THE OWL-rARROT. 
2G3 
inflicted by beak and claws, but nevei' failed to secure their prey after 
a brief struggle. 
The kakapo has always been included among the nocturnal birds ; 
but he is not so completely a night-prowler as was at first supposed. 
Haast says that his voice is heard about an hour after sunset in places 
where the denseness of the foliage secures a perpetual gloom; that he 
then sets forth on his rambles ; and at such times, attracted by the 
light, he would approach and fiutter around his tent. Twice, however, 
he surprised the bird by day. The first occasion was a dull, dark after- 
noon in an open forest -glade, when and where he saw a kakapo 
perched on a prostrate trunk. He took flight on his approach, but was 
pursued and captured by the dogs. The second time was also at mid- 
day, and the scene a rocky defile, where the owl-parrot, planted on a 
little fuchsia, was eating his fruit. As soon as he perceived the 
traveller he sprang to the ground, and disappeared among the rocks. 
Sti'ange to say, he never opened his wings to break his fall. To 
ascertain whether the bird was able to fly. Dr. Haast set one, which 
had been caught by a dog, in an open place ; but, without attempting 
to rise into the air, he ran to the nearest thicket, and this with a 
perfectly astonishing rapidity, considering the heaviness of his form. 
He appeared to keep his wings close to his sides, opening them very 
slightly and without agitation, — evidently using them with no other 
object than to preserve his equilibrium. 
But Mr. Lyell tells us that he has seen the kakapo on the wing. 
He flies, however, only to reach a tree where he can take refuge, 
climbing rapidly from branch to branch, chiefly by the aid of his 
tail. His voice is hoarse, but intensifies into a scream when he is 
excited or hungiy. The Maoris assert that they make a tremendous 
clamour when, in the winter, they assemble in large flocks, — saluting 
with their cries every fresh arrival and departure. They are vege- 
tarians, these kakapos, feeding on roots, leaves, young shoots, berries, 
and grasses. While other birds have the skin lined with a layer of 
soft and oily fat, these, owing doubtlessly to their vegetable food, boast 
of a stratum of fat quite firm and white. Their flesh is superior to 
that of parrakeets generally, and has a really delicate flavour. Hence, 
