rut: 



/./;/. 





one, a* th- 



THE name given to the i-uri-.us t.ird now ,, j, * very 



. -real me seems to iwrtake equalh of the natures of the Owl and 



l-.vn in its habits it has much ,,f t),,. (> M | nature, Uiiic as sin.-i|\ ni M -tiirnal ai any of 

 those birds. 1 Mirin;; the davtime it roiiceals it^-lf in |,,,les, under the stumps, ,f trees, and 



similar localities, and seldom being seen except after sunset. The nathes ,,f N w Zealand, 

 where it is f.,und. s : ,\ i),at during the winter months the OWL PARBOTS aawmble together in 

 great numU-is. ,-olle.-tini: themselves into certain large caverns, and that while arranging for 

 their \\ inter <[ uarters, and be- 

 fore dispersing for the sum- / ' 

 im-r. the\ I >ecome very noisy, 

 and raise a deafening clamor. 



The Owl Parrot is weak 

 of wing and seldom trusts 

 itself to the air, taking but a 

 very short flight whenever it 

 rises from the ground. Neither 

 is it seen much in trees, pre- 

 ferring to inhabit the ground. 

 and making regular paths to 

 and from its nest, by means 

 of which its habitation may 

 be discovered by one who 

 knows the habits of the bird. 

 These tracks are about a foot 

 in width, and so closely re- 

 semble the paths worn by the 

 f,M.tsi,.ps .pf hiim:in l-in_'s 

 that they have been mistaken 

 for such by travellers. 



The food of this bird 

 is mostly obtained on the 

 ground, and consists of ten- 

 der twits, leaves, and roots, 

 which it digs up with its 

 curved bill, covering that 

 useful organ with earth and 

 mud. The eggs of the Owl 

 Parrot are merely laid upon 

 some decaying wood in the same hollows wherein the bird sleeps during the day. Their 

 niimlx-r is two. although three are sometimes found. The breeding season commences in 

 February. The natives distinguish this bird by the name of Kakapo. 



It is a very large bird, nearly equalling the eagle ,.w 1 in dimensions ; and, like that bird. 

 standing very upright on its legs. The general color of the plumage i* darkish green profusely 

 mottle 1 with black, and sparingly dashed with yellow. I'nder the ,.\,. In a patch of yellow 

 green. The beak is long and curved, very like that of an owl, ami it is nearly concealed 

 by the stiff bristles with which it is surrounded, and many of which cross earh other at the 

 tips over the bill. The abdomen is green of a yellower hue than the upper parts of the body, 

 crossed with a few very faint bars of a darker hue. The tail is also green, but marked with 

 brown. 



ACCORDING to some authors, the Are too. already described on a previous page, is closely 

 connected with the very remarkable bird calli-d /'rttyurf* flatyptilu*. 



As in the case of the previous species we find an example of a Parrot following the owl 

 in its form and many of its habits, we have here an instance of am 



OWL 



