2854 The Zoologist — December, 1871. 



Not only does it regale on flowers and insect-food : in the Fagus 

 forests, in the bark of the black birch trees, may be found a dull 

 red fleshy-looking grub, tightly embedded in the hard bark, quite 

 beneath the black velvetly moss that wraps the Fagus like a pall : 

 the wound made by this unsightly insect causes in spring time a 

 sweet honey-like exudation, most frequently taking the form of 

 a fine white filament, terminating in a small bright globule, glistening 

 like a dewdrop ; glancing upwards the tall slraight-grown stem 

 appears spangled with multitudes of these bright-threaded beads. 

 This is a favourite feeding-ground of several arboreals. The varied 

 modes of locomotion employed form an interesting study, leading 

 to enquiry and reflection upon their structure, their muscular and 

 osseous systems, thus opening out a wide field for physiological 

 observation. Of these hungry climbers, the robust-framed kaka 

 occupies the foremost rank for size ; its hold on the bole of the 

 tree is secure, its movements deliberate, whilst its thick tongue is 

 actively employed in gathering the honey-sweet meal. 



The kaka is easily snared, and very soon becomes tame ; if 

 allowed liberty about the premises, its ready confidence quickly 

 transforms a pet into a plague. Let those who doubt its om- 

 nivorous propensities allow it access to a dairy, and watch the deft 

 manner in which it manages to clear the cream from the pans. 



Having entered so minutely into the liabits of a bird so well 

 known as the kaka, it appears unnecessary to append a description, 

 further than a kw words about the tongue, &c., as some doubt has 

 existed as to its position as one of the Trichoglossina;, and whether 

 its tongue is furnished with a brush-like termination or not. The 

 tongue is thick, fining down towards the point, not unlike a finger; 

 the superior side is flatfish, the under side is rounded and furnished 

 with a row of short stiff papilla), black in colour: this brush-like 

 apparatus can scarcely be said to form the termination of the 

 tongue ; it really occupies a similar position on the tongue which 

 the margin of the nail occupies on the human finger: on the inside 

 of the lower mandible may be observed, just within the deeply- 

 channelled lip, a row of minute yellowish dots, very slightly raised 

 above the surface of the mandible ; at the sides these specks give 

 way to very faintly marked furrows, probably to clear the papillaj 

 by the pressure of the tongue against the lower mandible. Those 

 who have only seen dried skins may not be aware that the upper 

 and lower mandibles are connected by a thin tough skin, which 



