Of this genus two species are known, one of which was exclusively confined to Phillip Island, and the other inhabits New Zealand; they are evidently the remains of a race, all the other members of which are probably extinct.
| 367. Nestor productus, Gould | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 6. |
The few examples of this species that may exist in captivity are all that survive, none remaining on Phillip Island, their native habitat.
Genus Calyptorhynchus, Vig. & Horsf.
The Calyptorhynchi are strictly arboreal, and are evidently formed to live upon the seeds of the Banksiæ, Eucalypti, and other trees peculiar to the country they inhabit; they diversify their food by occasionally devouring large caterpillars; as they mostly move about in small companies of from four to six in number they can scarcely be considered gregarious. Their flight is rather powerful, but at the same time laboured and heavy; and their voice is a low crying call, totally different from the harsh screaming notes of the Cacatuæ. Each division of the country, from the north coast of the continent to Van Diemen’s Land, is inhabited by its own peculiar species.
I have never seen a member of this genus from any other country than Australia, but I have heard that an extraordinary Parrot, said to be larger than any at present in our collections, inhabits New Guinea, and which, from the description given of it, will probably be of this form. The Calyptorhynchi lay from two to four eggs in the holes of trees.
| 368. Calyptorhynchus Banksii | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 7. |
| 369. Calyptorhynchus macrorhynchus, Gould | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 8. |
Inhabits the north coast, where it represents the C. Banksii of the eastern and the C. naso of the western coasts.
| 370. Calyptorhynchus naso, Gould | [Vol. V. ] Pl. 9. |
This species, which is confined to Western Australia, is rendered conspicuous by the small size of its crest, and by its bill being nearly as large as that of C. macrorhynchus, while its wings are much shorter than those of that species.