128 MUTTON BIRDS 



actually touched by the talons of the Owl. When 

 reached by my finger exploring in the dark, this 

 survivor called out in mortal fear. 



The breeding chamber of this pair of Parra- 

 keets was about six feet from the ground and 

 possessed two entrances. It was from the lower 

 of these, that by sinking a leg into the hole and 

 groping with his talons, the Morepork had been 

 able to scoop out his victims. The other entrance 

 was twenty feet higher up, and the hen bird, 

 after feeding the youngsters and while btill shy 

 of me, would usually run up the perpendicular 

 bole and escape, as it were, by the chimney. 



This devastated nest, however, was never 

 photographed, for, whilst I was blocking the 

 lower hole to exclude the Morepork fiom any 

 further outrage, Leask sang out that he had 

 found another breeding hole. It was only a few 

 yards away, and next day a third was discovered. 

 These nests were within twenty or thirty 

 yards of one another, the first in a kamahi, those 

 discovered later in huge many branched iron- 

 woods. I do not remember any attempt at 

 im]:>rovement of the small natural hollows, 

 which need not moreover, possess a greater depth 

 of wood refuse, than will suffice to cushion the 

 •eggs. The young Parrakeets' staple shaped 

 droppings are perfectly dry and woody; and 

 even with a large family in so limited a space the 

 nest is sweet, and fresh, and odourless. 



I had obtained leave to cut all necessary trees; 

 and with the assistance of Leask and Gilfillan, 

 my companions of this trip, a most substantial 

 stage was soon in progress. The uprights and 

 €ross pieces were of ironwood, the stage and 

 screen of fern tree stems, and there, 'Timotheus 



