THE KEA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 11997, 4 September 1909, Page 3

THE KEA.

To Ihe Editor of tlio Tiuiaru Herald. . . ®» r »—yjnco Mr Marriner published Jus evidence against the kca it seems to bo the general impression that he Hilly established the fact of its destroying sheep, but there are many yet unconvinced. The evidence that it does kill is purely circumstantial. No reliable witness has ever stated that he actually saw it do so; and this considering the opportunities for observation, especially of into years, is ratiier remarkable^ "y kea-hunfcers and oth- . Ec «iy interested in the destruc."fthis bird -are continually being I .«wished, but we seldom hear the «>wier side of the question. Yet I hove heard the other side strongly upheld by niusterers, guides, managers, station-Knvners, school-masters and professors, and the more humane, if not convinced either way, always at least admitted that the case was "not proven.'' Some time ago it was customary for the • owners of Birch Hill station to draft sheep across the Hooker river on to the Mount Cook spur, and although these sheep were practically in the .heart of the Alps the tally at mustering was always good, and even at the Hermitage itself, where there are always a few sheep, a loss of even one sheep from a kea has never been known. The kea is really so numerous (1 have seen as many as forty-shot in one evening), and even allowing that i it is only the older birds, who supposedly, by their feeding off dead sheep acquire the habit, if even live : per cent, became sheep killers the losses would : be so great that the matter .would not be in doubt , a week; The kea is "so imitative that; it would surprise me if 50 per cent, dkl not ■learn the trick if. one in a .flock picked it; up. .1' have seen many keas captured, and they always : refused to eat meat for some time, though eventually they learned to eat it. ,' Before tlie Government agrees to the extermination of the ;kea, they should _ make a complete inquiry, hear both sides, and hot condemn this interesting bird on circumstantial evidence for one side only.—l ; am etc., - .. ,r ALP.