Porphyrio melanonotus, Temm. (Swamp-hen.)

I have to exhibit this evening a curious example of the Swamp-hen or Pukeko, lately received by me from Nelson. All the primaries in each wing are crossed near the tip with a broad band of yellowish-white; the secondaries are similarly marked, but not so sharply, and so are most of the wing-coverts, imparting a mottled appearance to the upper surface. The tail-feathers are broadly tipped with yellowish-white, and there are a few scattered white feathers on the shoulders and on the underparts. The rest of the plumage is normal.

I take this opportunity of mentioning a Swamp-hen from the Chatham Islands described as new by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe under the name of Porphyrio chathamensis (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxiii., p. 202). He gives the following diagnosis of the species: "Similis P. hello, sed gutture toto nigro, [unclear: pileo] concolore; præpectore saturate cyaneo: tibiis nigris, abdomine imo concoloribus"; and he adds, "The tints are [unclear: difficult] to describe, but the differences are well seen on comparison with P. bellus."

It seemed to me highly improbable that there should be a differentiated species of this widely-spread form at the Chathams, and, although holding Dr. Sharpe's judgment in great respect, I went to the British Museum to examine the type for myself. A single glance satisfied me that the supposed new species was nothing but our ordinary Swamp-[unclear: he] in an unusual, but by no means uncommon, phase of plumage. The dark head and throat, the highly-coloured breast, and dark underparts are merely individual differences of colour and have no specific value. I would undertake to pick our several birds exactly similar to Dr. Sharpe's at the close of a day's shooting in any locality where Pukekos are numerous.

The Swamp-hen of New Zealand is abundant at the Chatham Islands, and the existence there of another species of so diffuse a form seemed on the face of it most unlikely.