a small spot of black at their tip; from the throat, sides and back of the neck, and thighs arise numerous plume- like white feathers of a soft loose texture; those on the sides and back of the neck are very numerous, but on the other parts they are few and thinly scattered. Total length, 24 inches ; bill, 3; wing, 9; tail, 4; tarsi, 23. Pelecanus punctatus, Sparmann, Mus. Carls., vol.i. t.10. Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 889. Gmel. Linn., WO), Te p. 574. nevius, Gmel. Linn., vol. i. p. 575. Crested Shag, Cook’s last Voy., vol. i, p. 151. Spotted Shag, Lath., Gen. Syn., vol. vi. p. 602, Pl. CIV. Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. x. p. 427, Pl. CLXXXII. Avrnoucn this ornamental species of Cormorant has been known for more than forty years, having been described and figured by Sparmann, in his work entitled Museum Carlsonianum, and by Dr. Latham in his General History of Birds, I have never been able to discover more than a single specimen among the various collections I have had opportunities of examining. This individual forms a part of the collection of the United Service Museum, to the Council of which Institution my best thanks are due, not only for the loan of this interesting species, but also for the very handsome manner in which the treasures of their Museum have been rendered available to me for scientific purposes. The specimen above alluded to was presented to the United Service Museum by Capt. G. R. Lambert, R.N. of H.M.S. Alligator, who procured itin New Zealand, where ‘t is said to be abundant, particularly in Queen Charlotte’s Sound. It builds among rocks, and not unfrequently on trees when growing near the water. Its native name is Pa-deg ga-degga. | a