66 



THE KEA. 



everything that could be broken was apparently broken very 

 carefully ; even the window frames had been attacked with 

 great diligence." 



Another case is told of these birds and their love of fun, 

 or mischief, as the case may be. 



"On a back country sheep run, a mule, packed with a 

 full load of stores and sundries for one of the out-stations, 

 was peacefully pursuing its way, when on a sudden a Kea 

 perched on the neck of the animal. The unexpected arrival 

 was too much for the gravity of the mule ; startled from its 



READY FOR MISCHIEF : Browning Pass. 



accustomed demure and patient demeanour, it plunged and 

 kicked till it had freed itself from the Kea as well as its 

 well-packed burden." 



A shepherd from the back country says that "Tents 

 get a fair amount of attention from the Kea. I have left 

 a tent in the morning in good order and condition ; and 

 when I returned, at the end of the day's muster, I have found 

 it torn beyond repair, and the birds seemed to be quite 



