ON NOCTURNAL ANIMALS. 821 
feeds, with a grunting noise of satisfaction, on grass, weeds, 
fruit, seeds, and roots. It grazes or nibbles the grass in the 
manner of a Rabbit or Wombat. 
In Mr. D. Lyall’s account of the wild bird, in his communica- 
tion to the Zoological Society, he mentions that at the south-west 
of the middle island of New Zealand he found them living in 
communities on flats at the river’s mouth near the sea, and more 
hillwards ; tracks a foot wide abound where they run about. As 
many of the roots of trees are above ground the Kakapo burrows 
among them. Flight was rarely seen, and then for very short dis- 
tances, the wings scarcely moving, and the bird, alighting on a 
lower level, only gained height among the hollow trees by climbing, 
the tail assisting. It is seldom or ever seen during the day, and 
dogs are used to hunt it. Indeed, the dogs which have run wild, 
with the cats, besides man, are rapidly exterminating this strange 
Parrot. There can be little doubt, he says, that their food 
consists partly of roots (their beaks are usually more or less 
covered with indurated mud), and partly of the leaves and tender 
shoots of various plants. 
Another writer, Mr. G. S. Sale, who kept one alive in this 
country some time, says its playfulness is remarkable; it will run 
from a corner of the room, seize the hand with claws and beak, 
and tumble over and over with it exactly like a kitten, and 
then rush back to be invited to a fresh attack. It is also 
humourous, dancing with outstretched wings, evidently shamming 
anger. It is generally lively enough during the day, but not 
so noisy as at night. : 
The Western Ground Parakeet (Geopsittacus occidentalis, 
- Gould) has considerable resemblance to Stringops and to Pezo- 
porus, another ground-loving Australian Parakeet. Geopsittacus, 
however, lives in rocky caves and comes out at night to feed, as 
Mr. Ryan, of the Gawler Ranges, Spencer Gulf, assured Dr. 
Miller, and this is corroborated by Mr. A. D. Bartlett’s obser- 
vations on a bird in the Zoological Gardens. As might be 
expected from its habits, the wings are like those of many 
night-flying birds; the eyes, of moderate size, in daylight have 
a strange hazy expression, not easily described, but quite 
characteristic of nocturnal animals. The cere is unusually full 
and fleshy, with wide nostrils, and a pencil of elongated hair- 
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