AND OTHER BIRDS 73 



until early in March. Without cutting a section 

 from the trunk it would have been impossible 

 to have photographed either the sitting bird or 

 eggs, and I did not dare risk the possible deser- 

 tion of the nest. Upon my return weeks later 

 with my mates Hans and Gilfillan we reached 

 the old camp late in the evening, and 

 that night I could hardly sleep for thoughts 

 of the disasters that might have occurred. 



At day-break we started, and, in my eager- 

 ness to get the worst over, just as men 

 ride a little faster with the knowledge of 

 an unbridged river in flood before them, I far 

 outstripped my companions; I could hardly 

 indeed credit my good fortune when I saw 

 through one of the holes, the head "the good 

 grey head" of the venerable bird, and a 

 moment later witnessed her retreat, as, 

 scrambling out of the cavern, she flew softly 

 into the forest. During the lapse of one month 

 the eggs liad developed into two large-bellied 

 chicks. These awkward youngsters were clad in 

 grey down, their sprouting tail feathers visibly 

 red and the primaries just bursting their grey 

 sheathings. Kaka chicks present a very curious 

 spectacle, sitting as is their habit pressed 

 together, belly to belly, as if for warmth. If dis- 

 turbed, and whilst settling down again, they 

 exhibit all sorts of curious wrestling attitudes, 

 sometimes as if each was attempting to gain 

 some advantageous stance or grip; and some- 

 times again they seem a couple of jolly topers 

 leaning against one another for support, and 

 rocking and tottering together in maudlin 

 rejoicings and hiccoughings. Then again, when 

 quiet, and with heads projecting over each 





