118 THE KEA. 



with the remnants of his fortune from that plague-infested 

 region. 



Such would be the idea given to the reader from 

 perusing these accounts ; yet, when we look into the question, 

 nine-tenths of the stories seem to be absolutely false. At any 

 rate, not a piece of evidence can be found to-day in support 

 of these wild tales. 



In order to test for myself the truth of these statements 

 made by early writers, I asked for information through the 

 newspapers that circulate in the very country mentioned by 

 them. 



KEA COUNTRY : Lake Ada, Arthur Valley, near Milford Sound. 



By this method, and by writing personally, the following 

 replies have been received : — 



Mr. W. E. Stevens, M.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., Kurow, says :— 

 " I know nothing about the throwing up of -the Nokomai run 

 through the depredations of the Kea in 1880, or of any runs 

 about the cold lakes district." 



Mr. W. Robinson says: — "I have to inform you that Mr. 



