Oedek PSITTACL] [Fam. STRIXGOPIDJS. 



STRINGOPS HABR0PTILI7S. 



(OWL PARROT.) 



Strigops habroptilus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1847, p. 62. 



Stringops habroptilus, Van der Hoeven, Handb. Zool. ii. p. 466 (1856). 

 Strigopsis habroptilus, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 8 (1850). 

 Strigopsis habroptilus, Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Psittaci, p. 107 (1864). 



Varieties. 

 Strigops greyii, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 230. 

 Stringops greyi, Finsch, Papag. i. p. 253 (1867). 



Native names. 

 Kakapo and Tarepo; " Ground-Parrot" of the colonists. 



Ad. viridis : plumis pilei dorsique medialiter pallide flavidis, irregulariter nigricanti-brunneo transfasciatis et 

 transvermiculatis : uropygii plumis lsetius viridescentibus : loris pluruisque rictum obtectentibus pallide 

 fulvescenti-brunneis, medialiter albicautibus : regioue auriculari brunnea, rachidibus plumarum fulve- 

 sceutibus : facie laterali brunnea, plumis medialiter late flavicantibus : remigibus nigricanti-bruuneis, 

 primariis extiis et intus flavicante maculatis, secundariis irregulariter flavido fasciatim variis et extus 

 olivascenti-viridi lavatis : cauda olivascenti-brunnea, ubique nigricaute fasciolata : subtus magis flavicans, 

 viridi lavatus, abdomine purius flavicante : pectoris plumis paullo nigricante variis, hypochondriis magis 

 conspicue fasciatis : subalaribus olivascenti-flavis, obscure brunneo fasciatis : subalaribus flavicantibus, 

 minoribus nigro variis : rostro flavicanti-albido, ad basin saturatiore : pedibus flavicanti-brunneis, 

 unguibus saturatioribus. 



'5' 



Adult. General colour of the upper surface dark sap-green, brighter on the wings and lower part of back, 

 and largely varied with dark brown and yellow ; on their under surface the feathers of these parts are 

 light verditer-green towards the tip, with a fine metallic lustre ; on the crown and nape the centre of 

 each feather is blackish brown, with a narrow shaft-line of dirty yellow and a broad terminal band of 

 dull green ; on the back, rump, and upper surface of the wings, each feather is silvery brown at the 

 base, pale lemon-yellow beyond, changing to sap-green on the sides and towards the tip, and crossed by 

 numerous broken bars and vermiculations of dark brown ; on the anterior portion of the back these bars 

 are regular and distinct, but on the other parts they are interrupted by a broad shaft-line of lemon- 

 yellow. These details of colouring, however, can only be observed when the plumage is disturbed, the 

 general effect on the surface being as already described. The feathers at the base of the upper mandible, 

 lores, sides of face, and feathers projecting over the lower mandible dull yellowish brown, with darker 

 filaments ; ear-coverts darker brown, mixed with yellow ; fore neck, breast, and sides of the body yel- 

 lowish sap-green, varied with pale yellow and brown, the distribution of colouring on each individual 

 feather being the same as on the upper parts, but with more yellow down the shaft ; lower part of 

 abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts light greenish yellow, the longer coverts obscurely barred with 

 light brown ; lining of wings pale lemon-yellow, blotched and streaked with dark brown ; primaries 

 dark brown, largely toothed on their outer webs with dull lemon-yellow, and on their inner with paler ; 



