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A lone petrel was shot from the decks of an Italian warship (the ‘Magenta’) while it was sailing the South Pacific Ocean in 1867, far from land. The species, unknown to science, was named the ‘Magenta petrel’ (Procellariiformes, Procellariidae, Pterodroma magentae). No other specimens of this bird were collected and the species it represented remained a complete enigma for over 100 years. We compared DNA sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from the Magenta petrel to that of other petrels using phylogenetic methods and ancient DNA techniques. Our results strongly suggest that the Magenta petrel specimen is a Chatham Island taiko. Furthermore, given the collection location of the Magenta petrel, our finding indicates that the Chatham Island taiko forages far into the Pacific Ocean (near South America). This has implications for the conservation of the taiko, one of the world's rarest seabirds.

A unique disorder characterized by ichthyosis and defects of the appendages and teeth is reported. Scaly skin and absence of sweating were observed shortly after birth. During childhood there was progressive loss of hair, severe abnormalities of dentition and dystrophic changes of the nails following minor trauma. The patient experienced corneal ulceration, and examination of the eyes revealed a reduced number of meibomian glands and changes in the cornea consistent with previous ulcers. Dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth was also observed. There is no previous report of an individual with this constellation of changes.

SummaryCodfish Island is the southernmost breeding location for Cook's Petrel (Pterodroma cookii), endemic to the New Zealand archipelago. To provide a population estimate and indication of population growth following introduced predator eradications we conducted an island-wide survey of Codfish Island within two a priori defined strata. Plot surveys revealed only five burrows within forest habitats from 175 plots surveyed and the locations of these and other burrows observed incidentally were used to identify three key areas of Cook's Petrel breeding activity that were subsequently surveyed using line transects. Within these areas, 42 burrows were counted with burrow densities ranging from 0.0003 to 0.002 burrows m−2. Burrow densities in conjunction with the three-dimensional surface areas of the surveyed locations suggested a minimum of 6,194 ± 956 burrows present and equated to approximately 5,000 (95% CI 3,000–6,000) breeding pairs, using a burrow occupancy estimate of 80%. The Cook's Petrel population on Codfish Island appears to have increased markedly since Weka (Gallirallis australis ) and Pacific Rat (Rattus exulans) were eradicated in 1980 and 1998 and is consistent with a recent upwards revision of the species' world population size of approximately 1,300,000 (900,000–1,800,000) individuals. Revised population data, and ongoing protection of Cook's Petrel's major breeding sites may now qualify the species for a revised conservation status moving from Endangered to Vulnerable under IUCN criteria.

Inaccurate population data remain a major problem in the conservation of burrow-nesting Procellariiform seabirds. We evaluated the potential of predictive habitat modelling, in contrast with traditional surface-area based strategies, to estimate the population size of the endangered Cook’s petrel ( Pterodroma cookii ), breeding on one of two islands in New Zealand. Generalised linear models of burrow abundance using topographic data collected in the field, or extracted from Geographic Information System layers, were developed, and the final model applied to Geographic Information Systems-derived datasets in a population analysis. To compare this result with traditional census methods, population estimates were also calculated by averaging burrow densities across the total area available (simple model) and within vegetation zones (habitat-area model). Results of all models were scaled using rigorously collected burrow occupancy data. The final model, based upon altitude, slope, and distance from ridgelines, explained 31% of the variance in Cook’s petrel burrow abundance and showed an enhanced predictive fit compared with the two area-based models. This model indicated that annually 286,000 (95% confidence interval: 213,000–413,000) pairs of Cook’s petrel breed on Little Barrier Island, approximately six times that previously suggested. Population estimates based on simple and habitat-area models were less accurate, being 10% and 30% greater than the predictive model estimate, respectively. This study underlines the need for accurate population estimates for burrowing seabird taxa by presenting a major population revision for the Cook’s petrel. Predictive habitat models, employing rigorously collected data, offer an improvement on more traditional population census methodologies that are susceptible to scale-induced bias.

