90 
Notcf from Far avd Near. 
Notes from Far and Near. 
Birds in the Cook Islands. 
From the same source another cutting reaches me, also 
from the " New Zeahind Herahl," and by the same author, from 
which I have compih^d the folloAving notes : — 
The Tropic Bird (P/iceton ruhricaiula) is not often 
seen on the mainland of New Zeahmd, but is a frequent visitor to 
the islands. It is an exceedingly handsome species, with pale 
satiny plumage, washed on the breast and abdomen with rich 
salmon-red, and the long centre tail feathei-s red. This species is 
known to English Ornithologists as the Red-tailed Tropic Bird, 
and to the natives of the Cook Islands as the Tavaki. They are 
gregarious, and during the breeding season may be easily caught 
on the nests as they make no attempt to fiy away. 
The White Heron is another species found in abundance, 
but it is a solitary fisher and is frequently seen stalking along the 
beaches or the shoals in the reef, or standing on a rock ready to 
pounce upon any fish that come within reach. It is found in 
greatest abundance on Mangaia, as also are the Blue and the White- 
fronted Herons ; the Blue is believed to be quite rare in New 
Zealand. Owing to indiscriminate shooting and the ravages of 
wild cats, the land birds are almost exterminated. Some fifty 
years ago, according to the late Rev. Wyatt Gill, the woods of 
Rarotonga, and several other islands were vocal with the songs of 
their feathered denizens — iiow these places are oppressive with 
the silence that broods over them. The Mynah has been intro- 
duced as an insect-destroyer, but some of the residents tleny it 
this quality. Sooty Petrels and Terns are also found in abundance 
throughout the grou]). W.T.P. 
The White-Headed Parrot.— From a Continental Journal 
I note the arrival of a rare Parrot, viz., the White-Headed (Piunus 
senilis), which is very i-are in captivity ; it is a native of Central 
America, ranging from Mexico to Costa Rica. This interesting 
specimen has been added to the collection of the Berlin Zoological 
Gardens, where it is on view in the new bird house. The princi- 
pal hue of its plumage is iridescent olive-green, the forehead and 
crown being shining white, to which it owes its popular names. 
W. T. P. 
