APPENDIX. 545 



the Zoological Society, but I am informed it died oif Cape 

 Horn." 



Since the above was published, Mr. Julius Ilaast, of Can- 

 terbury, New Zealand, has published some notes on this 

 species in the ' Vcrhandlungen ' of the Zoological and Bota- 

 nical Association of Vienna, of October 10th, 1863, a trans- 

 lation of which is given in the 'Ibis' for 1864, p. 340, from 

 which the following are extracts : — 



" The principal resorts of the KaTcapo are the grass-plots 

 in the open and mossy beech-woods near mountain streams, 

 and rocky declivities, beneath large moss-covered stones over- 

 grown by beech-roots ; also the mossy banks of the larger 

 rivers which are occasionally flooded by a sudden thaw or 

 heavy rains. It is remarkable that it is never found on the 

 eastern side of the Alps, though extensive beech-forests 

 occur there also : the only part excepted is the valley of the 

 Makavora Kiver, which forms the Wanaka Lake. It appears, 

 therefore, to be confined to the western slope of the principal 

 mountain-chain, and only to pass over the low and wooded 

 defile that leads from the sources of the Haast River to those 

 of the Makavora. Even here, however, it is not found beyond 

 the mouth of the river near the Wanaka Lake, as lower down 

 there are no forests. The Kakapo is very frequently met 

 with in the valley of the last-named river and in the Maka- 

 vora forest. In the Wilkin Valley it is less numerous, and in 

 the Hunter Valley it is not to be met with. Until now it has 

 been supposed to be a night bird, but my observations con- 

 vince me that this is not always the case. It is true that its 

 call is mostly heard about an hour after sunset, at which time 

 it commences to roam about where the thick foliage creates a 

 kind of artificial darkness, but I have several times met with 

 it in the daytime. On one occasion as soon as the bird saw 

 me it threw itself off the tree as if it were shot and escaped 

 under some large fragments of rock, without opening its 

 wings or using them in any way to break its fall. It is 



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