CHAPTER VI. 



EARLY RECORDS. 



Like a Ijlack hawk swooping 



I shall wliii-1 upou the Southern Island, 



Sweei) it with my name as with a tempest, 



Overrun it like a play of sunlight, 



Sigh across it like a flame, till Terror 



Runs before me shrieking ! 



— Arthcb H. Adams. 



It was not until about ten years after the discovery of the 

 Kea that the bird began to acquire the bad habit that has 

 since been its downfall and can end only in its complete 

 extermination. From being one of the least known of our 

 avifauna, its name soon became a by-word throughout the 

 Dominion, and its specific cognomen fnotdhiUs) became only 

 too appropriate. 



When killing sheep for home consumption, on the Lake 

 Wanaka Station, North -West Otago, in 1867, the shepherds 

 noticed from time to time what they took to be a new disease 

 on the loins of the animals ; and during shearing in 1868 

 these mysterious scars were again observed. 



On close examination the supposed disease revealed 

 severe wounds in different stages of healing or festering. 



On some sheep there was merely a patch of bare skin, but 

 on others there was either a half-healed wound or a raw patch 

 of festering flesh, while others again had each a large 

 hole torn in the side, from which the entrails were often 

 protruding. 



Many a long discussion was held as to who the culprit 

 could be, but no one could thrown any light on the mystery. 

 One man did suggest that the Kea might be the author of the 

 damage, but he was ridiculed so unmercifully that he 

 thought it wise not to repeat his suggestion. 



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