224 Essays. 
Like the Nestor of Phillip Island, the kakapo will ere long exist only in 
our museums, for, with many others of our rarer species, its numbers are 
. already rapidly diminishing. 
The other genus of this family that finds a place in New Zealand is the 
Platycercus—a large Australian group of parrakeets. We have two species, 
Platycercus pacificus and P. auriceps, the former of which is somewhat 
rare in the northern parts of the North Island. Towards Cook Strait, how- 
ever, and throughout the South Island, both species are equally common. 
The smaller kind (P. auriceps) is subject to considerable variation of plumage, 
and specimens banded with red and yellow, or wholly red, are oceasionally 
found. This fact will probably account for the introduction into our lists 
of two species (P. cookii and P. unicolor), which do not actually exist. 
The Polynesian Platycerci afford a beautiful example of the law of repre- 
sentation. Our P. pacificus is represented on Norfolk Island by P. rayneri, 
on Macquarie Island by P. erythrotis, and on Auckland Island by P. auck- 
landieus ; while several closely allied species are said to inhabit the Fiji and 
the other South Sea Islands. 
Fam. Cucurrpz.—New Zealand possesses two cuckoos and both of them 
are migratory. Whence they come and whither they go has always been 
and is still a matter of conjecture. The long-tailed cuckoo (Eudynamys 
taitensis) arrives towards the end of October and leaves us in February ; 
while the shining cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) makes its appearance early 
in October and departs towards the end of the year or beginning of J anuary. 
They appear to arrive earlier at the extreme north, and to linger there when 
their notes are no longer heard in the south. This fact, coupled with the 
circumstance that the natives have from time immemorial called these 
migrants Birds of Hawaiki, would seem to indicate that they winter in some 
of the warm islands of the South Pacific. 
Both species are parasitic in their nidification, and itis a very curious fact 
that both of them, notwithstanding their great difference in size, depend on 
the same little bird (Gerygone flaviventris) for the hatching and rearing of 
their young. Mr. Gould, in treating of the Australian genera, informs us 
that the genus Eudynamys is an exception to the rule in this respect. There 
can be no question, however, as to the New Zealand bird being parasitical, 
for the young have been seen attended by the little foster-parents long after 
the old birds had quitted the country. 
During the quiet summer nights, the deep, rich notes of the koheperoa, 
or long-tailed cuckoo, may be heard at intervals till break of day. This 
bird is active during the cool hours of the morning, but reposes in the shade 
during the heat of noon. Its habits are more predatory than is usual with 
the members of this family. Lizards and large insects form its principal 
