CHAPTER XII. 



KEA HUNTING. 



The spearg-rass crackles uiiiler the billy and overhead is the 



winter snn ; 

 There's snow on the hills, there's frost in the ?ully, that 



minds me of thing's that I've seen and done. 



I mind the time when the snow was drifting' and Billy and 



me was out for the uig'ht — 

 We lay in the lee of a rock, and waited, huug'ry and cold, 



for the morning' light. 



— DaVIH MC'KeE WitlGHT. 



When it was discovered that the Kea was probably 

 responsible for the annual loss of a large number of sheep, 

 men at once set to work to try to exterminate him. 



Incited by the sheep-owner and encouraged by the 

 Government, an organised massacre was begun, and has 

 continued during the last forty years, resulting in the 

 slaughter of thousands of these interesting birds. 



At first nearly every shepherd and musterer carried 

 fire-arms, and while going about their work they lost no 

 opportunity of shooting any Keas that came within gunshot. 

 The half-crown per head given by the sheep-owner did much 

 to stimulate the shooting. When, however, owing to being 

 much hunted, the Kea became difficult to approach, the men 

 were unable to afford the necessary time to stalk the bird, 

 and other means of keeping down the pest had to be 

 adopted. 



The station-owners then employed men whose sole duty 

 was to kill Keas and rabbits. The position was no 

 sinecure, for only the strong, agile and fearless could 

 undertake the work. 



The hunters were usually supplied with fire-arms, 

 ammunition, food, horses, etc., and besides receiving a weekly 

 wage they were paid so much per head for all Keas shot. 



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