344 Transactions. — Zoologi/. 



that the note of the Kaka in these woods is very different to 

 anything I have heard elsewhere — a fact also noticed by Mr. 

 Saxon, the surveyor. It is something like this : ' Motuaka^ 

 hurry up,' followed by a shrill whistle — like a shepherd call- 

 ing his dog. I shot one or two. but I could observe nothing 

 different from other Kakas ; only at this season (April) they 

 were nothing but bones and feathers," 



Eiirystomus pacificus, Latham. (Australian Eoller.) 



Stray examples of this well-known Australian species still 

 continue to be heard of in New Zealand. Mr. Walling Hand- 

 ley, w'riting to me from Blenheim on the 22nd December, 

 says, "During the month of November a specimen of the 

 Australian Eoller, in perfect plumage, was shot at the Weld's 

 Hill Station, Awatere, by a station-hand. The bird was first 

 noticed flying with a peculiar uncertain flapping flight over 

 the tussock grasses in quest of moths in one of the paddocks 

 adjacent to the station. Its handsome appearance, as seen 

 by the waning light of eventide, and the striking contrast it 

 presented to the sombre brown of the surrounding vegetation, 

 excited attention, and this led to its pursuit and capture. 

 The plumage, &c., corresponds in every particular with the 

 technical description of the species as given in your ' Manual 

 of Nev/ Zealand Birds.' " 



Halcyon vagans, Lesson. (Kingfisher.) 



The following paragraph appeared in the Rancjitikei Ad- 

 vocate : "A Paraekaretu farmer, who had unaccountably lost 

 several hives of bees, at length discovered that the losses were 

 due to a Kingfisher, which, on being killed, was found to have 

 its ci-op full of bees." 



Platycercus novae-zealandiae, Sparrm. (Eed-fronted Parra- 



keet.) 



Mr. Alexander MacDonald, of the Awahuri, mentioned to 

 me a curious incident which had come under his own obser- 

 vation. His young people had obtained a nest of young Parra- 

 keets, and succeeded in rearing them. When adult, two of 

 the birds mated and became quite inseparable, always occupy- 

 ing the same perch, and cuddling up to each other in the most 

 affectionate manner. One day the male bird made his escape 

 from the cage, and in being recaptured had his tail pulled out. 

 Thus dismantled, the fugitive went back to his cage in a very 

 sorry plight. The female bird immediately discarded her 

 disfigured mate, rejected all his advances, and before long 

 paired with one of the other birds, whose caudal appendage 

 was the very pink of perfection. But the curious part of the 

 story has yet to come. In course of time the divorced lover 



