Page:The Kea, a New Zealand problem (1909).pdf/126

122 on this subject, came on eight Keas killing a ewe. The ewe was still living, and the lamb was torn out through her ribs. He succeeded in shooting all the birds.”

There seems very little doubt that in many instances the birds must kill either for sport or in order to have a number of dead sheep to feed on for some time, for often many are killed and are left almost untouched.

It seems as if the birds get a murderous frenzy, and do a lot of damage before their thirst for slaughter is satiated.

Reckoning over the whole Kea country, I am certain that 5 per cent. of the flocks would well cover the annual loss due to Keas. Of course, in some runs at certain times this number is very much exceeded; but, taking the evidence from all sides, I think that this percentage is near the mark.