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The Kea's Extinction.
As early as 1888, Sir W. Buller says that he is certain that these interesting birds would soon be extinct, but in spite of the thousands that have been killed they are still common in the mountainous country of the South. Island. No doubt the almost inaccessible position of their nests, as well as the rough nature of the country in which they live, are responsible for their non-extinction. However, closer settlement of the land and the systematic slaughter that is now going on must in time exterminate the mountain-parrot, and, like many other interesting forms of our avifauna, it will disappear for ever before the march of civilisation.
I would suggest that in order to prevent these interesting birds from becoming quite extinct a number of them should be placed on one of the outlying islands, where they could live
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and flourish without doing injury to any one. The most suitable islands, as far as I can ascertain, are the Aucklands, which lie ninety miles south-by-west from the most southerly point of Stewart Island. There would be very little chance of the birds returning to the mainland; and though the hills only rise to a height of about 2,000 ft., there seems to be enough forest and high country to make a very satisfactory reserve for these interesting parrots.
In concluding I should like to take this opportunity of thanking all those who have so willingly helped me in my investigations. I am specially indebted to Dr. L. Cockayne, who has helped me with many valuable suggestions, and also to those who have given me their actual experiences with keas, for I know that without their co-operation this paper could never have been written.