53 



Obs. In some examples the lower mandible, instead of being yellow at the base, is dark brown, like the 

 upper one, with only a faint line of lighter brown down the centre. This is probably characteristic of 

 the young bird. 



The first recorded examples of this interesting bird were obtained in 1856 by Mr. Walter 

 Mantell, one of the early explorers of New Zealand, to whom we are indebted for many valuable 

 discoveries in natural history, and who is now one of the patrons of science in his adopted 

 country. Two specimens, from the Murihiku district, in the South Island, were forwarded by 

 that gentleman to Mr. Gould, who thereupon characterized the species hi the Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society, and figured it in the Supplement to his ' Birds of Australia.' Nothing more 

 was heard of the Kea till the year 1859, when Dr. Haast received a fine example which had 

 been caught on Mr. Tripp's station, near Mount Cook, and forwarded it in spirits to Professor 

 Owen. In the winter of the following year I made the acquaintance of the species on a station 

 near the Eangitata Gorge, where a live one which had been snared by a shepherd and partially 

 tamed, was frequenting the premises. Of late years, however, owing to the spread of coloniza- 

 tion and the opening up of new tracts of country, we have become better acquainted with this 

 bird, and many fine specimens have been secured for our Museums and private collections. It 

 inhabits the slopes of the Southern Alps, and is driven down to the plains only during severe 

 winters ; but those who have visited its alpine haunts report it to be comparatively common. At 

 the heads of all the principal rivers in the Canterbury Province it may generally be seen, soaring 

 aloft among the rocks, or foraging amongst the close stunted alpine vegetation. 



Thus graphically writes Mr. Potts : — " In order to convey a correct impression of the Kea 

 and its habits, it is necessary to give a brief outline of the features of the country in which it is 

 to be found. Where we have most frequently observed it has been far above the Gorge of the 

 Eangitata, one of the great snow rivers, as they are termed. This stream, which derives its 

 source from the glaciers which are embedded in the gloomy and secluded fastnesses of the Southern 

 Alps, is periodically swollen by the melting of the snow and by the heavy rain from the north-west, 

 which falls during the spring and autumn months ; fed by numerous creeks and tributaries from 

 every converging gully, its volume increases, it rushes noisily and impetuously over its rough boulder- 

 bed, till the junction of the Havelock and the Clyde swells its waters into a large river. The 

 leafy rugged mountains which imprison it, present almost every conceivable variety of outline, 

 jagged peaks crowned with snow ; countless moraines point out where the avalanche and snow- 

 slip have thundered down into the valley below. The river is bordered here and there by grassy 

 flats or hanging woods of timber trees, in which the brown-tinted totara, the silvery Phyllocladus 

 with its purplish points, the small-leaved kowhai, and the soft bright-foliaged ribbon-wood con- 

 trast well with the dusky hue of the dark-leaved Fagus. Far above, dwarf vegetation, in all the 

 wonderful variety of alpine shrubs and flowers, struggles up the steepest slopes, adorning the 

 frowning precipice and foaming cascade, lending its aid in forming scenes of picturesque and 

 romantic grandeur, in which rich and varying tints of perennial verdure gratify the eyes of the 

 spectator with their beauty. This is the home of the Kea. Amongst holes and fissures in 

 almost inaccessible rocks, in a region often shrouded with dense mists or driving sleet, where the 

 north-west wind rages at times with terrific violence, here the Green Parrot may be observed, 



