OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. A8I 
for the sake of comparison, its dimensions are placed in contrast to 
those of a specimen of P. nove-zealandic secured on the same day :— 
P. Rowleyt. P. novee-zealandie. 
Length, 9 inches 3 lines; 11 inches; 
Wing, 5 inches nearly; 6 inches; 
Beak, 6 lines; 74 lines; 
Tarsus, 74 lines; 104 lines; 
Weight, 2 0z., bare. 4 oz., bare. 
Forehead and top of head, deep crimson. | 
Of the two last-mentioned species I can give no account of the eggs. 
Genus— Nestor. 
51. Nestor meridionalis, Gm. 
Brown parrot, Kaka.—This fine parrot through many parts of 
the country has become scarce; in this district where, years ago, it 
was one of the commonest forest birds, itis now regarded as a rare 
visitor. It breeds in hollow trees, seldom at the bottom of such 
decayed trees, sometimes the actual nesting place is at a distance 
from the entrance hole.* When matched the pair may be observed 
constantly together; if one moves from a tree its attentive partner 
quickly follows. The nesting-place has to be prepared; for this 
purpose a tree is usually selected the heart of which is completely 
decayed; it must have a convenient hole leading from the outside to 
the bottom of the hollow; the interior requires some preparation 
perhaps, or the entrance has to be smoothed or enlarged. After a 
home is ready it often happens that in place of being occupied it is 
deserted for some more eligible locality. It lays its four white eggs 
on the decayed wood, without any further supply of softer material by 
way of nest. Although four is the usual complement, five eggs are 
sometimes found to a nest; these are ovoid, white; and average about 
one inch nine lines in length, with a breadth of one inch three and 
a-half lines. As an instance of devoted attachment to its young it 
may be mentioned that I have seen an old bird dead at the entrance 
of its nesting-place after a bush fire, in which it had perished rather 
than desert its helpless offspring. 
52. Nestor notabilis, Gould. 
Mountain or Green parrot, Sheep-killer, Kea, Kia, Keha, Keo, 
Kaieo.—By all these names is this troublesome bird known by the 
highland shepherds and sheep musterers in alpine districts from 
Lakes Wanaka and Hawea to the river Rangitata. These mischievous 
parrots, so fearfully destructive in their ravages on the mountain- 
farmer’s flocks, are now credited with slaying their thousands of sheep 
annually ; active measures are resorted to for ensuring a diminution 
of their numbers. Of late it has been observed by some of those 
most interested, that their attacks are more skilful, inasmuch as the 
wounds inflicted on their victims are so severe and fatal that very few 
sheep are now mustered into the yards showing old scars made by the 
kea’s beak. It seeks as a nesting-place the shelter of almost 
inaccessible rocks or burrows its hole in steep facings. Like many 
troglodytal builders, it breeds very early. I have notes of four young 
*Notes on the Birds of New Zealand, Potts, Trars. N.Z. Institute, Vol. III., p. 83. 
