Page:The Kea, a New Zealand problem (1909).pdf/148

Rh are reported where horses, dogs and rabbits have been mauled. I do not consider that these attacks are really made to procure food, but rather for fun and mischief.

One correspondent gives the following account of an attack upon a horse:—“The pack-horse was tethered on a piece of flat ground about ten chains from the camp. After we had tea, I strolled over to where there was a large flock of Keas on a little knoll above the pack-horse. This would be about an hour before dusk. One or two flew down on to the horse’s back. He was an old, stiff-built cobby horse of very sluggish nature. He took no notice of the Keas when they flew off and on his back for some time, giving him an occasional peck. At last an old fellow perched on his back and started operations in a most serious manner. He soon had the old horse showing more life than he had ever done before; in fact, before he got the Kea dislodged, he was almost mad. When I got down to him, he was in a heavy sweat, and the blood was trickling slightly over his loins. On examination I found a nasty wound that took a long time to heal, as it became very dirty. Ever after, the horse would go almost frantic when there were any Keas about.”

Shepherds report that rabbits are sometimes killed by them, while dogs are often worried by their attentions. The birds are sometimes found eating the carcases of deer.

One case is known where a human body was torn about by them. On the Minarets Station a musterer was sent out to attend to some sheep on high country. The station is famous for its rugged and dangerous peaks, and is said to contain some of the wildest country on a sheep run. At night the man failed to report himself, and a search party was sent out to seek him. They found his body lying in a gully, where he had evidently fallen from the heights above. It was attended by two or three Keas, who had torn holes in his clothes, and already torn the flesh about. This is, I think, the only instance known where the Keas have attacked a human body. From the position of the body it is almost certain that the man was dead a long time before the birds began to maul him.