I98 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



fissures, nor am T aware that the subject has hitherto been dealt with, 

 yet it is worthy of a passing notice. The fissures or earthquake rents 

 in the limestone were formed at some remote period when numerous 

 species of moas nourished in the district. Many of the fissures in 

 which the bones are found are several yards broad at their tops, and 

 are now filled up and are not distinguishable except in such parts where 

 they can be seen in section. For ages after their formation, the stupid, 

 clumsy birds, browsing or wandering near them, appear to have 

 accidentally fallen in and perished. This mode of destruction lasted for 

 a considerable time, or at least until the fissures filled up sufficiently to 

 enable the birds falling to walk along the bottom and escape at some 

 sloping outlet. These remarks are based on observations made in the 

 fissures ten years ago, and in others lately, as the invariable result on 

 both occasions, was the finding of the bones, etc., in the lowest ten feet 

 of the clay filling the fissures. The latter extend in all directions on 

 the range, and doubtless may continue to increase slowly in depth, 

 caused by the water channels flowing along their bottoms and the rain 

 water dissolving the rock. 



When the future historian of the moa age in New Zealand is 

 dealing with the oldest preserved relics, or the remains of that giant 

 race of birds, he may safely commence his work on the latter with the 

 remnants found in these ancient fissures. When all other districts 

 have been carefully explored we may then be able to discover some 

 cause to account for the extermination of the moas. Until such work is 

 accomplished we must remain content with data we possess. Certainly 

 no zoological subject can surpass in interest the history of these 

 marvellous ornithic relics of bygone ages. 



W. W. Smith. 



NOTES ON THE KEA OR MOUNTAIN PARROT 

 (NESTOR NOTABILIS). 



These few notes on the habits and peculiarities of the Kea are 

 made up from information which I have gathered during a period of 

 twenty years spent in localities where the birds were in great numbers 

 — chiefly at the head of Lake Wanaka, at Lake Wakatipu, and at 

 Mount Cook. I have shot and trapped thousands of them, watched 

 them by day and night, and taken advantage of every opportunity of 

 learning anything new pertaining to them. My chief object in 

 writing these notes is to refute what I considar to be a totally 

 erroneous idea which seems to have gained credence, and which, for 

 brevity's sake, I will call the " kidney theory." Furthor than this, a 

 few facts have come under my observation, which I have never seen 

 mentioned as relating to these birds. 



The theory above mentioned was started by Mr. Henry Campbell 

 of Lake Wanaka station. Not having the leisure to go fully into this 

 matter, I will refer my readers to what Mr. Potts has written on the 

 subject (Buller's History of New Zealand Birds, page 54, first 



