110 THE KEA. 



is fond of the kidney fat, I do not consider that there is 

 enough evidence to show that this part of the beast is the 

 main attraction. 



This is supported by the fact that many cases are known 

 of sheep-killing where the fat is untouched. 



In July, 1907, I saw several sheep which had undoubtedly 

 been killed by the Kea, and, though the muscles along the 

 backbone had been torn off, the kidney fat was untouched. 



The birds appear in many cases to eat whatever part comes 

 first. Starting at the skin, they eat through the flesh, then on 

 to the fat. Often the fat is only partially eaten, while the 

 intestines have been pulled out and may be found dragging for 

 some distance on the ground. 



A correspondent states that one day he came suddenly upon 

 two or three Keas pecking at the loin of what he supposed was 

 a dead sheep. There was a hole in the sheep's back, and the 

 iDirds were putting their heads right through to the inside of 

 the animal and pulling out portions of the intestines. He went 

 over, and to his surprise found that the sheep was not dead : 

 he killed it to put it out of pain. 



It seems that the birds do not mind what part they eat 

 when they are hungry, so long as they obtain a meal. Mr. 

 Ewen Cameron, of Otago, gives the following instance:— "A 

 snow-slip carried some sheep with it, and I found a sheep stuck 

 in the snow, where it had landed, still alive, with its legs eaten 

 to the bone, and half a dozen Keas tearing away at him." 



The evidence that has been received up to date definitely 

 proves that the Kea does not kill the sheep for the sake of 

 the kidneys only, and I doubt very much if they are in any 

 way the source of attraction. As for the kidney fat being 

 the coveted delicacy, there is some evidence to support it ; 

 but there is good reason to believe that mechanical reasons 

 and not physiological ones determine the point of attack. 



The case of the Kea is certainly unique in the fact that 

 an insectivorous and fruit-eating parrot should develop the 

 characteristics of a bird of prey. But, when we understand 

 the reasons that led the bird to change its habit, much 'of the 

 ^wonder ceases. 



