Some interesting exhibits of birds were shown by Sir James Hector, amongst which were two Rosella Parrots.

This gaily coloured bird is a native of Australia, but a few, escaped from captivity, have multiplied in the North Island. In New Zealand the bird is apparently taking to a ground life, with the result that a native variety far less adapted for flight than its Australian progenitor is already being developed.

Another curiosity was a sparrow with a deformed beak, the upper mandible being of extraordinary length and curved downwards, giving the head of the bird the appearance of that of a miniature female huia.