184 Bird-Song : and New Zealand Song Birds 
Family: Nestoridae 
THE PARROTS 
There are two birds of this family in New Zealand: 
Nestor meridionalis 
Nestor notabiiis 
the brown parrot 
the mountain parrot 
kaka 
kea 
The kaka -Olive-brown; top of head grey; abdomen and 
over the tail purplish red; at the back of the neck a riim 0 f 
yellowish-red; inner webs of the primaries bounded with red • 
eye darx brown. The sexes are alike. The young may be 
distinguished by the red feathers on the under-surface of the 
wing being barred with brown. Total length 18* in., of which 
the tail is 7 m. 
nefriy S l~H° UrPm>e Whit6 ‘ Length a little over H in - 5 breadth, 
V\ est. Eggs laid on pulverized wood in a hollow tree. 
Having been scarcely at all in any locality where the kaka 
might be observed, I have very little to say on the subject of its 
ca s or song. Moreover, the great majority of those who know 
the vociferous kaka will deny that such a raucous-voiced bird 
has any song at all. The words of Guthrie-Smith, (GM pp 80-1) 
the best observer, next to Potts, of the habits of our birds, may 
lowever, be quoted: “.I got a glimpse of another side of the 
kaka s nature. Twice when she sidled down the totara sapling 
sie crooned very softly to the chicks the most delightful little 
song, mellow and musical, with the liquid low notes of flute and 
mo m. Before this I had begun to believe her only curious and 
cold; but now when I saw her moved, it was impossible to doubt 
her feelings towards her young. With claws gripping the rough 
o ara arleaning forward to the utmost, and peering into 
the hollow where sat the grey twins, this effortless music was 
poured over them like a benediction. As I listened, bending to 
catch the low flow of sound, there seemed to be in it something 