During the Whitney South Sea Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History six specimens of a medium-sized gadfly petrel, Pterodroma sp., were collected at sea during 28–29 January 1927 near Mera Lava, Banks Islands, Vanuatu. Initially labelled as Pterodroma externa, they were referred toP. cervicalis, but of a smaller form, by R. A. Falla in 1976. In 1983 another specimen was found on the coast of northern New South Wales. This species, newly described and named here as Pterodroma occulta, is close toP. cervicalis but differs mainly in its smaller size, relatively longer tail and entirely dark grey exposed primaries ventrally. The latter character may assist identification at sea, though 2 of 21 P. cervicalis studied (9.5%) were similar. Its breeding places are still unreported, though presumed to be in northern Vanuatu. Both this new species and White-naped Petrels, P. cervicalis, evidently occur in eastern Australian seas.

Feather lice (Phthiraptera) were collected from 14 Chatham Island taiko (Pterodroma magentae). These included two species of Halipeurus (Philopteridae) in the ratio of two H. procellariae to one H. theresae. So far as we know, the regular occurrence of two Halipeurus species on a host is unique. H. procellariae is likely to have been acquired from the taiko's ancestors, but H. theresae probably derives from a secondary infestation through close association of the host with Chatham petrels (Pterodroma axillaris), probably in mixed breeding colonies. From sub‐fossil evidence, Chatham petrels formerly bred on the main Chatham Island, to which P. magentae has, from such evidence, always been restricted.

A lone petrel was shot from the decks of an Italian warship (the 'Magenta') while it was sailing the South Pacific Ocean in 1867, far from land. The species, unknown to science, was named the 'Magenta petrel' (Procellariiformes, Procellariidae, Pterodroma magentae). No other specimens of this bird were collected and the species it represented remained a complete enigma for over 100 years. We compared DNA sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from the Magenta petrel to that of other petrels using phylogenetic methods and ancient DNA techniques. Our results strongly suggest that the Magenta petrel specimen is a Chatham Island taiko. Furthermore, given the collection location of the Magenta petrel, our finding indicates that the Chatham Island taiko forages far into the Pacific Ocean (near South America). This has implications for the conservation of the taiko, one of the world's rarest seabirds.

Predator–prey communities are ubiquitous in ecology, but introduced predators can drive native species to extinction within island systems, prompting the eradication of such exotics. Ecological theory predicts that elimination of top-introduced predators from islands can lead to the counterintuitive decline of native prey populations through the ecological release of smaller introduced species in a process termed “mesopredator release.” We show, in accordance with mesopredator release theory and counter to conservation goals for a New Zealand island reserve, that initial eradication of cats on Little Barrier Island led to reduced breeding success of Cook's petrels, which also are vulnerable to predation by a mesopredator, the Pacific rat. The rat's impact on prey productivity varied with elevation within the island. Rat eradication was followed by a rise in petrel productivity, in support of both ecological theory and practical conservation management goals. It appears that interactions among introduced predators, native prey, and environmental gradients can drive counterintuitive and spatially heterogeneous responses to predator eradications from islands. Location-specific, ecosystem-level understanding is essential for predicting the outcomes of such restoration management techniques.

A patient hadacuteonsetoferythematouspapules that coalesced into plaquesin an inverse photodistribution associated with malaise, fever, and nonproductive cough. Low-gradedisseminated intravascularcoagulation (DIe) quickly developed. This article highlights the ability of atypical measles to mimic several life-threatening conditions, extends our clinical understanding of this potentiallyseriousdisorder, and emphasizes the utilityofrapid, direct immunofluorescence techniques1,2 in diagnosis.

The yellow nail syndrome is characterized by yellow, slow-growing nails in association with lymphedema, idiopathic pleural effusions, chronic bronchiectasis, and chronic sinusitis. We report two patients with yellow nail syndrome in whom spontaneous clearing of the nail changes occurred without resolution of the respiratory involvement. This observation suggests that nail changes may not result from the systemic manifestations. We also report for the first time the histopathologic findings of the nail matrix and bed, which demonstrate dense, fibrous tissue replacing subungual stroma with numerous ectatic, endothelium-lined vessels that are similar to that in the pleura in yellow nail syndrome. We hypothesize that primary stromal sclerosis may lead to lymphatic obstruction, thus explaining the clinical manifestations.

