294 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



above the forest-line, for you must understand that on a 

 mountain-side each variety of tree has its limit of elevation. 

 The mixed bush grows on the plain ; and a short distance above, 

 where these trees, as rimu, white-pine, black-pine, &c, are at 

 their highest, and cease to grow, come the different kinds of 

 Fagus, of which the so-called black-birch attains the highest 

 elevation. On glancing along the alpine hills, such as, for 

 instance, those on either shore of Lake Wakatipu, you will see 

 with surprise that the dark-green of the trees reaches so far up 

 the mountain-side, and is then cut off level and clean as far as 

 the eyesight can extend into the far distance. Above this level 

 line of dark forest comes the brown straw-colour of the mountain 

 grass, which in turn gives way to the slate-grey or yellow-grey of 

 the rocky summits and their debris of broken stones. 



On this same forest limit grows also the tall bracken fern, so 

 the dark-green of the forest would be at places for a considerable 

 extent varied by the brighter green of the fern. But both forest 

 and fern attained the same elevations, and so the long line of 

 green was only changed in shade of colour, and did not encroach 

 upon the area of the yellow grasses.* The Kea lived above this 

 forest limit, and was mostly seen moving about the rocks and 

 boulders on the ridge of the mountain-tops. The name " Kea " 

 would seem to be an imitation of a frequent call of this bird. 

 But it also makes a number of other sounds. About the first I 

 can remember of this bird was at a time when I resided near the 

 head-waters of the Oreti or New Kiver. One hot day — it 

 probably was in the summer-time — when walking across the 

 valley between the mountains, my attention was attracted by a 

 remarkable sound or series of cries. These I mistook for the 

 noise of several small puppies of the Wild Dog, crying from 

 hunger in the nest. I at once set to work to climb up the steep 

 mountain-side to capture these creatures ; but the result was not 

 as was expected, but a dull-green-coloured bird was found seated 

 on a projecting piece of rock. These birds are coloured green, 

 shaded with black, and have bright orange-red feathers of small 

 size on the under side of their wings. They are about the size 

 of a Kaka, rather narrower across the back, and have the hooked 

 point of the upper mandible somewhat longer. Their feet are of 



* This description is of scenery viewed some thirty years ago. 



