The NESTOR COCKATOO (_Nestor productus_) represents a very remarkable
tribe of parrots, recognisable by their extraordinarily elongated beak
and sickle-shaped upper mandible, which projects far beyond the lower.
The tail is of middle size, the points of the tail-feathers being in some
places denuded of their web, and the wings, when closed, reach nearly to
the middle of the tail. The tarsus is decidedly higher, and the plumage
harsher and more imbricated than in other Cockatoos. In our specimen it
is much variegated, the upper part of the body is brown, the head and
back of the neck mottled with grey, each of the feathers covering these
parts being bordered with a darker shade. The under part of the body
and tail-covers are of a deep red; the breast, throat, and cheeks, are
yellow, the latter having a reddish tint; the tail-feathers are orange at
the root, and striped with brown: the inner web of the quills is dark red
and brown; the bare place round the eyes, the legs, and the cere, are of
an olive brown; the beak is brown; and the eye a very dark brown. Both
sexes are similarly coloured, but the young are of a dark olive brown on
the breast, instead of being adorned with the red and gold that decks
their parents.
The Nestor Cockatoos are not only striking in their appearance, but
lead a somewhat remarkable life; they are confined to a very limited
district, only inhabiting New Zealand and the neighbouring islands.
The bird we have just described is only found on Philip's Island, the
circumference of which does not exceed five miles; and Gould informs us
that people living for many years on Norfolk Island, at about four or
five miles distance, have never seen it. The extremely limited extent
of the habitat of this species is very unpromising as regards its
preservation, and it will doubtless soon share the fate of the DRONTE;
since the cultivation of the island, it has been periodically hunted, and
its days are numbered; probably it is already extinct, as we have seen
nothing of it for several years. The rocky parts of the island, partially
covered with trees, form, or rather _did_ form, its favourite resort;
here it passes its time, principally upon the ground, seeking for roots,
which it digs up with its beak, at least, so we imagine, as the bill is
often found covered with earth, and, indeed, we can well believe that so
remarkable an instrument may be employed for this purpose. According to
some naturalists it sucks nectar, although its tongue does not, like that
of the Lory, end in a tuft, but has only a nail-like horny plate at the
tip, closely resembling the nail upon a human finger. The hard nuts that
other parrots enjoy are avoided by the Nestor, whose beak is not strong
enough to break the shell. Gould saw one of these birds in the possession
of Major Andrews, in Sydney; it was a cheerful, lively companion, and
seemed fully inclined to attract the attention of strangers. Its habits
differed considerably from those of other parrots, and its owner did not
keep it in a cage, but allowed it to fly about the entrance-hall. We are
told of another tame Nestor that it had a great fondness for green food,
and would pick the leaves of lettuce and other juicy plants. The voice of
this bird has a harsh, quavering, snarling sound, much reminding us of
the barking of a dog. As regards its propagation, we only know that it is
said to lay four eggs in some hole in a tree.