86 



scarlet facings. Is it to be wondered at that the assumption of a livery so gay 

 and parrot-like metamorphosed our Kaka past recognition, even by old friends 1 

 In spite of his beak he was christened Supe^'bus, and cut off by this distinction 

 from the rest of the noisy fraternity. It is not known whether this gaudy 

 clothing is enjoyed by a select body of individuals doomed to a life of celibacy, 

 but it is certain that their numbers do not increase. 



The following description is taken from a very fine old male, but a 

 careful inspection of many birds of this species would convince anyone how 

 very unsatisfectory must be the description of any one specimen as a correct 

 representation of the species : — Upper surface olivaceous brown, often with a 

 sombre greenish glint, each feather margined with dusky brown, feathers 

 projecting over lower mandible, with produced hair-like tips, dark red with a 

 stripe of grey; ear coverts rich orange; ciown of the head, forehead, grey; 

 back of the head grey, washed with pale yellowish green, margined with 

 bi'own ; nape rufous brown, margined with greenish yellow and black, forming 

 an irregular collar, somewhat interrupted on the front of the neck ; scapularies 

 dark olivaceous brown, inclining to greyish green on the back ; primaries 

 brown, toothed with pale red on the inner web ; tail dull brown, barred with 

 pale red on the inner Aveb, except the two centre feathers, the greater part of 

 the basal portion of which are flushed across with a reddish shade on the 

 under side, tipped with the sanae colour ; throat, neck, and breast greyish 

 brown, margined with dark greenish brown ; abdomen and tail coverts rich 

 blood red, bai'red Avith black ; bill cui-ved from the base. 



No. 53. — ISTestor notabilis, Gould. 

 Kea. 

 Green Mountain Parrot. 



In order to convey a cori-ect impression of the Kea and its habits, it is 

 necessary to give a brief outline of the features of the country in which it is to 

 be found. AVhere we have most frequently observed it has been far above the 

 Gorge of the Rangitata, one of the great snoio rivers, as they are termed. This 

 stream, which derives its source from the glaciers which are embedded in the 

 gloomy and secluded fastnesses of the Southern Aljps, is periodically swollen by 

 the melting of the snow and by the heavy rain from the north-west, which 

 falls during the spring and autumn months ; fed by numerous creeks and 

 tributaries from every converging gully, its A^olume increases, it rushes noisily 

 and impetuously over its rough boulder bed, till the junction of the Havelock 

 and the Clyde swells its waters into a large river. The leafy, rugged moun- 

 tains Avhicli imprison it present almost every conceivable vaiiety of outline ; 

 jagged peaks crowned with snow ; countless moraines point out where the 

 avalanche and snow slip have thundered down into the valley below. The 

 i-iver is bordered here and there by grassy flats or hanging woods of timber 



