[896-97-] The Kea, or Neiv Zealand Parrot. 



273 



time he made lengthened journeys upon the Continent, in- 

 quiring about, and purchasing, alcine remains. He also wrote 

 several papers upon the same subject. 



The late Lord Lilford was fourth Baron, and was born in 

 1833, and died 17th June 1896. He was an enthusiastic 

 naturalist, amongst his writings being the ' Coloured Figures 

 of the Birds of the British Isles,' and his last, and perhaps 

 most important work, the ' Birds of Northamptonshire.' He 

 made a fine collection of Great Auk remains, the major part of 

 which is now in the Cambridge Museum. 



[All changes that have taken place in regard to alcine 

 remains, so far as noticed by me to 31st July 1897, are men- 

 tioned in the above paper. — S. G-.] 



At this meeting Dr Sprague read a Note " On the Occur- 

 rence of the Fresh-water Mussel (Anodonta cygnea) in Dun- 

 sappie Loch." 



IX.— THE KEA, OR NEW ZEALAND PARROT. 

 By Mr TOM SPEEDY. 



(Read April 28, 1897.) 



When a paper is read to this Society, it is generally with the 

 view of imparting information to its members. The present 

 one, however, may be regarded as an exception, as I am ignor- 

 ant of the habits of the bird it refers to except by information 

 at second hand. My object in submitting the paper to you at 

 all is to acquire knowledge from those of you who may have 

 been in New Zealand and have seen the bird in its native 

 habitat. I have written to a friend who has charge of a large 

 pastoral district in that country to secure for me a younw kea, 

 which I hope to keep as a pet, and at some future date exhibit 

 at a meeting of this Society. I have been told that these birds 

 make interesting though mischievous pets. 



