354 THE FEATKEKED TRIKES. 



and repaying their caresses. But it has an aversion to strangers, and particularly to 

 children, flying at, and sometimes attackmg them with groat i'lu-j'. 



It is exceedinglj' jealous ; becoming even enraged at seeing a young child sharing its 

 mistress's favours. But as its flight is short and laborious, it can only exhibit its 

 displcasiu-e by gestui'es and restless movements. On the return of attention, the maccaw 

 is overjoj'ed, murmurs satisfaction) and sometimes makes a noise exactlj' like the laugh of 

 an aged person. 



THE FHILLl]' ISLAND TAKROT.* 



The Australian genus, JS^csfor, is pointed out as forming a connecting link between the 

 parrots and the cockatoos. " I have considerable pleasure," says Mr. Gould, in his 

 splendid work on " The Birds of Australia," " in being enabled to add a second 

 and so beautiful a species as the present to the genus Nestor of Wagler. Like its near 

 ally, the iV. hypojwUuts, which, so far as is yet known, is only found in New Zealand, the 

 N. prodiidus lias a very limited habitat, the entire race, as I am credibly infoi'med, being 

 confined to I'hillip Island, whoSe whole circumference is not more than n\-o miles in 

 extent ; so strictly, in fact, is it confined to this isolated spot, that many persons who 

 have resided in Norfolk Island for years, have assured nre its occurrence there is never 

 kno'\\Ti, although the distance from one island to the other is not more than three or four 

 miles. I regret to state, that, in consequence of the settlement of Noifolk Island, the 

 native haunts of this fine bird have been so intruded upon, and such a war of extermi- 

 nation has been carried on against it, that if such be not the case already, the time is not 

 far distant when the species will be completely extirj^ated, and, like the Dodo, its skin 

 and bones become the only mementos of its existence. 



" Had I been able to visit Norfolk and Phillip islands, I slioidd, certainly, Ikia'c made 

 inquiry into the native habits and cunning of this very singular form among the parrots, 

 the nature of its food, mode of procuring it, &c. ; and I would now urge the necessity of 

 these investigations upon those who may be favourably situated for making them. Like 

 all the other members of the extensive family of the Pmftacidm, it bears captivity 

 remarkably well, readily becoming contented, cheerful, and an amusing companion. 

 During my stay at Sj'dney, I liad an opportunity of seeing a living example in the pos- 

 session of Major Anderson, and was mucli interested in many of its actions, which were 

 80 different from those of every other member of its family, that I felt convinced they 

 were equally ditferent and curious in a state of nature. This bird was not confined to a 

 cage, but permitted to range over the house, along the floors of which it passed, not wifh 

 the awkward waddling gait of a j^arrot, but in a succession of leaps, precisely after llic 

 manner of the Corrida'. 



" Mrs. Anderson, to whom I am indebted for the little T could learn respecting i(, 

 informed me that it is found among the rocks and upon the loftiest trees of tlie island ; 

 that it is so tamo as to be readily taken alive with a noose, and tliat it feeds on the 

 blossoms of the whitewood tree, or /libinrtix, sucking the honey of llie flowers. Tho 

 mention of this latter circumstance induced me to examine the tongu(> of the bird, whicli 

 presented a very peculiar structure, not, like tliat of the true honey-feeding piirrnkcots, 

 furnished with a brush-like termination, but with a narrow, liorny scoop on the under 

 side, which, together witli the extremity of the tongue, resembled tlie end of a linger, 

 with tlic nail beneath it instead of above. This peculiarity in tlu^ structure of tlie organ 

 is doubtless indicative of a corresponding peculiarity in tlie nature of the food on wliicli 

 the bird subsists. T ma}' mention tliat Sir J. V. .Millbank, Bart, inforiiied me tluit a 



* JN'estor ]'ioilu(tus. — Gould, 



