Page:The Kea, a New Zealand problem (1909).pdf/34

30 mostly yellow, but darkening to a brownish-black as the bird ages.

The eyes are dark brown or black, with a yellow ring of wattle encircling each. There is also some similarly coloured wattle (cere) around the nostrils, which in shade varies from a bright to a dull yellow.



From a number of specimens kindly lent me by Dr. B. Moorhouse, of Christchurch, I obtained the following average measurements:

Length of the bird from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail—20¼ inches: maximum, 23 inches; minimum, 18½ inches.

Length of the upper mandible from tip to gape—2⅝ inches; maximum, 2¾ inches; minimum, 1⅞ inches.

Length of wing from flexure (carpel), 12 3-5 inches; maximum 13 inches; minimum 12 inches.

The female is very similar to the male, but can often be recognised by the duller plumage. If one is at all familiar