In a patient receiving intralesional bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine injections for recurrent cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma of the right leg, a striking eruption developed on that limb only. The eruption consisted of multiple 1 to 2 mm, reddish brown, flat-topped papules, with confluence into plaques. Histopathologic examination showed multiple tuberculoid granulomas within the papillary and reticular dermis; special stains and cultures were negative for mycobacteria.

A variety of specialized techniques are available to aid the interpretation and diagnosis of human cutaneous diseases. Neoplastic or inflammatory skin disorders may be evaluated by application of electron microscopy, immunoperoxidase, immunofluorescence, and most recently, nucleic acid hybridization probe analysis (Murphy et al. 1982; Beutner et al. 1987; Kahn et al. 1986; Fenoglio-Preiser and Willman 1987). This chapter will review the microscopic features and differential diagnoses of a number of human cutaneous lesions in which application of one or more special diagnostic techniques may contribute to establishing a correct diagnosis.

Iron overload from repeated transfusions of RBCs in long-term hemodialysis patients is a problem of increasing clinical significance. We report on the prevalence of and diagnostic criteria for identification of hemodialysis patients with iron overload. In 150 unselected hemodialysis patients, 62 (41%) had ferritin levels greater than 2,000 ng/mL (normal = 10 to 360 ng/mL). In 16 of these patients, accurate transfusion histories were obtained and ferritin levels correlated with calculated transfusional iron burden (r = 0.553, P less than .05). These patients could be divided into two distinct groups on the basis of their response to a single dose (2 g, IV) of deferoxamine: "high" responders had twice the level of feroxamine (the chelated product of deferoxamine and iron) of the "low" responders (P less than .001). High responders also had significantly higher prevalence of the "hemochromatosis" alleles A3, B7, and B14 than a large group of dialysis patients awaiting transplantation (71% v 37%, P less than .001). In two patients with iron overload and clinically significant bone disease, bone histology revealed prominent iron staining at the calcification front. We conclude that transfusional iron overload is a significant clinical problem in long-term hemodialysis patients, that may also be associated with bone pathology.

The immunopathology of bullous pemphigoid features basement membrane zone (BMZ) deposition of immunoglobulin and complement and the presence of circulating immunoreactants. 1,2 The demonstration of linear subepidermal deposition of C3 and/or IgG is usually necessary to establish the diagnosis. By light microscopy, fully evolved lesions show subepidermal BMZ separation and variable infiltrates of eosinophils, mononuclear cells, and neutrophils. Other bullous disorders that share overlapping histopathologic and immunopathologic findings include cicatricial pemphigoid, herpes gestationis, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, dermatitis herpetiformis, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. 3,4 The application of immunofluorescence techniques has demonstrated the immune nature of many of these disorders. Accordingly, bullous pemphigoid was rendered unique from the pemphigus group blistering diseases that features intra-epidermal deposition of immunoreactants. More recently, mono-clonal antibody probes have allowed detailed study of the role of immunoglobulin subtypes and complement complexes and cofactors in the immunopathology of bullous pemphigoid.

To the Editor.— Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is an idiopathic vesiculobullous disease with a nondiagnostic clinical appearance. It is best characterized pathologically by subepidermal bullous formation with homogeneous linear IgA deposition at the blister base.1-4Although LABD is most often idiopathic, drug-induced disease may occur rarely.5,6We describe a patient with vancomycin-induced LABD in whom the eruption was documented clinically, histopathologically, and immunologically on rechallenge. Report of a Case.— A 68-year-old man with coronary artery disease was admitted to the New England Deaconess Hospital (Boston) for a coronary artery bypass graft. On admission, his medications included atenolol, diltiazem hydrochloride, tolazamide (Tolinase) nitropaste, intravenous heparin, digoxin, and prazosin hydrochloride. There was no history of drug allergy. On hospital day 2, the patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, which was complicated by cardiogenic shock and acute tubular necrosis. An intra-aortic balloon pump and atrioventricular pacing was needed. Intravenously administered