202 
BIRD-LIFE. 
islands lying in the Pacific Ocean as one continent, with 
the exception of such as border on Asia and Africa, we 
find that this continent must be classed with the Old 
World; for its animal kingdom has more in common 
with Asia and Africa than it has with America. The 
Southern Archipelago is rich in characteristic birds. To 
begin with the noblest of them all, I will speak first of 
the Cockatoos, which form a group in sharp contrast 
to Parrots, and are remarkable for their manifold species. 
The true Cockatoos are found in the Malacca and Philip¬ 
pine Islands, and also in New Guinea. The Black 
Cockatoos belong to Australia; the Ground Cockatoo 
and the Night Parrot frequent the several islands near 
this continent. Amongst these, the Night Parrot or 
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus ) is unquestionably the most 
remarkable, for it holds the same position with reference 
to Parrots that the Owl does to the Falcon. Its home is 
confined to New Zealand, and, at the present day, to the 
southernmost island of this group. There it frequents 
the lofty forests of the alpine valleys, and, differing from 
all other individuals of its order, it lives in hollows under 
the roots of trees, or in the clefts of huge rocks, hiding 
itself all day, and only emerging after sunset. Its ways 
and habits remind us of certain owls which, like it, lurk in 
hollow places ; in movements it resembles the Gallinacese. 
It is, altogether, one of the most singular birds known. 
The Southern Archipelago may be considered as the 
true home of the Parrot-tribe, and in no other part 
of the world do we find this class so well represented. 
This is further shown by the Lories—Parrots, most 
brilliant in plumage, and known from of old. Unlike 
others of the family, they subsist almost entirely 
on fruit, and, in some degree, upon the nectareous 
