every symptom of pleasure. It would then get up

» rub against it with its side
striking out with its feet whilst in this position.

s, and roll upon it on its back,

«One of these birds, sent on shore by Capt. Stokes ‘are of Maj ,
é y Lapt. Stokes to the care of Major Murray of the 65th Regiment

Ali zs TAS a Te = ‘ 1 rarda 2
at Wellington, was allowed to run about. his garden, where it was fond of the society of the children
t) ; n,

following them like a dog wherever they went.

“Nearly all the adult Aakapos which T skinned were excee
blubber on the breast which it was very difficult to
pale green, sometimes almost white

dingly fat, having a
Separate from the skin. '
e homogeneous mass, without

“There can be little doubt but that their food c¢
or less covered with indurated mud), and parly

thick layer of oily fat or
Their stomachs contained a
any trace of fibre in it.

onsists partly of roots (their be
of the leaves and tender shoot
place where the birds were numerous we observed that the young
the banks of a river were all nipped off, and this w ;

aks are usually more
S of various plants. At one
shoots of a leguminous shrub growing by
as said by our pilot, who had fre é

many years in a whaling vessel, to be the work of the J

quented these places for
Kakapo.

«Their flesh is white, and is generally esteemed good eating.”
re also been kindly favoured with the ‘ing notes is bird by His E ir G

lilkave a poten y fi € following notes on tis bird by His Excellency Sir George Grey,

late Governor of New Zealand and now Governor of the Cape of Good Hope :—

“The Strigops is called Kaka-po or Night Kaka by the aborigines of New Zealand, from the

habits of the bird. During the day it remains hid in holes under the r

perched on the boughs of trees with a very dense thick

nocturnal
oots of trees or rocks 3 Or, very rarely,
foliage: at these times it appears stupid from its
profound sleep, and if disturbed or taken from its hole immediately runs and tries to hide itself again,

J % > o
delighting, if practicable, to cover itself in a heap of soft dry grass ; about sunset it becomes lively, animated

and playful, issues forth from its retreat and feeds on grass, weeds, vegetables, fruits, seeds and roots: when

eating grass it rather grazes than feeds, nibbling the grass in the manner of a rabbit or wombat. It

sometimes climbs trees, but generally remains upon the ground, and only uses its short wings for the

purpose of aiding its progress when running, balancing itself when on a tree or in making a short descent,
half-jump, half-flight from a higher to a lower bough. When feeding, if pleased with its food, it makes a
continued grunting noise: it is a greedy bird and choice in its food, showing an evident relish for anything
of which it is fond. It cries repeatedly during the night with a noise not very unlike that of the Kaka, but
not so loud.

“The Kakapo is a very clever and intelligent bird, in fact singularly so; contracts a strong affection for
those who are kind to it, shows its attachment by climbing about and rubbing itself against its friend, and
is eminently a social and playful bird; indeed, were it not for its dirty habits, it makes a far better pet than
any other bird with which I am acquainted; for its manner of showing its attachment, by playfulness and
fondling, is more like that of a dog than a bird.

“It builds in holes under trees and rocks, and lays two or three white eggs, about the size of a pullet’s, in
the month of February ; and the young birds are found in March.

“At present, 1854, the bird is known to exist only in the middle island of New Zealand, on the west
coast, between Chalky Harbour and Jackson’s Bay, and in the northern island about the sources of the
Whangarie, and in part of the Taufa countries. It was, within the recollection of the old people abundant
in every part of New Zealand, and they say that it has been exterminated by the cats introduced by
Europeans, which are now found wild and in great numbers in every part of the country; they say also
that the large rat, introduced from Europe, has done its part in the work of destruction ; -

“The natives assert, that when the breeding season is over the Aakapo lives in societies of five or at im
the same hole; and they also state that it is a provident bird, and lays up in the fine season a store of fern
root for the bad meen I have had five or six of these birds in captivity, but never succeeded in keeping
them alive for more than eighteen months or two years. The last I had I sent home as a present to the

Zoological Society, but I am informed it died off Cape Horn.

PNOwR 4