1 IS Tni iisactious. — Zoology. 



speak with the same authority on the habits of the kakapo as 

 Sir James Hector. His writings on this subject are the result 

 of actual observations made by himself during many arduous 

 and protracted explorations among the sounds, mountains, 

 lakes, and valleys of Otago in the years 1862-6i. At that 

 time these places were practically inaccessible, and the native 

 birds consequently undistiu-bed in their native habitat. This 

 alone must give his obsen-ations an unusual interest and 

 value. After referring to the gregarious habits of the kakapo. 

 and the din made at their gatherings, he says, " As they feed 

 then- harsh screams can be heard at intervals until they re- 

 turn at daybreak to the depths of the forest." 



Baron von Hugel, who studied the habits of the kakapo on 

 the shores of Lake Te Anau, says, " The note of the Strimjops 

 is very peculiar — quite unlike that of a bird. I think it is 

 when feeding that they indulge in a series of the most perfect 

 porcine squeals and grunts. It is really as like a young pig 

 as anything can be. Then, then- other note, which I think 

 answers more to a call or warning, is a very loud aspuated 

 scream, with a sort of guttural sound mixed in with it, almost 

 impossible to describe. Then, when piu-sued and caught by 

 the dog, it emits a low harsh sort of croak, but some were- 

 perfectly silent to the last." 



Sir juhus von Haast, who also had many opportumties of 

 studying the habits of the kakapo, says — still quoting from 

 Buller's " Bu-ds of Xew Zealand" — it has "an irregular shrill 

 call." In his report on his explorations in Nelson Pro%'incial 

 District in 1860-61, the same author, describing the kakapo,. 

 says, "The call of the kakapo, heard during the night, very 

 much resembles the gobble of the turkey."'-' 



The evidence supplied by the above quotations, which 

 might be supplemented by many others, is of course of a nega- 

 tive kind, but none the less valuable, as showing that the 

 remarkable note ascribed to the kakapo was not known to the 

 writers. 



In the second edition of the " Birds of New Zealand," issued 

 as late as 1888, Sh- \Y alter Bull er, in his article on the kakapo^ 

 makes no reference to this singular note, and I may remai-k 

 that Mr. Melland does not point out this important omission. 

 Sir Walter, however, quotes the Maori proverb, "£"« j^z^r^t rt 

 jmtaihinu," which he says refers to the noise made by the 

 kakapos when congregated in their winter quarters. Mr. 

 Melland quotes this, as he thinks it supports his theory, but 

 in doing this he is guilty of an inconsistency which does not 

 Strengthen his position, and tends to throw doubt upon liis 

 other evidence. The sound, which seemed to denote "the 



* Report of Topo. and Geol. Explorations, Nelson District, 1861, p. 139. 



