THE STORY OF THE KEA 265 



and experiences of the early pioneers, given in 

 the letter from one of them printed above, are 

 here corroborated in almost every detail. 



The nesting of the bird was unknown when 

 it was first discovered, and so remained for 

 many years. It is, indeed, only quite recently 

 that its nest and breeding habits, which so long 

 evaded research, have become known. The 

 nest is placed far within deep recesses and 

 crevices of cliffs and rocks that are always 

 remote and often inaccessible; in 1882 the 

 eggs were still unknown, and even to-day are 

 so scarce as to be worth i an egg. They are 

 white, and usually four in number. 



Mr. Marriner states that the nesting season 

 is from June to September ; but as he also 

 gives an instance of a nest being found with 

 eggs in January, the breeding period would 

 seem to be very irregular. A singular peculi- 

 arity is noticed in the exceptionally long period 

 during which the young remain in the nest, an 

 instance being given in which the young, found 

 in September, were still in the nest in December ; 

 in fact, it is said, /<?. /., that they remain there 

 until quite full-grown. 



The vexed question as to what was the cause 

 of the Kea first commencing his terrible 

 butcher-habit is fully discussed by Mr. Marriner; 



