THE KEA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16479, 24 March 1919, Page 7

THE KEA.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THB PRESS. ' Sir, —Some notes or suggestions from j your readers with regard to the sup- I pression of the kea. pest might prove of 1 use to the conference of pastoralists on j Friday next. There does not seem much doubt about the opinion that the trouble is spreading, both northwards and towards front country, and how to it down will engage the attention of the meeting. It would need a good deal of evidence, I think, to make one: believe that the kea is increasing,! numerically. No striking climatic or : food, or protective changes can be noted! that would cause a rapid increase in>' the numbers of the bird in recent years., On the contrary, the very close sheeping of the runs, with constant decline* of the natural grasses and shrubs, jvoul&l tend to keep at a rather low rate eveiw the increase of the kea. It becomes aJ feasible explanation, therefore, that is learning and acquiring, at a morel rat- than in past years, the art* of si eep-killing. It has been said thaw, few only of the birds are killers, per-i haps the wisest of the old ones; out in education is now to become general./ and the art and practice to be-bandeau over to the ordinary member of the I flock, the consequences to the high.? country sheepmen will be rather baa. Tlm kea pest, like the rabbit pest A to which it is similar, will need as efficient; attention aB is still necessafy for the?» latter.—Yours, etc., j. it. Wilkinson. Lobttrn, March 22nd,