190 
admixture of yellow, and its delicate pale grey bill. This proved a far more satisfactory pet, and soon 
became attached to the surroundings of its new home. On our first interview, it gave me a seveie 
bite in the hand, fairly cutting out a piece of flesh ; but at the end of a day or two, on being taken 
from its cage, it would spring upon my arm, mount to the shoulder, and nibble my beard in a playful 
way. It would partake freely of almost any kind of food, eating as readily of fat mutton as of a 
green apple or potato ; but it seemed most at home when nibbling grass and other succulent herbage. 
It uttered at times a low grunt, and when excited a peculiar growling sound. It was sometimes 
allowed the freedom of the garden ; and on these occasions I have been much struck with its 
wonderful assimilation of colouring to the surrounding vegetation, it being quite impossible at a little 
distance to distinguish it, the singular distribution of green and brown markings in the plumage 
being very deceptive. 
To illustrate the extreme vitality of this Parrot, I may mention that on one occasion the 
Kakapo’s cage was left for a whole day in an outhouse where some painting operations had been 
carried on. The fumes of red lead and probably the absorption of the poison by the water which 
the bird had been drinking produced their natural effect ; and at nightfall the Kakapo was found at 
the bottom of his cage, lying on his side quite helpless and to all appearance in articulo mortis. 
Eestoration to fresh air, aided by a small quantity of spirit poured into his crop, brought the bird 
out of this state of asphyxia; and, although he continued very weak and tottery for twenty-four 
hours, he ultimately regained his full vigour and sprightliness. 
On its general conduct I find the following entry in my note-hook It is decidedly nocturnal in 
its habits, making for any dark corner or shaded recess immediately on being liberated from its cage. 
It walks in a measured deliberate way, and when hurried expedites its movements by flapping its 
wings. Sometimes it utters a scream not unlike that of the Kaka when excited or alarmed. It 
partakes freely of every kind of vegetable food : it nibbles grass, rolling up and detaching a blade at 
a time in a very deliberate manner ; it devours with avidity lettuce, ripe tomatoes, apples, and raw 
potatoes ; it sucks up the contents of ripe grapes with great relish ; and it is at all times ready to 
make a substantial meal off fat mutton or soaked bread; so that, in point of fact, the bird is 
omnivorous. 
It loves to move about among the herbage in our shrubbery, exploring with its bill and nibbling 
off the leaves, but never attempting to climb. In the evening it becomes more active in its move- 
ments, perambulating its cage when confined, and showing every inclination to be abroad. One 
night it succeeded in effecting its escape by twisting some of the wire bars, and after foraging about 
to its heart’s content it voluntarily returned before daylight to its prison-house, squeezing its body 
through the aperture it had made. 
Its distinguishing characteristic, however, is its playfulness. When not permitted to climb one s 
arm and “ make-believe ” at biting, it thrusts its head into the little tin drinking-vessel, visor-like, and 
struts about its cage, with every appearance of delight. 
On examining my captive Kakapo at night, by the aid of a candle, I was much struck with the 
resemblance of its general contour to that of the Laughing Owl. It had the same habit of standing 
almost bolt upright, with the feathers of the head raised and the brows arched, as if m an attitude of 
contemplation. I mention this as among the many superficial characters justifying the appellation 
of Owl Parrot. 
Mr. Kirk, the well-known botanist, informs me that this bird, as observed by him in captivity, 
evinces a great partiality for the male flowers of Finns pmaste ) . 
A specimen, sent to England by Mr. Murdoch, the Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, lived 
for a considerable time in the Zoological Society’s Gardens, but in the same retired way as its pre- 
decessor, closely concealing itself in its box by day, exhibiting itself to the public only under coercion 
of the keeper, and then manifesting the utmost impatience to regain its dark retreat. 
