THE OWL PARROT 1903 



regions, and mainly restricted to mountainous regions, and it is probably doomed to 

 extinction at no very distant date. Many accounts of the habits of this interesting 

 bird have been given, from among which we select the following from the pen of 

 Sir George Grey. This observer writes that during the day the kakapo "remains 

 hid in holes under the roots of trees or rocks, or very rarely perched on the boughs 

 of trees with a very dense thick foliage. At these times it appears stupid from its 

 profound sleep, and if disturbed or taken from its hole, immediately runs and tries 

 to hide itself again, delighting, if practicable, to cover itself in a heap of soft dry 

 grass; about sunset it becomes lively, animated, and playful, issues forth from its 

 retreat, and feeds on grass, weeds, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and roots. When eat- 

 ing grass, it grazes rather than feeds, nibbling the grass in the manner of a rabbit 

 or wombat. It sometimes climbs trees, but generally remains upon the ground, and 

 only uses its short wings for the purpose of aiding its progress when running, 

 balancing itself when on a tree, or in making a short descent half jump, half flight 

 from an upper to a lower bough. When feeding, if pleased with its food, it 

 makes a continued grunting noise. It eats greedily, and is choice in its food, show- 

 ing an evident relish for anything of which it is fond. It cries repeatedly during 

 the night, with a noise not very unlike that of the kaka, but not so loud. The 

 kakapo is a very clever and intelligent bird, in fact singularly so; contracts a strong 

 affection for those who are kind to it; shows its attachment by climbing about and 

 rubbing itself against its friend, and is eminently a social and playful bird. It 

 builds in holes under trees and rocks, and lays two or three white eggs about the 

 size of a pullet's in the month of February, and the young birds are found in March. 

 The natives assert that, when the breeding season is over, the kakapo lives in socie- 

 ties of five or six in the same hole, and they say that it is a provident bird, and lays 

 up in the fine season a store of fern root for use in the bad weather. 



The extermination or reduction in the numbers of the owl parrot in certain 

 districts is attributed to the ravages of dogs, cats, or rats, which have run wild in 

 many parts of the island; and it is not improbable that- in some parts, at least, pigs 

 have likewise had a share in the work of destruction. According to Haast these 

 birds are generally found in the open mossy glades of the beech forests, although 

 they also frequent open hillsides, where they hide among blocks of stone. On two 

 occasions the same observer met with a single kakapo during broad daylight, from 

 which he is led to consider that these parrots are not so strictly nocturnal as has 

 been supposed. 



