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snow It is a striking fact that, with the exception only of the valley of the river Makarora, 
forming Lake Wanaka, I never found the Kakapo on the eastern side of the Alps, although extensive 
Fagus - forests exist there also. It appears to have crossed the main chain at the low wooded pass 
which leads from the source of the Haast to that of the Makarora, and reached the mouth of this 
river at Lake Wanaka, where probably the absence of forest put a stop to its further advance. It is 
very abundant in the valley of the last-mentioned river, and is found even in the Makarora bush, 
notwithstanding that numerous sawyers are at work there. When camped on the borders of that 
forest, we continually heard its call near our tents ; but none of the sawyers had any idea of the 
existence of such a large bird in their neighbourhood, although the irregular shrill call had sometimes 
attracted their attention. It also occurs in the valley of the Wilkin, but is less numerous there, 
which may be accounted for by the existence of wild dogs in this locality. We may therefore safely 
assume that from the junction of this river with the Makarora the Kakapo ascended toward tne 
sources of the former. In the valley of the Hunter, only divided by a mountain-range of great 
altitude but with some low saddles, no sign of it was to be observed, although large TtqyMS-forests 
would appear to offer a propitious abode This bird has hitherto been pronounced to be of 
true nocturnal habits ; but I think, from observations I was able to make, that this opinion ought to 
be somewhat modified. It is true that generally an hour after sunset, the dense foliage of the forest 
giving additional darkness to the country, its call began to be heard all around us. It then com- 
menced to rove about, and, attracted by the glare of our camp-fire, frequently came close to our tent, 
when the heedless bird was immediately caught by our dog. But as we met with it on two occasions 
in the daytime, occupied in feeding, and as I observed that it knew and understood perfectly well the 
danger which approached, we may safely assume that it has, at least in this respect, some relation to 
diurnal birds. In order to show why I come to this conclusion, I will particularize the two occur- 
rences I have mentioned, especially as they appear to bear directly upon some other important points 
in the structure of this bird. When returning from the west coast, we observed, in the afternoon 
(the sky being clouded), a Kakapo sitting on the prostrate trunk of a tree in the open forest. When 
about ten yards from it, the bird observed us, and disappeared instantly in its hole, from which, with the 
aid of the dog, we afterwards took it. It is clear that in this case the bird was not overtaken by the 
coming day, when far away from its abode, but that it left its retreat voluntarily during daylight. 
The second instance I shall mention is more striking, and shows that the Kakapo feeds also during 
the day. It was towards evening, but still broad daylight, when we passed along the hill-side near a 
deep rocky gorge, and saw a large Kakapo sitting on a low fuchsia tree, about ten feet from the 
ground, feeding on the berries. When close to it, the bird saw us, and instantly dropped down, as if 
shot, and disappeared amongst the huge fragments of rocks strewed along the hill-side. But the 
most remarkable circumstance was, that the frightened bird did not open its wings to break its fall, 
but dropped as if it did not possess any wings at all In order to see whether they would 
fly, or even flutter, when pursued by an enemy, I placed on the ground a full-grown specimen, which 
had been caught by the dog without being hurt. It was on a large shingle-bed ; so that the bird 
had ample room for running or rising on the wing, if for this purpose it wanted space. I was not a 
little astonished to observe that it only started running towards the nearest point of the forest, where 
a dark shadow was apparent — and quicker than I had expected, considering the position of its toes 
and its clumsy figure, resembling closely a Gallinaceous bird in its movements. As I was standing 
sideways to it, I thought that it kept its wings closed upon its body, so little were they opened ; but 
my companion, who was equally anxious to see how our prisoner would try to escape, and who stood 
a little behind it, observed that it opened its wings slightly, but without flapping them in any degree, 
using them apparently more for keeping its balance than for accelerating its movements. This would 
almost lead to the conclusion that the Kakapo does not travel far, especially as I have already shown 
