The Colonial Museum has for some years possessed an eider duck (Somateria mollissima) in good plumage, and has recently received, through the kind efforts of Sir Walter Buller, a drake of the same bird, so that I am able to present a pair of this most interesting species. Sir Walter Buller writes as follows: “I have much pleasure in presenting to the Colonial Museum a very fine adult male specimen of the eider duck (or dunter goose, as it is called in Scotland), which I trust will be an acceptable addition to the collection of birds. The eider duck (Somateria mollissima) is very abundant in the arctic regions of both continents, also on the coasts of Norway, Sweden, and Labrador, where, as is well known, the down, self-plucked from its body for nesting purposes, is an important article of commerce. It is plentiful on the northern coasts of Scotland, and occurs, in diminished numbers, some degrees further southward, being not unfrequent in the Hebrides, Shetland, and Orkney Islands; but here, although they have many nesting-places, they are not sufficiently numerous to be of any importance from an economica point of view. Occasionally individuals stray further south, and are in much request as rare visitants. The specimen sent was obtained at Brechen, Scotland, in March, 1902. I purchased it in the flesh, and had it carefully skinned and prepared by Mr. Walter Burton, of Wardour Street.”

Opossums presented to the Colonial Museum by Mr. Smith, of Petone, were exhibited.