* Sydney Porter—Notes on the Cyanorhamphus Parrakeets 275


£500, which, needless to say, was quite beyond my means, so

I reluctantly had to give up the project.


I very much regret to say that I fear the numbers of this bird have

been greatly reduced by the members of a certain American expedition

which has been ravaging the islands of the Pacific for several years and

almost wiping out whole species of birds. This expedition collected

many skins of this species, and from what I heard of the brutal slaughter

by the members of the expedition of this isolated type its fate is certainly

in the balance.


The death knell of various rare island species is certainly sounded

when such expeditions as these pursue their depredations unchecked.

Instead of assisting ornithological research they appear to be hampering

it, at least for future generations. They have left such a name behind

them that they will never be allowed to collect again in many of the

British Islands, especially New Zealand.


During my visit to Stewart Island and the outlying islands I saw

something of the terrible seas of those parts, and it is little wonder

that few ships ever call at the bleak islands in the far south. The

great marvel is that a Parrot has been able to adapt itself to such severe

conditions as prevail on the island on which it is found. As mentioned

before, it is very unlikely that the bird will ever be seen alive again by

aviculturists in Europe, for with the stopping of the Government

steamer and the total closing of the seal-killing season there is no reason

for any ship to brave the terrible gales which rage in those seas.


The Antipodes Island Parrakeet is completely terrestrial and lives

on the ground amongst the tussock grass, feeding upon the seeds of the

grass. The very boisterous winds have made flight almost impossible

for this bird, and it is very feeble on the wing, though it can run and

climb about the rocks with the greatest agility.


W. R. B. Oliver, who has seen the bird in its native haunts, tells us

in his book New Zealand Birds that this Parrakeet “ is a ground bird

which walks and climbs but seldom takes wing. It is found among the

tussocks and scrub and also on the rocks along the shore, including the

breeding places of the Penguins. It is quite fearless and makes a low

chattering sound as it walks about. It breeds in holes in the thick

matted bases of the grass tussocks ”,



