THE PREDATORY KEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2736, 22 August 1906, Page 9

THE PREDATORY KEA.

AN INTERESTING PAPER.

At the monthly meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute (save the Press) the- chief business was the reading of a highly interesting and valuable paper by Mr G. R. Marriner on ""The Natural History of the Kea, with special reference to its reputed sheep-billing propensities. Mr Marriner said the kea was only found in the South Island, and ita habitat was in the peaks and valleys of the Southern Alps. When it was first discovered in 1856 it was not thought to be a bird of prey. In 1663 an account appeared in the Otago Daily Times of a certain new sheep disease, which was afterwards traced to the kea, or mountain parrot, a shepherd ha\ - ing seen the koa on a sheep's back on Campbell's station in Otago This was the only definite case on record until the end of 1905, and though many men of scienea had written of tho bird as a bird of prey, not one of them had quoted an authentic case of an eyo-witncss having seen the koa attacking sheen. The result was that more people than e\er disbelieved the guilt of the bird, and attributed the belief to station rumours, and thought that men paid for exterminating tVe kea had given currency thereto. He had taken pains to obtain evidence fiom between 50 and 60 cye-wiine=ses, and all tlio^e were agreed on the main facts of the case — namely, that the kea was guilty of attacking and killing sheep. Every precaution had been taken in regard to the collection of this evidence, so as to make it as scientifically reliable a* possible. The witnesses were station owners and managers, shepherds, and rangers. All were prepared to swear to thoir written statements before a justice of the peace. They all tretified to haying seen the kea attack sheep and devour the fat. There could be no doubt whatever that the kea was now a carnivorous animal. In ita attacks on sheep it not merely kent to the kidney fat, but ofton devoured the whole of tho carcase. The reason tho animal was not mow seen was to bo explained partly by the fact that its depredations occurred chiefly in th« nieht and ea.rlv morning, and partly to the altitude at which it made its attack. Mr Marrinor then rlescrire 1 how the ken attacks a sheep, how the sheep tries but fails to shake it off. and fina-lir rac^s about under tr*e influence of pain and fright until it euccumb-s. and he also read a number of accounts by oyr wi'Fnes--<«i. Tho kea attack* not only (sheen, but also } 1O r<-e= and other annuals The theory (hat it was for the kidnovs that the koa attacked ehoop could not ho said, ho sustained: it wfls for th« fat tho koa sought. Ti-e kidney theory aro <•. no r'oult. fir>m tlio fret that tho rump of thf ph<rp was tho only nart on which tb" kca could alien* :i»-l trot a f<im hold. Tlito wore iaro'i« (h'-o >•*.<-. Rl , to It>w tho lira, harl acquired the ha'-it of ntta^king sheep. Tie v*>nro-tnl-1" *brep thoor\ was star o!v trrmM* Apart froii rt'ior con?''',"rr t ions it ha boon af-rorf air-o^ that veGretab'-c c heep plants vnrc ii>U'ct ii conntrv v ho'O koPs abiindod Ih-po otl'^r rhpori"s ok h no doubt. p-T-tlv pffordffl t).o fV-ir^d <•' planat'on Th.-=o irow tho natnra' "piositv and df^trnc t: venf-s n f H." lird. hrnger. ar>d to lack of vPsr^taW food in w ; nt^>' and. firallv the ta~to fnr n h<i Afr ATirr'rw I1 '' alsn dofilt w"'h *' o r r "),r' r I'JiH'ts of tho bir'l ar.d <.f.t^ 1 + ! .-< t'« v"'i '♦ has 1 !«n killed ir i tbou a-id- it iei c nnt en in j out.

On (lio Tvotlm rf + 1 . — T'io=.'w (V «-o : !?-hrt hi Dr T -i a- i .■ a ■ " W'n'tv \<v» of <'<ml" nfs.so(nri'i'l to for h'= ln'inh! 1 naic Dr CacLavno said that -f he lad had eomo

doubts before he was now convinced. Mr I Speight said there was a rule that applause should not be given at the end of papers, but he would ask them to break the rule on that occasion. The invitation was immediately responded to.