29 
be seen together, flying and circling about high above the 
tree-tops, uttering their loud screams, and apparently bent 
on convivial amusement. 
It is a favourite pet with the Maoris, and every native village 
has its tame Kaka, which is trained as a decoy-bird. 
It nests in hollow trees, laying four eggs, somewhat sphe¬ 
rical in form, and pure white with a glossy surface. 
Very beautiful varieties are sometimes met with, some 
having the entire plumage yellow with red facings, or orange 
and scarlet. The specimen in Case IX. (No. 14) represents 
Yon Haast’s Nestor montanus , from the Alpine district of the 
South Island. 
2. Nestor notabilis, Gould. Mountain Parrot. “ Kea.” 
(Case II. Nos. 21, 30, 3G, and 52 : male and female.) 
This is essentially a mountain species, inhabiting the 
rugged slopes of the Southern Alps, and descending to the 
plains only during severe winters, when its customary haunts 
are covered with snow and its means of subsistence have 
consequently failed. 
The most interesting feature in the history of this bird is 
the extraordinary manner in which, under the changed con¬ 
ditions of the country, it has developed a carnivorous habit. 
It attacks the living sheep, and always in one part of the 
body, tearing out and devouring the kidney-fat, and inflicting 
injuries that generally prove fatal. So destructive, indeed, 
has this Parrot become on the sheep-runs that the Govern¬ 
ment has been induced to offer a bonus of so much per head 
for killing them. 
Fam. STEINGQPIDiE. 
Genus STItINGOPS. (Peculiar to New Zealand.) 
1. Strimgops iiabroptilus, Gray, ^Kakapo^ of the Maoris; 
