SCANSORES. 35 _ 



a rather zig-zag course. When on the wing it utters a hurried 

 chattering note ; and when alarmed_, or calling to its fellows, it emits 

 a cry resembling the words ' twenty-eight/ with a slight emphasis 

 on the last syllable. It often resorts to the tops of the highest trees, 

 but may always be enticed downwards by imitating this note. It is 

 gregarious, forming parties of from three to twelve, or more, in 

 number, except in the breeding-season, when it is generally met with 



in pairs 



" A hole in a decaying or dead tree affords this species a natural 

 breeding-place, the eggs being laid on the pulverized rotten wood at 

 the bottom ; for there is no further attempt at forming a nest." — 



BULLER. 



44. Platycercus auriceps. KiM. 



Yellow-fronted Paebaeeet. Kakariki. 



(Plate XV.) 



Bright greeu, with blue on the wings ; forehead, crimson ; top of the head, yellowish- 

 orange. 



L., 9; W., 4; B., -6; T., -75. 



Egg. — Oval ; white ; length, '9 ; breadth, '7. 



Hab. — Both Islands ; Auckland Islands. 



" The Yellow-fronted Parrakeet, although generally dispersed over 

 the country in all suitable localities, is more plentiful than the red- 

 fronted species in the northern parts of the North Island, and less so 

 as we approach Cook Strait. In the South Island, however, the 

 two species appear to be more equally distributed 



" In habits this bird closely resembles the preceding one ; but it 

 is less gregarious, being seen generally in pairs. It loves to frequent 

 the tutu bushes {Coriaria ruscifolia), to regale itself on the juicy 

 berries of this bushy shrub ; and on these occasions it is easily snared 

 by the Natives, who use for that purpose a flat noose at the end of a 

 slender rod. When feeding on the tutu-berry, the whole of the 

 interior becomes stained of a dark purple. When the wild dock has 

 run to seed, this pretty little Parrakeet repairs to the open fields and 

 feasts on the ripe seeds of that noxious weed. At other seasons the 

 berries of Coprosma lucida, Fuchsia excorticata, and other forest 

 shrubs afford it plentiful and agreeable nutriment." — Buller. 



45. Platycercus alpinus. Buller. 



Orange-fronted Parrakeet. 



Similar to F. auriceps, but smaller, and having the frontal band orange, and the vertex 

 pale yellow. 



L., 8-5 ; W., 4-25 ; B., "5 ; T. '6. 

 Sab, — Both Islands. , 



3* 



