Page:The Kea, a New Zealand problem (1909).pdf/122

118 with the remnants of his fortune from that plague-infested region.

Such would be the idea given to the reader from perusing these accounts; yet, when we look into the question, nine-tenths of the stories seem to be absolutely false. At any rate, not a piece of evidence can be found to-day in support of these wild tales.

In order to test for myself the truth of these statements made by early writers, I asked for information through the newspapers that circulate in the very country mentioned by them.



By this method, and by writing personally, the following replies have been received:—

Mr. W. E. Stevens, M.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., Kurow, says:—“I know nothing about the throwing up of the Nokomai run through the depredations of the Kea in 1880, or of any runs about the cold lakes district.”

Mr. W. Robinson says:—“I have to inform you that Mr.