CHAPTER XL 



THE DAMAGE DONE. 



Ay ! lu this realm of seemiug rest 



What sights you meet aud sounds of dread ! 



— Alfkkd Domett. 



It is no wonder that in the early days people came tO' 

 look upon the Kea as a terrible menace to the sheep-farming- 

 industry of New Zealand, for some of the stories told and 

 published about its depredations are enough to stop any 

 sheep farmer from settling in the country. 



Not only did the man on the sheep station put down 

 most of the annual loss among the flocks to the unfortunate 

 bird, but several standard books published such exaggerated 

 and false stories that one can only wonder how they were 

 ever credited. 



Unfortunately, these idle tales are still believed, and are 

 quoted in other parts of the world against the Kea. 



Here are some of the worst. 



The late Mr. Potts, in his book "Out in the Open," 

 says: — "On one outlying portion of a lake run the birds 

 were so destructive that, although there were 30,000 acres of 

 good grass land, the occupiers decided not to place stock 

 upon it ; the losses had been so great that it was found 

 better to abandon the country." 



The late Sir W. Buller, in his "History of New Zealand 

 Birds," says: — "In some parts of the country the Kea 

 menace has risen to such a pitch that the run-holders have 

 been fairly driven off the country." 



He also publishes the following newspaper report: — "Mr. 

 D. A. Cameron, one of our oldest run-holders in the Lake 

 Country, Otago, is throwing up his run at the Nokomai,. 



