NESTING. 



49 



It was ideal weather to see the Kea, but certainly not 

 the weather one would have chosen for a long ride on 

 horseback in order to take photographs on an open mountain 

 side. 



We were away in good time ; and, with my camera 

 protected with sacks, we slowly made our way over the 

 saddle that separated us from the Mathias River. We crossed 

 the summit in the face of a biting wind, and took the track 

 leading down to the river flat. This was steep and 







d^K 



-J#e^ 



NATURAL ENTRANCE TO A KEA RUN : The hole ooes ten 



FEET INTO THE ROCK. 



slippery, and it was only the surefootedness of the horses 

 that prevented nasty falls. Once down on to the river-bed, _we 

 found the air less keen ; but the sleet and low hanging clouds 

 made the scene lonely and depressing. "Just the weather," 

 remarked Mr. Urquhart to me, " for the Keas to kill sheep." 

 For a long time we rode on, with the river on one side and 



