Page:DawsonOrnithologicalMiscVol1.djvu/87

Rh so;" and the Editor adds this note:—"This bird is very probably the same as the species from Norfolk Island, described by Latham as Gallinula alba (Ind. Orn. p. 768, and Gen. Hist. ix. p. 428), the type of which is now in the Imperial Cabinet at Vienna (cf. v. Pelz. Sitz. Ak. Wien, xli. p. 328). Von Pelzeln has no doubts as to its specific distinctness, and considers that it should be referred to the genus Notornis rather than to Porphyrio, in which view he is probably correct."

'Ibis,' vol. ii. 1860, p. 422, we find:—"Notornis alba is established on a specimen acquired at the sale of the Leverian collection, which was, without doubt, the type of Fulica alba of White's Voyage (White's 'Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 238, cum tab.), and the Gallinula alba of Latham. This bird has been considered by Temminck and G. R. Gray to be an albino variety of the well-known Porphyrio melanotus ; but Herr von Pelzeln regards it as certainly distinct, and probably referable to a second species of the highly interesting quasi- extinct genus Notornis."

Again (Ibis, vol. iv. 1862, p. 240), in Mr. G. R. Gray's "List of the Birds of New Zealand and the adjacent Islands," we have:—

"Porphyrio alba, Temm.

Fulica alba, White's Journ. App. pi. p. 238 ; Phill. Bot. Bay, pi. p. 273 ; Callam, Bot. Bay, 1783.

Gallinula alba, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 768.

Porphyrio melanotus (albino var.), G. R. Gr. Voy. Ereb. & Terr. Birds, p. 14.

Porphyrio melanotus, var., Pr. B.

Notornis? alba, v. Pelz. Sitz. Akad. d. Wiss. Wien, xli. p. 331.

"Hab. Norfolk Island and other places.

"Entirely white ; but some differ in having bright blue between the shoulders, and spotted on the back with the same.

"In Vienna Museum, from the Leverian Museum.

"It is stated that a similar bird was found on Lord Howe's Island, which was incapable of flight. The wings of the male w^ere beautifully mottled with blue.