312 SIGHT-SEEING IN NEW ZEALAND. 



mineral constituents, make them a constant delight and invigor- 

 ation. They are the attractions of hotels and health resorts 

 throughout a large extent of the country ; and they are assid- 

 uously advertised for this and that ailment of suffering humanity. 

 I however knew of them only as luxuries. 



This is the end of our excursion in one direction, and I will 

 not trouble you to return with me, nor to follow me later in cir- 

 cumnavigating the islands. After giving short accounts of a few 

 noteworthy things that attract a stranger's curiosity in these 

 distant lands, I will ask you to stop with me at a few of the 

 prominent cities and scenery resorts. But my descriptions will 

 be brief, and I hope your patience will bear with me to the end. 



A very singular native bird was one day pointed out to me, 

 the kea, of the parrot tribe. It has a large head with a muscular 

 neck and a very strong beak, which it formerly used only in dig- 

 ging up roots for a livelihood. But after sheep were introduced 

 on the islands, it got a taste, probably at the offal yards, of the 

 kidney fat of this much slaughtered animal. Then apparently, 

 as the supply was not quite regular enough to suit his parrotship, 

 he commenced to take sly observations of the way in which the 

 regular butchers opened up this delicious morsel ; and he soon 

 made up his mind that he could carve mutton as well as another. 

 So now he alights on the back of a sheep, tangles his claws in 

 the wool, and during a tearing ride to which he is then treated, 

 he digs into the flesh with his powerful beak, until the poor 

 bleeding victim falls exhausted and dying. But the cruel bird 

 reaches his dainty delicacy, and the crows get the benefit of the 

 rest of the feast. The kea has become an intolerable nuisance to 

 sheep-raisers, and very considerable rewards are offered for his 

 little kit of tools. 



It is perfectly surprising to see how foreign weeds and bram- 

 bles, that have been introduced into this country, have multiplied 

 and overrun everything. The English gorse, or furze-bush, that 

 in its native islands is a very well behaved bramble, when taken 

 to New Zealand for a hedge- plant, soon overleaped all bounds, 

 and now has to be fought with lire and sword. I saw whole 

 fields given up to it, perfectly impenetrable tangles. The little 



