ON THE HABITS OP THE KEA. 295 



the true parrot form, or, as a sailor would say, have the toes 

 placed " fore and aft." 



On first becoming acquainted with man they showed little 

 sign of fear. In fact, I have, when on the mountain-top, 

 remained standing perfectly still, with Keas hopping round me, 

 but would have ultimately to drive them away, for one would 

 come to inspect the brass eyelets in my boots, and try to pick 

 them out, when, seeing that the boot-laces would quickly be cut 

 through, I would require to stop this performance. One day a 

 shepherd brought home a live Kea which he caught by placing 

 his open hand on the ground when he was lying down ; this bird 

 calmly stepped on to his hand, and was captured. On bringing 

 the bird home he placed it in a room in a stone building to await 

 my coming. The result was that the small wooden bars of the 

 window were cut away by its powerful beak down level with the 

 panes of glass. A ring and small chain were afterwards fastened 

 to its leg, and it was tethered on the lawn, having a small box 

 placed near as a shelter. Here it lived several years, but one 

 day was missing, taking the chain with it. The shelter-box was 

 soon a sight to see, for the bird drilled large round holes through 

 it in several places, and his great delight appeared to be in carpentry 

 work. He was fed on scraps of bread and meat, and would amuse 

 himself by throwing his drinking-vessel away, regardless of after 

 consequences. Under the name of Sancho he was regarded as a 

 member of our family party, but never gave any sign of newly- 

 acquired habits under domestication, or showed signs of affection 

 to those who cared for him. 



About the year 1861 we first took sheep into this country, 

 previously having stocked with cattle. The sheep increased and 

 multiplied, and did remarkably well, notwithstanding the heavy 

 snowfalls on the higher lands. After a number of years, when 

 sheep were mustered in from the back ranges, it was noticed that 

 several would die in the yards during the night, for they would 

 require to be kept, in for^ drafting on the following day. These 

 dead sheep would be mostly sheep which had missed a shearing, 

 and were double-fleeced, having very long wool. On taking the 

 skin from these sheep a small hole, not previously seen, would 

 be found over the shoulder-blades, or in the small of the back, 

 over the kidneys. We were quite incapable of understanding 

 the cause of these wounds, but considered that these sheep would 



