224 Essai/s. 



Like the Nestor of Phillip Island, the kakapo will ere loBg 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 

 Platycerciis — a large Australian group of parrakeets. We have two species, 

 Flatycercus pacificus and P. cmriceps, 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 A'^ariation of plumage, 

 and specimens banded with red and yellow, or wholly red, are occasionally 

 found. This fact will probably account for the introduction into our lists 

 of two species (P. coohii and P. unicoJor'), 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. erytlirotis, and on Auckland Island by P. aucTc- 

 landicus ; while several closely allied species are said to inhabit the Piji and 

 the other South Sea Islands. 



Fam. CucuLiD^. — 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 loug-tailed cuckoo {Eudynmnys 

 taitensis) arrives towards the end of October and leaves us in February ; 

 while the shining cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidtcs) makes its appearance early 

 in October and departs towards the end of the year or beginning of January. 

 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 it is 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. Grould, 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 



