Obdee PSITTACL] [Fam. TRICHOGLOSSID^E. 



NESTOR OCCIDENTALS. 



(WESTERN KAKA PARROT.) 



Nestor occidentalism Buller, Ibis, 1869, p. 40 (descr. orig.); Hutton, Cat. N. Z. Birds, p. 20 

 (1871). 



Ad. pileo obscure albicanti-cinereo, nuchae plumis late brunneo marginatis, fronte clarius colorato : regione 

 auriculari sordide aurantiaca, scapis albicantibus : genis brunneis, medialiter albicante striatis, plumis 

 rictalibus anterioribus elongatis, sordide coccineo striatis : dorso toto obvaceo-fusco, alii clarius oliva- 

 scente, plumis omuibus conspicue nigro marginatis : tectricibus alarum vix flavido tinctis : collo postico 

 sordide coccineo et aurantiaco lavato, torquem collarem vix conspicuam formante : dorso postico et 

 uropygio olivaceo-fuscis, plumis omnibus sordide coccineo lavatis et nigro marginatis : cauda clare 

 olivascenti-brunnea versus apicem paullo brunnescente, pennis centralibus sub certa luce vix rubescenti- 

 bus : subtus obscure fuscus, plumis nigro marginatis : pectore imo et hypocliondriis olivascente tinctis 

 et conspicue sordide coccineo lavatis : subalaribus cum plumis axillaribus fuscis, lffitius coccineo et 

 aurantiaco lavatis, brunneo transfasciatis. 



Adult. Upper surface dark olivaceous-brown, tinged with yellow on the wing-coverts, each feather margined 

 with dusky black ; feathers of the nape dull red, margined with yellow and black, and forming a narrow 

 nuchal collar ; rump, tail-coverts, and abdomen dark arterial-red, the feathers of the latter banded with 

 a brighter tint ; ear-coverts pale orpiment-orange ; feathers projecting over the lower mandible tinged 

 with red ; throat, neck, and breast dark olivaceous -brown ; lining of wings and axillary plumes bright 

 scarlet, obscurely barred with black, and tipped with golden yellow; quills and tail-feathers russet- 

 brown, the former toothed with yellow on the inner web ; bill and feet dark olivaceous-grey. Length 

 16'5 inches ; wing, from flexure, 105 ; tail 6 ; tarsus 1 ; longer fore toe and claw 2 - 25 ; longer hind toe 

 and claw 2 - 125; bill, following curvature, 2"25, along edge of lower mandible 1"5. 



Obs. Apart from the difference of plumage, this species is appreciably smaller than the common one, while 

 the bill is more slender and has the upper mandible produced to a finer point. The two specimens, 

 obtained by Dr. Hector on the west coast of the South Island, differ very slightly in the details of their 

 colouring, and there is scarcely any perceptible difference in their size. 



' After what I have said in treating of Nestor meridionalis, it may be readily understood that I 

 feel some hesitation in keeping this bird distinct. The two examples, on which I founded the 

 characters of my new species, were obtained by Dr. Hector hi the wild and rugged country on the 

 west coast of the South Island ; and, although no further specimens have yet come to hand, we 

 are assured that it is by no means a scarce or uncommon bird in that region. My chief reason, 



