124 GREEN GROUND PARROT. 



be the average number of young in a brood of the smaller Pezojphori, 

 it appears that the larger species, Strigops kabroptilus for instance, 

 only lay one egg at a time, and haye no more than two young in 

 the season; from which it will be readily gathered that so unprolific 

 a bird, especially when so imperfectly provided with means of escape 

 from its now numerous enemies, wild cats, and rats of European origin, 

 will very soon become extinct in the islands where it was formerly 

 found in sufficient abundance. 



This disappearance of a curious animal is to be regretted for many 

 reasons, but is, apparently, in the nature of things, unavoidable; and 

 doubtless it has played, or almost played out its part in the economy 

 of nature, like the Moa and the Dinornis, and, there being no further 

 reason for its presence on a sufficiently crowded scene, exit Pezojphorus, 

 is the stage direction that must be strictly obeyed, or confusion would 

 certainly ensue. 



