(Extract from “Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club,” No. VIII., 19th April, 1893.)

[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 2nd August, 1893.]

Rallus muelleri, sp. n.

Upper surface of head, occiput, and neck brownish-red, faintly and irregularly striated with black; back and rump bright chestnut, with the centres of the feathers black; wings brownish-black, faintly edged with rufous-grey; cheeks reddish-grey; centre of the throat reddish-white; lower part of the throat and breast rufous-grey; flanks, abdomen, and under tail-coverts black, each feather tipped with pale-rufous, and with two white bands; tail rufous, with indistinct grey bands. Wing, 3·3in.; culmen, 1·1in.; tarsus, 1·1in.; central toe with claw, 1·3in.; tail, 1·3in.

Hab. Auckland Islands, south of New Zealand.

Remarks.—This little Rail in general appearance resembles Rallus lewini, from Australia, but, on comparison, presents so many important differences that it might also be separated generically. The chief distinguishing feature of the new species is the enormous development of the feathers on the back and rump, which have become a huge bunch like that of the Puff-birds (Bucco) of South America.

The single specimen was sent for description by Count Von Berlepsch, who considered it to belong to a new species. It is the property of the Stuttgart Museum.