Identifier: transactionsproc19newz (find matches)
Title: Transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand Institute
Year: 1886 (1880s)
Authors: New Zealand Institute
Subjects: Science
Publisher: Wellington : J. Hughes, Printer
Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MBLWHOI Library

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kept in confinement by tbe Maoris, I have noticed afew with very deformed upper mandibles ; those birds had beenkept by them for several years, and were aged, and being fedonly (and sparingly!) on soft vegetable food, generally cookedpotatoes, their bills, from want of their regular natural attritionon the harder substances of the forest, became overgrown anddeformed. Indeed, the poor prisoners had not the commonchance allowed them of biting and tearing their perch, or anywood (and this from mere thoughtlessness and carelessness, orlong-continued custom, on the part of their Maori owners), forthey were invariably kept fastened by a bone ring or carved * The finding of those birds here, far away from the forests and closeto the soa-bcach, is opposed to Dr. BuUers statement as to their narrowrestricted mountain-forest habitat, (^loc. cit., p. 21.) t See Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xiv., p. 54, for a pleasing anecdoteconcerning him. l^mnsatJions !f sur ;tsnlanh litstituta^ Voi. XIX., Pi.IX.
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\ CURIOUSLY DEFORMED BILL OF HUM. CoLENSo.—On a New Species of Hemideina. 145 circlet aronud one leg, and thus tied securely, but loosely, witha strong short cord to a slender polished cylindrical hard-woodspear, up and down which, for the space of 2 or 3 feet, the poorbird ran and danced and flapped his wings, always withoutwater, and frequently in the hot burning sun, without any shade.These birds, however, were of great use to their owners fordecoying other parrots for food, which through their meanswere often at set seasons slaughtered in large numbers. Now, from all those interesting facts and observations rela-tive to the habits and economy of the Huia, we may, I think,gather:—1. That these birds are quiet and social. 2. Thatthey keep together in sexual pairs, and are therefore likely to bemonogamous. 3. That the cock and hen are greatly attached toeach other. 4. That they naturally and mutually help in theirsearch after their own proper food. 5. That they can and do,without

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