on the Kea Parrot of New Zealand. 283


Angela’s cage, and another bird in, and I carried them, as the

day was sorching hot and the pack-horse would have jolted them

too much. O11 arrival at our destination, we climbed up the

hillside above our camp to set our traps.


WILD COUNTRY.


The Jagged Spur Gully is a deep-forked ravine, with steep

rocky sides. The western side of the main gully is quite in¬

accessible, being almost sheer rock, with birch and totara grow¬

ing in the crevices. The eastern side is covered with bush to a

height of about 500 feet, and is then broken rock all up to the

top. The side gully is bare, inaccessible rock, towering to the

ridge, 7,000 feet up. We chose a rocky promontory with a

stunted birch on the end of it for our traps, as it commanded a

fine view of the gully, and could be seen from camp. Here we

set our traps, and, it being already dusk, returned to camp for

the night. One of the call birds we kept in a wire-netting run

near the tent, and also in sight of the bird up by the traps. The

advantage of this was that, if our distant bird saw any others

early in the morning, and began calling, the bird at camp would

answer, and wake us up.


NOT TO BE CAUGHT.


At about half-past four next morning our ornithological

alarm went off, and I got up, and hurried up the mountain side.

When half-way up to the traps I heard a wild kea screaming

behind me, and looking round, saw him sailing over to me from

across the gully. Almost immediately two others further up

answered, and all three presently arrived at the traps. They

were a pair and an odd male bird, and I sat quietly among the

tussock a few yards away, waiting for them to rush joyfully into

the traps after the meat. But not a bit of it ! After thoroughly

inspecting Angela and her cage, and bestowing a casual glance

at the traps they came over and subjected me to a searching

scrutiny. Finding I was an object of interest to them, I moved

nearer to the traps, and tried in vain to call their attention to the

dainty viands displayed therein. It was no use. If I sat

quite still they went over'and had a chat with Angela, sitting on

the roof of her cage the while; if I moved they hopped



