PARROTS. 85 



(1079-1081), wliicli are placed at the -toji of the Case. The last genus 

 of this subfamily iucludes the smallest of the group aud is rcprcseuted 

 by the Pigmy Parrot (N(isih')-nn pusio) (Mili), which -n-ith its cougeuers 

 is confined to the Papuan subregioii. On the top shelf are placed the 

 (treat Black Cockatoo {Microffloss/is uferrtmi(s) (1089), the Ganga 

 (Callocephahim (jaleatum) (1090), and the Yellow-and-Black Cockatoo 

 ( Calyptorhynchus xanthonotus) (1091 ). 



Tlie tliird subfamily Cacaluina includes tiie Cockatoos, most of which 

 are well known in captivity. Commonest of all perhaps is the Cockatcel 

 [Calopsittacus nova hollandke) (1082) ; and of the various species of 

 Cockatoo (Cacattia and Licmetis), ranging from the Philip|)ines to 

 Australia, the handsomest is undoubtedly Leadbeater's Cockatoo 

 {C. leudbeateri) (1087), while the most curious is the bare-eyed form 

 known as the Slender-billed Cockatoo [L. nasicu) (1088). 



Family II. Loriid.e. Lories or Brush-toxgued Parrots. 

 (Plate XIX. fig. 1.) 



The Brush-tongued Parrots may he divided into three subfamilies, the [ijase 06.1 

 Lor/iiuc including the true Lories, the Ci/clopsittacince or Lorilets, aud 

 the Nestoriiue or Kaka Parrots. 



To the first belong the genera Clialcopsittanis, Eos, Lurius, Vini, 

 Coriphi/us, Tricho(/lossus, etc. (1092-1108), all of which are represented 

 and include some of the most lovely species of the group, many being 

 familiar cage-birds. 



The Lorilets include a number of small forms ranging from New 

 Guinea to Australia and will be found duly represented by an example 

 of the Mysol species {Cyclopsittacus iIioj)kt/ti//mi(s) (1107). 



The third subfamily is represented by the Kaka Parrot {Nestor 

 ineridionaUs) (1108) [PI. XIX. fig. 1.], a native of New Zealand. 

 Special interest attaches to this group on account of the carnivorous 

 habits of the closely allied species known as the Kea (iV. notabU'is), 

 which of recent years has developed an extraordinary liking for flesh. 

 At first these birds contented themselves with devouring slieeps' heads 

 and otlier ott'al thrown out from the slaughter sheds, but as the taste 

 for meat increased and became universal, they took to attacking living 

 sheep, tearing open their backs to devour the kidney fat, and inflicting 

 injuries that generally proved fatal. So destructive, indeedj have they 

 become on some of the sheep-runs, that a price is paid by the Govern- 

 ment of New Zealand for their destruction and tiieir final extermination 

 is probably only a matter of time. 



