542 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



kept a month or two, and the legs of others became deformed 

 after they had been a few weeks in captivity. The cause of 

 the deformity was supposed to be the want of proper food, 

 and too close confinement. They were fed chiefly on soaked 

 bread, oatmeal, and water and boiled potatoes. When let 

 loose in a garden they would eat lettuces, cabbages, and grass, 

 and would taste almost every green leaf that they came across. 

 One, which I brought within six hundred miles of England 

 (when it was accidentally killed), whilst at Sydney, ate eagerly 

 of the leaves of a Banksia and several species of Eucalyptus, 

 as well as grass, appearing to prefer them all to its usual diet 

 of bread and water. It was also very fond of nuts and 

 almonds, and during the latter part of the homeward voyage 

 lived almost entirely on Brazilian ground-nuts. 



" On several occasions the bird took sullen fits, during 

 which it would eat nothing for two or three days at a time, 

 screaming and defending itself with its beak when any one 

 attempted to touch it. It was at all times of an uncertain 

 temper, sometimes biting severely when such a thing was 

 least expected, It appeared to be always in the best humour 

 when first taken out of its box in the morning, hooking on 

 eagerly with its upper mandible to the finger held down to 

 lift it out. As soon as it was placed on the deck it would 

 attack the first object which attracted its attention — some- 

 times the leg of my trowsers, sometimes a slipper or a boot. 

 Of the latter it was particularly fond ; it would nestle down 

 upon it, flapping its wings and showing every symptom of 

 pleasure. It would then get up, rub against it with its sides, 

 and roll upon it on its back, striking out with its feet whilst 

 in this position. 



" One of these birds, sent on shore by Capt. Stokes to the 

 care of Major Murray of the 05th Regiment at Wellington, 

 was allowed to run about his garden, where it was fond of 

 the society of the children, following them like a dog wherever 

 they went. / 



