Zoological Society. 55 expressly on faithfulness of execution and personal observation, there should not be here and there some little matter for criticism, but it will be found that with that nicety of tact which is so charac-teristic of her sex, Mrs. Hussey has avoided in general such diffi-culties. Of the original drawings of Mrs. Hussey and her sister it is impos-sible to speak too highly ; many of them are so exquisite as to be positively fit for public exhibition, and so characteristic that it is im-possible not at once to recognise the species. These are reproduced faithfully by the lithographer, but there is a certain want of force about the lithographs which does not do justice to the originals. This and some other points connected with the editorial department will we doubt not be improved in the course of publication. Meanwhile we recommend the work most cordially to our readers, who will find accurate and beautiful illustration combined with much practical and interesting matter, especially as regards the culinary use of these neglected but by no means despicable objects. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, April 13, 1847. — Wm. Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. Notes on some rare Birds of New Zealand and Australia. By Mr. F. Strange, in a letter to John Gould, Esq., F.R.S. etc " Strigops habroptilus, G. R. Gray. — The Ka-ka-po, or Night Parrot of the New Zealanders, is an inhabitant of the western side of the Middle island, and like the Kiivi-kiwi or Apteryx is strictly noc-turnal in its habits, and never leaves its retreat during the dny ; its usual place of resort consists of burrows, formed by itself, beneath the roots of large trees or under immense pieces of rock, whence they cannot, even by the natives, be easily dug out. Its food consists of fern-roots, which it digs up with its bill, and the outer covering of the leaves of flax, which it obtains by drawing the leaves between the mandibles and leaving the flax behind. They are not gregarious, more than two never being found together, except a pair of young ones, which appear to stop with the old birds until they have attained the size of their parents. This is one of the birds the natives set great store by, the head being cut off, strung by the nostrils, and worn in the ears on their grand feast-days. It is known to the sealers by the name of the Green Bird of New Zealand. " Apteryx Australis. — Kiwi-kiwi of the New Zealanders. I am told that a second species of Apteryx is to be found on the Middle island, that it stands about three feet high ; it is called by the sealers the Fireman. Aware, from your figures and description, that the sexes differ considerably in size, I pointed this out to my informant ; but he still persisted that there are two species, in confirmation of which opinion he added, that he had taken the eggs of the two birds,
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