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74
THE KEA.
While I was at this work, the snow being about 2ft. deep, I went out to the tops; in a small basin under the top on the west side, facing a rocky country that we called ‘Skay,’ there was a mob of sheep snowed in and unable to get out.
Mr. James McDonald, Dipton, Southland.
There I saw the Kea at work. He would come down from the rocks, settle on a sheep’s loin, and peck into the sheep, which would run through the mob; but the bird stuck to the sheep all the time till he got a piece out of it; then he would fly to the rocks. I watched the bird at this work and did not disturb him until I was fully satisfied. . . . . Then I went down to the station and reported to Mr.