File:A history of the birds of New Zealand (5692703951).jpg

Order PSITTACI..
.Yam, STKINGOPID^.
STEINGOPS HABROPTILUS.
(OWL PARROT.)
Strigops habro^tilus, Gray, P.Z.S. 1847, p. 62.
Stringops hahroptilus^ Van der Hoeven, Handb. Zool. ii. p. 466 (1856).
Strigopsis hahroptilus^ Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 8 (1850).
Strir/omis JiahroBtihis. Schl. Mns. Pavs-Bas. Psittaci. r.. 107 ("1864).
Varieties.
r
Strigops greyi% Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 230.
Stringops grep, Finsch, Papag. i. p. 253 (1867)
Native names.
Kakapo and Tarepo; "Ground-Parrot" of the colonists.
Ad. viridis : plumis pilei dorsique medialiter pallide flavidis^ irregulariter nigricanti-brimneo transfasciatis et
transvermiculatis ; uropygii plumis Isetius viridescentibus : loris plumisque rictum obtectentibus pallide
fulvescenti-brunneis^ medialiter albicantibus : regione auriculari brunnea^ racliidibus plumarum fulve-
scentibus : facie laterali brunnea^ plumis medialiter late flavicantibus : remigibus nigricanti-brunneis^
primariis extus et intixs flavicante maculatis^ secundariis irregulariter flavido fasciatim variis et extus
olivasccnti-viridi lavatis : cauda olivascerLti-brunne&^ ubique nigricante fasciolata : subtiis magis flavicans,
viridi lavatus, abdomine puriiis flavicante : pectoris plumis pauUo nigricante variis^ hypochondriis magis
conspicue fasciatis : subalaribus olivascenti-flavis^ obscure brunneo fasciatis : subalaribus flavicantibus^
minoribus nigro variis : rostro flavicanti-albido, ad basin saturatiore : pedibus flavicanti-brunneis,
unguibus saturatioribus.
Adult. General colour of the upper surface dark sap-green^ brighter on the wings and lower part of back,
and largely varied with dark brown and yellow; on their under surface the feathers of these parts are
light verditer-green towards the tip, with a fine metallic lustre j on the crown and nape the centre of
each feather is blackish brown, with a narrow shaft-line of dirty yellow and a broad terminal band of
dull green ; on the back^ rump, and upper surface of the wings, each feather is silvery brown at the
base, pale lemon-yellow beyond, changing to sap-green on the sides and towards the tip, and crossed by
numerous broken bars and vermiculations of dark brown ; on the anterior portion of the back these bars
are regular and distinct, but on the other parts they are interrupted by a broad shaft-line of lemon-
yellow. These details of colouring, however, can only be observed when the plumage is disturbed, the
general eff'ect on the surface being as already described. The feathers at the base of the upper mandible,
lores, sides of face, and feathers projecting over the lower mandible dull yellowish brown, with darker
filaments; ear-coverts darker brown, mixed with yellow; fore neck, breast, and sides of the body yel-
lowish sap-green, varied with pale yellow and brown, the distribution of colouring on each individual
feather being the same as on the upper parts, but with more yellow down the shaft ; lower part of
abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts light greenish yellow, the longer coverts obscurely barred with
bght brown; lining of wings pale lemon-yellow, blotched and streaked with dark brown; primaries
dark brown, largely toothed on their outer webs with dull lemon-yellow, and on their inner with paler ;
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