316 Transactions. — Zoology. 
NESTOR NOTABILIS. 
For many years the Kea ranked amongst our rarest species, and it is 
not very long ago that a specimen fetched £25 in the London market. But 
all this is changed, and, although still of very rare occurrence in the 
northern parts of the South Island, and quite unknown in this island, it 
has become a pest in the middle and southern districts; and, owing to its 
extraordinary penchant for live mutton, it is now so destructive on the 
sheep-runs, that the aid of Parliament has lately been invoked to abate the 
nuisance, 
Under these circumstances it is scarcely admissible into a paper treating 
of rare species, but I am unwilling to lose the opportunity of laying before 
you a very interesting letter I have received from Mr. John George 
Shrimpton, of Southbrook, Canterbury :— 
* While residing at the Wanaka Lake, I received a letter from my 
brother Walter (of Matapiro) to the effect that you would like a specimen of 
the Kea or mountain parrot, and any notes of their habits which I might 
be able to afford you. My time there was so short after receipt of his 
letter that, although many Keas were killed, I only succeeded in getting 
one fair skin, which I forwarded to you by mail a few days ago, and trust 
has reached you safely. By this mail I forward a water-colour sketch of 
some young ones drawn from nature by Mr. Huddleston. In the rocky 
cavern, high up on the mountain, whence these were obtained, were several 
broods of young ones of various ages and sizes. 
“I believe the Kea does not come farther north than the Rakaia River, 
Canterbury, and is strictly confined to the central range and its spurs as a 
rule, but may occasionally and will probably be more seen on those hills 
adjacent to the main range, which attain an elevation of five thousand feet 
and upwards. There is no doubt that, in spite of the war waged against them, 
they are increasing very rapidly, probably owing to the plentiful supply of 
food in the shape of mutton, which they can get, and to which they help 
themselves most liberally. Fifteen years ago, when I first knew the Lake 
country, it was a rare thing to see these birds on the hills even in their 
chosen home among the snow; but now you meet them in flocks of fifty 
even, and so bold have they become that they will attack sheep under the 
shepherd's immediate care. Not that they were ever very wild; on the 
contrary, I think they are the tamest birds in New Zealand; and it is their 
insatiable curiosity that has probably led them to find out the taste of 
mutton. At first, they contented themselves with tearing up tents, 
blankets, and sheepskins, the usual impedimenta of a musterer's camp. 
They have now so improved upon that, that nothing less than the 
primest mutton will suit their fastidious tastes. Though so tame that 
