48 THE KEA. 



than a charge of blasting powder would suffice to force an 

 entrance. 



It is a mistake to suppose that the Kea builds always in 

 such inaccessible positions, though they seem to be the 

 favourite places. The choice is influenced to a large extent 

 by the nature of the surrounding country. 



If the mountain sides are pierced by these long narrow 

 tunnels, running for many feet into the rock, these are 

 used ; but, if they are net available, the Kea makes use of 

 whatever comes to hand, such as a cairn of stones or a hole 

 in a clay bank. 



Even as late as 1882 its egg was unknown to science, and 

 Mr. Potts at that time said it was yet to be described. Even 

 to-day Kea's eggs are scarce, and one collector has a standing 

 ■offer to pay £1 per egg. 



Though there are several rough descriptions of Kea's nests 

 already published, I have never seen a description that goes 

 into much detail ; and, as far as I know, there were no 

 photographs of nests until those I got were secured. 



In order to see a nest myself, and also to procure some 

 photographs of the tunnels in which the Kea builds, I made an 

 -excursion up the Rakaia Gorge, into the heart of the 

 Southern Alps, in July of 1907. 



Through the kindness of Mr. R. Urquhart, the manager 

 of the Mt. Algidus Station, I was able to make my 

 headquarters at that homestead, one of the centres of the 

 Kea-infested districts. In 1906 Mr. Urquhart had discovered 

 a nest in a gorge, and, as it was practically undamaged, he 

 had offered to lead me to the spot if I could pay him a 

 visit. 



The day of our excursion was preceded by a night of 

 heavy hail and snow storms, which swept round the 

 homestead with terrific force. The morning broke wet and 

 gloomy, and the whole adjacent country was enveloped in 

 driving clouds and sleet. Nothing could be seen of the 

 mountain ranges that hemmed us in on every side, except 

 their wooded bases, over which torrents of muddy water 

 streamed down to the valley. 



