OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. A479 
forehead mottled with white extending almost to the eye and 
upwards towards the crown; the whole of the under plumage 
scarcely to be distinguished from that of the adult. The regular 
transverse bars of lustrous metallic bronze-green being quite 
conspicuous and well marked. The lower mandible of a darker horn 
colour than in the first-mentioned specimen, but it may be noted here 
that the lower mandible in this species does offer very considerable 
difference in colouration, as from light horn colour to almost blackish, 
yet not so entirely dark as the upper mandible. The young bird is 
fed up to the time it can fly well; at this period which seems to be 
the shiest of its life, it quickly changes its quarters on finding itself 
observed. It is interesting to watch the cuckoo whilst being tended 
by the warblers: when perched, it moves the head, with a lateral 
motion, in a watchful manner that is very hawk-like; as a foster-parent 
approaches, it shows an eager interest by slightly opening and 
fluttermg the wings, hopping forward to meet its feeder; at this 
time the almost incessant cry is more rapidly repeated, till the insect 
is swallowed and the monotonous cry is resumed. Although it may 
be surrounded by the curious of many species of birds, it takes no 
heed of them. When it becomes self-supporting, foraging for itself, 
it shows a great fondness for the larve of the kowhai moth, I have 
seen it follow a falling caterpillar to the ground in order to secure it; 
at this period it suffers a very close approach without showing any 
sign of fear. It utters a short sweet, rather plaintive note, which 
seems to attract others of its species. I have a note of the young 
cuckoo killed by a sharp early frost in the back country. 
Orper III.—Crimpers—Scansorks. 
Family Psittacida—Parrots. 
Genus—Stringops. 
46. Stringops habroptilus, Gray. 
Ground parrot, Night parrot, Kakapo.—It is still abundant in 
many parts of Westland; notwithstanding the persecution that con- 
stantly pursues it for the sake of supplying the requirements of 
museums and collectors.* The nesting place is usually a hole either 
ready made or one which requires but little labour to fit it for use, 
such a place is often selected amongst roots or dead trees; sometimes 
its home is tunnelled in the ground. <A well excavated home not far 
from Okarito was near the top of a low dry terrace on which, shaded 
by lofty rimu and rata trees, flourished a fine growth of the umbrella 
fern (Gleichenia Cunningham). The tunnel six inches in diameter at 
the mouth, widened very gradually as the excavation extended, the 
work ending in a chamber two feet in height, by eighteen inches in 
width; the entire length of the hole from the entrance to the back of 
the nesting-place was found to measure nine feet. The floor was 
thickly covered with balls of excrement, to the extent of two or three 
bucketsful, from which we did not detect any unpleasant odour. The 
fermentation of this mass of vegetable matter would materially assist 
in keeping the hole warm during the absence of the old bird. Three 
eggs seem to be the complement. These laid probably with a con- 
*See ‘‘ Zoologist,’? August, 1873. 
