DISTRIBUTION. 139 



Government Steamer, " Hinemoa," told me that he saw one 

 flying along the beach at Bruce Bay itself. 



To the east they have come down to the edge of the 

 plains, and south almost to the coast line. The only 

 direction in which the birds can now extend is north into 

 Nelson and Marlborough ; and, though the Keas' northernmost 

 limit remained at the head waters of the Esk and Hurunui 

 Rivers for about forty years after their discovery, there has 

 been during the last few years a spreading into these two 

 northern provinces. The stations around Hanmer have been 

 troubled with Keas for some years, and in 1903 Mr. Edward 

 Kidson, while climbing Mt. Robert near Lake Roto-iti, Nelson, 

 saw one at close quarters. This spot is about 40 miles south- 

 west of Nelson city and 40 miles north of Hanmer. Mr H. 

 M. Bryant, who was accompanying Mr. Kidson at the time 

 and has done a lot of mountaineering in the Nelson 

 province, states that he had never before seen one in that 

 district; while the late owner of the station at Mt. Robert 

 told him that it was the first time that a Kea had been 

 seen on his run. 



Through the kindness of Mr. G. R. Kidson, I am able to 

 record two other instances in the Nelson province. In 1904 

 a Kea was caught by Mr. A. G. Hammond at Appleby, only 

 thirteen miles south-west of Nelson city, and in the same 

 year Mr. T. S. Rowling caught one at Riwaka, a few miles 

 north of Motueka, about 50 miles north-west of Nelson and 

 95 miles north of Hanmer. 



This is at present the northernmost limit of the Kea's area 

 of distribution, which may be defined on the north as reaching 

 the shores of Cook Strait. 



Through the aid of Mr. T. E. Currie, I can now publish 

 reports of the Kea's presence in the Marlborough province, 

 where before it was practically unknown, showing that in 

 addition to travelling up north-west through Nelson, they are 

 also travelling up north-east through Marlborough. 



In January, 1906, one was found at the head of the 

 Waihopai River, at a place known as the Glazebrook Whare. 



Again, in May, 1906, one was seen on the Tarndale 



