178 
wing, as the long primaries, on both sides, have been broken off ; but the specimen does not appear to differ 
in size from ordinary small examples of S. habroptilus. But what tends more than any thing else to con- 
vince me that the so-called S. greyii is merely an abnormal or accidental variety of the species under review 
is the fact that some of the small coverts on both wings, and the feathers of the crown, have assumed the 
normal sap-green colour, thus betraying a strong tendency to reversion. In the absence of any other 
examples in a similar condition of plumage, this fact appears to me of itself fatal to the recognition of the 
species. At the same time, I should add that the difference in colour was so manifest and striking, that 
Mr. G. It. Gray was perfectly justified in characterizing it provisionally as a distinct species, although (as 
appears from his Catalogue of Psittacidje, 1859) he was himself of opinion that it might ultimately prove a 
mere variety. Even Dr. Finscli, who is scrupulously careful in all his identifications, states (in his valuable 
Monograph of Parrots) that, after a careful examination of the type specimen, he felt bound to admit S. greyii 
as a good species. It only remains for me to say that I regret that my convictions compel me to smk a 
name designed by the describer as a compliment to Sir George Grey, who has always taken so zealous a 
part in the furtherance of ornithological science. 
In Reischek’s collection there is a specimen with a single canary-yellow feather among the scapulars ; 
and another has a bluish glint on the feathers of the upper parts, somewhat like that described above. 
I examined a remarkable variety from Dusky Bay, this example having been obtained (as I was assured 
at a considerable elevation. This bird had the crown of the head uniform dark green, the cheeks dull 
greenish brown, the markings on the upper surface generally very obscure, and the plumage of the under- 
parts dull greenish yellow, with faint marbled markings of a paler colour, presenting a very soft appearance, 
whilst the flanks were prettily marked with numerous narrow bars of brown ; the bill was pale yellow, t e 
sides of the under mandible inclining to brown. 
Mr. J. D. Enys sends me the following note :-“Mr. G. Muller, the Chief Surveyor of Westland, has 
a Kakapo with the entire plumage yellow. It came from Jackson’s Bay. Have you heard of it ? ” 
Mr. Reischek, who spent six months in the West Coast Sounds, brought hack with him some very 
beautiful specimens, differing from the common Kakapo in having the entire upper surface rayed with 
narrow transverse, more or less wavy, bars of brownish black, and the markings on the wing-feathers very 
regular and distinct, being of a pale lemon-yellow. Of this bird he writes The Alpine Kakapo-so called 
hy^me as I have never found this beautiful bird anywhere except on high mountains— is considerably larger 
and much brighter than the ordinary Kakapo. The young ones are much duller in plumage than their 
parents. These alpine birds are rare, but I was fortunate in securing about a dozen of them. Amongst 
them was a specimen of a beautiful varied plumage : on the top of the head very light green ; back, wing- 
coverts, and tail yellowish green witli crimson spots ; round the bill crimson ; throat, breast, and abdomen 
yellow with crimson spots ; hill light yellow ; legs silver-grey ; eyes dark brown.” 
Several of these fine specimens are now in my collection, and although I fully appreciate the difference 
in the plumage of the upper surface, yet, with my knowledge of the extreme variability of this foim, I am 
unable, however willing, to recognize a new species. As to individual size, that counts for very little, foi I 
have in my collection even larger specimens in the ordinary plumage. Again, one of the alpine birds 
received from Mr. Reischek, iu which the colours are particularly brilliant, has little thread-like tufts of down 
adhering to t ] ic tips of the secondaries ; it is obviously a very young bird, and does not conform to 
Mr. Reisehek’s description as quoted above. _ . 
On the accompanying Plate my artist has represented this Alpine form, in the distant figure, just 
emerging from its burrow. 
Yoimq. The young Kakapo assumes the adult plumage from the nest, although the colours are duller than in 
the mature bird and with a less admixture of yellow; the ear-coverts are darker and the facial disk less 
conspicuous. The bill, instead of being horn-coloured, is of a delicate bluish-grey colour. 
NestUng In the Otago Museum there is a Kakapo chick apparently just extruded from the shell. It is ex- 
tremely small for such a bird, and is covered with thick fluffy down of a creamy-white colour ; bill and feet 
white. It was obtained at Dusky Bay, in April 1877, by Mr. Docherty, who presented it to the Museum. 
I have seen more advanced nestlings covered with greyish down. (See woodcut on page 191.) 
General remarks. In the peculiar form which constitutes the unique member of the genus Stringops the bill is 
