234 The Kakapo or Owl Parrot.


are m any rare and beautiful species. Of Swans I noticed the

Black-necked, Black and Coscoroba, the last a peculiarly goose-

like bird but a true Swan nevertheless, with bright red legs and

bill. All the commoner ornamental ducks were represented, such

as Chiloe Widgeon, Carolina, Mandarin, Chilian Pintail, and so

on ; and some remarkable hybrids between Rosy-billed and

Tufted Ducks.


The Ibis aviary has been built so as to take in part of a

stream as well as growing trees, an excellent arrangement.

Shelter is provided by a thatched shed. Here I noticed Straw-

necked, White and Glossy Ibises.


In a meadow some distance away we came upon the Rheas,

two of which were pure white. One white male had just com-

menced to sit and we did not disturb him.


The newest additions to this fine collection are two

Spotted Emus which have the run of an orchard. They are

quite young birds and even now appear to me to be almost as

large as ordinary Emus. It seems at present doubtful as to

what species these birds, which Messrs. Payne and Wallace

imported, belong, but they are said to grow to a much larger

size than the common Emu ever attains to.


In a letter just received Mr. Astley writes — " My Emus

are too funny. They have wild, games of play with me,

suddenly tumbling down on their sides as if they had been

shot, and then as suddenly leaping up again. These birds

and the Cranes strongly evince their joy of life, and there are

vibrations of laughter in the air when they dance and play."


D. Seth-Smith.



THE KAKAPO OR OWL PARROT.



This very rare and remarkable New Zealand Parrot, one

of the most extraordinary and aberrant types of the whole family,

is said, doubtless with truth, to be on the verge of extinction.

The arrival therefore, on May 28th, of a living specimen, at the

Zoological Gardens, the first specimen to be exhibited there

since 1875, is a matter of no small importance and satisfaction.


Feeding on fruit, roots, leaves, seeds, grass and so-forth



