76 Stray Notes.


exterminated. Even in States in which it still breeds commonly,

as in Delaware and Maryland on the Atlantic Coast, and in

Illinois in the Mississippi Valley, public sentiment fails to

recognise the importance of adequately protecting the bird, and

laws still permit it to be destroyed late in the spring. As a

result the Wood Duck is constantly diminishing in numbers, and

soon is likely to be known only from books or by tradition."


One thing in connection with the Wood Duck is satis-

factory, and that is that it has now become fairly well established

as a domesticated species in Europe, and so is not likely to be

allowed to become extinct.



STRAY NOTES.



The question as to whether the Kea Parrot of New Zealand is really

guilty of the crime of sheep-killing which it has been accused of has at length

been settled and, in spite of the opinion of the Wellington conference, the

bird must be pronounced as guilty. A paper on the subject was read before

the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, N. Z. on August 8th last by Mr.

George R; Marriner, F.R.M.S., Assistant in the Biological Laboratory of

Canterbury College, in which the author went more thoroughly into the

question than had previously been done. He gave numerous instances in

which the birds had actually been seen to attack and kill the sheep.



The method of attack seems to be practically the same in every case.

A Kea will settle on the ground amongst the sheep, and after hopping

round one of the animals will jump on to its back and commence to tear

away the wool. The sheep becomes frightened and dashes awa}*, but the

Kea holds on tightly, or releases its hold only to fly after the animal and

settle again immediately the sheep thinks it has shaken off its enemy.



Having torn off the wool the Kea commences to dig its sharp bill

into the flesh of the animal, which after rushing about frantically for some

time generally lies down with neck stretched out in a helpless condition,

when the Kea which, by this time, has probably been joined by several

others, continues to tear away the flesh and greedily devour the fat. The

attack is generally made in the early morning or late evening, or on foggy

days, and only those flocks which are kept in the mountainous districts,

where the Keas have their home, are in danger from these birds.



The collection of birds at the Zoological Gardens has been enriched

by a pair of the very rare Mayer's Pigeon {Nescenas mayeri) from the island

of Mauritius. This species is said to be verging on extinction, and it is



