1896-97O The Kea, or New Zealand Parrot. 275 



station, picking right through the loins in order to reach the 

 kidney fat. It must have regarded this as a delicacy, as it 

 subsequently attacked the living sheep. While this theory is 

 a plausible one, I do not by any means vouch for its accuracy ; 

 but the fact remains that the bird in question became, like 

 the rabbit, a serious pest to New Zealand farmers. Like 

 vultures round the Towers of Silence in India, the kea hung 

 about the stations, feeding upon the offal. Their education 

 quickly progressed, for, as already mentioned, they soon 

 attacked the living sheep for the purpose of tearing out the 

 kidney fat. To such an extent did their depredations increase, 

 that instances are recorded of stock-holders being ruined, and 

 having to leave their farms in consequence — as many as a 

 thousand sheep having been destroyed on a small area in one 

 year, while scores were sometimes killed in a single night. I 

 am inclined to accept this statement, however, with the pro- 

 verbial pinch of salt. 



The kea's mode of attack is to single out a sheep, and to 

 chase and harass it, as I have seen an eagle do with deer, till 

 it is exhausted. Then with its pick -axe beak it tears a 

 hideous wound through the loins till its ghastly work is 

 completed. 



As in the case of the rabbit-plague, the depredations of this 

 bird attracted the attention of the New Zealand Government, 

 and a price was put upon its head, by which means they were 

 speedily reduced in numbers. Even yet, however, farmers 

 reward their shepherds for destroying them. 



The first announcement of this strange development of 

 character in the kea was made in the ' Otago Daily Times ' 

 newspaper in the following terms. After referring to the new 

 disease among sheep, there being always found a patch of raw 

 flesh on the loin, it goes on to say : — 



At last a shepherd noticed a mountain parrot sticking to a sheep, and 

 pecking at a sore, and the animal seemed unable to get rid of its tormentor. 

 A watch was kept on the birds, with the result that a number were observed 

 surrounding a sheep, alighting on its back in turns, tearing out the wool, 

 and making the sheep bleed till it ran from the rest of the flock, 

 when they pursued it till exhausted. This is generally practised at an 

 altitude of from 4000 to 5000 feet, and only in winter. 



In another newspaper of the colony it is stated that a foal 



