NESTORS. 
95 
The habitat of the kea is very different from that of its cousin. In place of 
being confined to wooded districts, this bird frequents the almost inaccessible 
rocks of the mountains of the South Island at elevations where only dwarf 
vegetation is to be found. Here the keas may be seen among the crevices of the 
rocks when the mountains are shrouded in mist or sleet, or covered with a mantle 
of snow; while at other 
times they may be observed 
soaring with motionless 
wings from peak to peak. 
During the depth of winter 
these birds are, however, 
driven to seek their food at 
lower elevations. The usual 
cry of the kea has been com¬ 
pared to the mewing of a 
cat, but a scream not unlike 
that of the kaka is also 
uttered at times. The most 
remarkable feature in con¬ 
nection with the habits of 
the kea is its carnivorous 
propensities, which appear 
to have been developed since 
the introduction of sheep 
into the colony, and have 
led to a great increase in the 
number of these birds. Sir 
W. Buller writes that those 
keas which “ frequent the 
sheep-stations appear to live 
almost exclusively on flesh. 
They claim the sheeps’ heads 
that are thrown out from the 
slaughter - shed, and pick 
them perfectly clean, leaving 
nothino; but the bones. The 
plan usually adopted on the 
stations for alluring this bird, 
is to expose a fresh sheep¬ 
skin on the roof of a hut; and whilst engaged in tearing up the bait, it is 
easily approached and snared. Of recent years the keas have gone even farther 
than this, and now actually kill sheep for themselves, alighting upon the backs of 
the unfortunate Ruminants, and tearing down through the skin and flesh until 
they reach the kidneys, the fat of which is greedily devoured. In disposition keas 
display extreme curiosity, and in the mountains they display so little fear of man 
that they may easily be knocked over with a stone.” 
PHILLIP ISLAND PARROT. 
