Publications Archive

This paper examines the field identification, distribution, and taxonomy of the six species of Pachyptila. Particular attention is given to the identification of storm-cast material. The data include observations of prions at sea, on their breeding grounds, and 10,086 specimens examined over a 21-year period from 1958 to 1979. The validity of the six recognised species of Pachyptila is reaffirmed, and one subspecies each of the Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) and the Fulmar Prion (Pachyptila crassirostris) is retained. The need for further ecological data, better food analyses, and carefully defined behavioural studies is stressed. The value of biochemical genetics for elucidating the speciation mechanisms of Pachyptila emphasises the preliminary nature of the present findings.

Observations are given on vegetable foods of the Brown Creeper (Finschia novaeseelandiae) and on aspects of breeding. We examined 21 nests in the field and recorded some details of nesting, eggs (colour, clutch-size, proportion of time spent incubating) and nestlings (description of the hatchling, weights and tarsal lengths).

1979. NZ Archaeological Association Monograph 11. BAR International Series 62. This book consists of 17 osteological and archaeological papers written and published in honour of Ron Scarlett. The papers are written, in collaboration or individually, by 22 authors, including Scarlett himself, who apparently collaborated in one paper and wrote another on request without knowing where they were to be published.

Reviewer, D. H. Brathwaite

“The birds around us. New Zealand birds, their habits and habitats” by Geoff Moon. William Heinemann (NZ) Ltd. pp. 1-206.  

by Arbocco, G., L. Capocaccia, L., Violani, C.

1979. Ann. Mus. Civ. St. Nat. Genova 82: 184-265

“Waterfowl: ducks, geese and swans of the world” by Frank S. Todd. Sea-World Press. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, New York and London.

During 1970, 2,152 kilometres of coast were patrolled by 82 persons. 4,613 dead seabirds, including high numbers of Lesser Broad-billed Prions (Pachyptila salvini), were found. During 1971, 2,470 kilometres of beach were patrolled by 148 persons. 6,244 dead seabirds, including high numbers of Fairy Prions (P. turtur),were found. During 1972, 2,748 kilometres of beach were patrolled by 117 persons. 4,046 dead seabirds were found but there were no major wrecks. During the three years there were new beach patrol records of Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis), Fulmar Prion (Pachyptila crassirostris) , Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), Lesser Frigate Bird (Fregata ariel) and Antarctic Skua (Stercorarius skua maccormicki). The single specimen of Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a new record for New Zealand.

Records were kept of seabirds seen during 30 watches, totalling about 45 hours, on a voyage from Sydney to Buenos Aires via New Zealand and the Straits of Magellan.  Results are presented in the form of an annotated species list.  Passage movements of Puffinus griseus and Pterodroma lessonii were observed, and records of Pterodroma axillaris, P. inexpectata, Pufinus bulleri and P. puffinus appear to be of distributional significance.  A probable sight record of Pterodroma magentae is discussed in detail.