tARROTS. 85 



(1079-1081), which are placed at the top of the Case. The last genus 

 of this subfamily includes the smallest of the group and is represented 

 by the Pigmy Parrot (Nasiterna pusio) (1078), which with its congeners 

 is confined to the Papuan subregion. On the top shelf are placed the 

 Great Black Cockatoo (Microglossus aterrimus) (1089), the Ganga 

 (Callocephalum galeatum] (1090), and the Yellow-and-Black Cockatoo 

 (Qalyptorhynchus xanthonotui) (1091). 



The third subfamily Cacatuirue includes the Cockatoos, most of which 

 are well known in captivity. Commonest of all perhaps is the Cockateel 

 (Calopsittacus novae hollandice} (1082) j and of the various species of 

 Cockatoo (Cacatua and Licmetis), ranging from the Philippines to 

 Australia, the handsomest is undoubtedly Leadbeater's Cockatoo 

 (C. leadbeateri) (1087), while the most curious is the bare-eyed form 

 known as the Slender-billed Cockatoo (L. nasica] (1088). 



Family II. LORIID.E. LORIES OR BRUSH-TONGUED PARROTS. 

 (Plate XVII. fig. 1.) 



The Brush-tongued Parrots may be divided into three subfamilies, the [Case 56.] 

 Loriince or Lories, the Cyclopsittacinae or Lorilets, and the Nestorirue or 

 Kaka Parrots. 



To the first belong the genera Chalcopsittacus, Eos, Lorius, Vini, 

 Coriphilus, Trichoglossus, etc. (1092-1106), all of which are represented 

 and include some of the most lovely species of the group, many being 

 familiar cage-birds. 



The Lorilets include a number of small forms ranging from New 

 Guinea to Australia and will be found duly represented by an example 

 of the Mysol species (Cyclop sit tacus diophthalmus) (1107). 



The third subfamily is represented by the Kaka Parrot (Nestor 

 meridionalis] (1108) [PL XVII. fig. 1], a native of New Zealand. 

 Special interest attaches to this group on account of the carnivorous 

 habits of the closely allied species known as the Kea (N. notabilis}, 

 which of recent years has developed an extraordinary liking for flesh. 

 At first these birds contented themselves with devouring sheeps' heads 

 and other offal thrown out from the slaughter sheds, but as the taste 

 for meat increased and became universal, they took to attacking living 

 sheep, tearing open their backs to devour the kidney fat, and inflicting 

 injuries that generally proved fatal. So destructive, indeed, have they 

 become on some of the sheep-runs, that a price is paid by the Govern- 

 ment of New Zealand for their destruction and their final extermination 

 is probably only a matter of time. 



