13 



J^Jew Healand Ijarrakeet. 



Psittacus Novcb Zelandice, Russ. 



Synonyms: Cyanoramphus JSfovce Zelandice, Snc.; 



Cyanoramjphus Novcb Ouinece, Bp.; Cyanoramphus auclandicus, Bp.; 



Hyphema Novce Zeelandice, Mus. B. P.; 



Lathamus Sparrmanni, Lss.; Psittacus pacificus, Reyneri, Cooki, Gb.; 



• Platycercus pacificus, Yges. German: Per Ziegensittich. 



NEW ZEALAND contains a number of ornithological curiosities 

 among its peculiar fauna, and although the subject of the present 

 notice can scarcely be classed among them, it is still a sufficiently 

 remarkable bird to merit a little attention, which, indeed, it has already 

 received at the hand of writers on the subject of Natural History, as 

 witness the formidable array of scientific names bestowed upon it, to 

 which we might have added several more, but that we considered it 

 quite sufficiently burdened as it is. 



As regards plumage, Cyanoramphus presents nothing very striking 

 to attract the observer's notice, while its capacity for acquiring know- 

 ledge is not excessive; its disposition, if shy, painfully so in point of 

 fact, is decidedly gentle and pleasing, and it has a rather agreeable 

 voice, which it can modulate into a passable imitation of articulate 

 sounds; its own wild notes, however, are sufficiently agreeable, and it 

 can sing a peculiar kind of song, which has been likened by its German 

 admirers to the notes of a hurdy-gurdy of superior construction, much 

 modified by distance, as well as to the vocalization, under similar con- 

 ditions, of our ancient acquaintance Punch of puppet-show notoriety; 

 whence the names of Kladderadats-Sittich bestowed upon it by its 

 Teutonic friends, in addition to the appellation of Ziegensittich, by which 

 it is more generally known in Germany. 



When first imported these birds are decidedly delicate, and numbers 



