184



Dr. Graham Renshaw,



In 1870 the first living example seen in England—probably

in Europe—was brought home by Mr. G. S. Sale, who afterwards

became Professor of Classics in the University of New Zealand.

Unlike so many of these birds, this example was quite playful and

good-tempered, and readily showed itself in daylight. Mr. Sale

eventually deposited the bird in the Zoological Gardens : it arrived

on September 20th, 1870, and was excellently figured in the “ Field’

for October 15th of the same year. This specimen attracted a good

deal of attention : the public, which had flocked to see the first

hippopotamus in 1850 and the first great anteater in 1853, began to

inquire for the owl parrot. Mr. Sale’s pet had however changed its

nature with its changed surroundings : no longer active in the day¬

time, it hid itself, and only came out at night. The Zoological

Society offered £50 for the bird, but the offer was declined.


In the winter of 1870 Mr. D. L. Murdoch, a resident of

Auckland and Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, sent an owl

parrot to a friend in this country. The bird was shipped on the

“ Mary Shepherd,” and a letter was sent to announce its arrival.

The letter miscarried, however, and Captain Peek deposited his cap¬

tive in the Zoo. till the owner should appear. The bird remaining

unclaimed and Mr. Murdoch eventually presented it to the Zoological

Society : it lived some time in the Gardens, and was on its death

dissected by Professor Garrod. In 1874 there seemed some possi¬

bility of breeding these rare parrots in England : for on November

3rd of that year three specimens were received at the Zoo.—a pair

and an odd bird, it was thought. Perhaps, as often happens, the

odd bird was bullied by the pair, for it died a month later. The

survivors, however, did not breed.


The writer has had the rare privilege of studying two living

examples of the owl parrot. Neither of the two was vicious, they

were perfectly good tempered even if disturbed in daylight, merely

croaking as if in expostulation. When released they ran with the

head extended and lowered, Apteryx fashion, till they reached a dark

corner: the gait was heavy and waddling, as if lame, the short

wings were held either raised or merely extended from the sides of

the body. Apparently the wings act mainly as balancers: the

writer saw no attempt to flap them, their function seemed merely



