298 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Lochinvar, at the head-waters of the Esk, and towards the sources 
of the Hurunui. 
Sheep whilst being got out of snowdrifts are often mortally 
hurt by the attacks of Keas; especially are the birds prone to 
molest those carrying double fleeces, as though they knew how 
firm a foothold they could maintain with their grip. When one of 
these sheep, temporarily exhausted with its exertions in toiling 
through deep snow under the burthen of two years’ growth of 
wool, breaks off from the mob and leaves the track, desperately 
floundering into deeper snow wreaths, a flock of parrots, ever 
watchful, as they hover round, soon perceive their opportunity for 
mischief: they alight close to the spot where the sheep, uncon- 
scious of approaching danger, stands gazing fixedly in a state of 
helpless stupidity; gradually hopping or moving towards the 
victim with some show of caution, one of the Keas at last settles 
on the rump of the sbeep, which, terrified at the strange visitor 
that thus besets it, bounds away; the bird now rises only to 
alight again on the same place, clutching into the wool with its 
sharp claws it retains its hold more firmly and tenaciously. In 
yain the tortured animal in the direst agony seeks to rid itself of 
its cruel persecutor, that boldly keeps its vantage; after running 
and struggling some distance, its efforts to escape become feebler ; 
it is at length so hard pressed that in a few minutes it yields 
passively to the tearing and searching beak of the Kea, that seems 
to probe into the very core of pain; the wretched sheep sinks 
down paralysed with the excruciating torture relentlessly inflicted 
by its persevering enemy. 
The spoil obtained by the sheep-killer is the much-coveted 
kidney fat, which once plucked out and devoured, the remainder 
of the carcase possesses no further attraction; it is quickly 
abandoned, and the dealer of mischief hies him off in quest of a 
fresh victim. The majority of the sheep thus attacked die under 
the infliction, but many recover, though wofully disfigured; when 
flocks are got into yards, a certain proportion bear the scar that 
tells of the onslaught of the Kea; some of the wounds appear quite 
dried up, the bones bleached, and the sinews hard and dry. One 
would be almost inclined to think that the parrots were actuated 
more by a spirit of mischief than by the pressure of hunger, as 
usually so very little of the flesh is eaten, the bird restricting itself 
to the kidney fat, for which dainty only it exhibits an appetite. 
