298 Transactions. — Zoology. 



then I suppose the article under notice would never have 

 been written. Mr. Park's description of this mysterious 

 booming note, very nuich like that of the bittern, but louder, 

 exactly describes a note of the male kakapo {Strimjops 

 hahroptilus) m the breeding-season; and, if Mr. Park had 

 only had a dog with him in camp, or if he had made 

 some inquiries on the subject in the Te Anau district, for 

 instance, he could easily have satisfied himself of this fact. 



The peculiarity of the male kakapo having a special and 

 remarkable note for the breedmg-season is possibly due to its 

 supposed polygamous habits. Mr. Eichard Henry, who has 

 lived in the Manapouri and Te Anau district for about ten 

 years, and is a very careful and trustworthy observer of 

 facts connected with natural history, and also an energetic 

 collector, says, " I have never found two (adults) in one hole 

 at any season, though there is always plenty of room, so I 

 conclude that they never pair, but are polygamous, and that the 

 booming is music to the female, the finest boomer being the 

 greatest charmer." On this point I would suggest that this 

 warlike note is more probably intended for other males, and is 

 a defiance or a challenge to mortal combat. This would in 

 some measure account for the infrequency of the note except- 

 ing where kakapos are very plentiful. With regard to the 

 question of polygamous habits, I find that Mr. Eeischek, in 

 some notes on the kakapo, says,='= "From \n\ observations, 

 I am of opinion that the male bird takes no part in the 

 hatching or rearing of the chicks, as in all cases the female 

 was the sole attendant from first to last. I did not see a male 

 near a breeding-burrow, nor did I in any single instance find 

 two grown-up birds in one burrow, though I have seen them 

 in pairs on their nocturnal rambles. Whenever two males 

 meet they fight, the death of the weaker sometimes resulting." 



These observations certainly appear to support the theor}- 

 of polygamy ; but this is at present a secondary matter. On 

 the main question as to what bird is responsible for this 

 powerful and alarming sound — which I have heard across 

 the still waters of Te Anau at a distance of five or six miles — 

 there can be no doubt. Some years ago Mr. R. Henry may 

 be said to have settled the matter by systematic hunting for 

 the then unknown bird among the mountains on the west 

 shore of Te Anau. The mystery was ver}- easily solved. When 

 within a few yards of the "boomer" he would let his dog 

 go, and the invariable result was an adult male kakapo. Since 

 then he has many a time verified his conclusions, and any one 

 who is interested in the question, and will take the necessary 

 trouble, can easil}- do the same. 



' " Trans.," vol. xvii., p. 195. 



