HAUNTS AND HABITS. 37 



And again, is it likely that a bird would make its home in 

 a wilderness of snow and ice when there are better places 

 for nesting, lower down the mountain, among the very 

 vegetation from which it obtains its natural food ? 



From what I have personally seen of the Kea's home, it 

 is not a place of eternal ice and snow, but a spot that, in 

 fine weather at all events, is unsurpassed for beauty and 

 situation. 



Below is the ever vernal forest, with all its beautiful tints 

 of green, covering the mountain slopes down to the bottom 

 of the valley, where an entrancing panorama of lake, river 

 and flat spreads out before the eye. 



Above, the craggy peaks pierce a sky of exquisite blue ; 

 while under foot the sub-alpine flora, in all its quaint 

 beauty, forms a carpet of cushion-like plants, dotted over 

 with small white flowers, like so many stars shining in an 

 emerald sky. Away from the heat of the valley, with a 

 wide, grand outlook and a life-giving atmosphere, the bird 

 has surroundings to be coveted. Sometimes it rises and 

 circles the snowy peaks, but more often it swoops down to 

 wiiere the forest and river-bed meet, and revels among the 

 foliage. 



A good deal of support has been given to the Kea's 

 alleged preference for snow and ice by the fact that travellers, 

 when climbing the Alps, often see the parrot soaring round, 

 and they too readily conclude that this must be its natural 

 environment. 



It seems to me that nothing could be more natural than 

 that a bird of such known inquisitiveness and keen sight 

 should fly up and investigate the dark figure of the climber 

 as he makes his way over the snow and ice. 



Sir W. Buller, as early as 1888, made very clear the 

 Kea's true habitat. He says, "I have seen it soaring or 

 flying, often in parties of three or more, from peak to 

 peak, high above the wooded valley ; but it is more 

 generally to be met with on the open mountain side, 

 flying from rock to rock, or hopping along the ground 

 amongst the stunted alpine vegetation, in quest of its 

 natural food." 



