Page:The Kea, a New Zealand problem (1909).pdf/90

86 When this sheep was skinned it was seen that the whole back was more or less black, which seemed to point to blood poisoning, as none of the organs were injured.

Though the cases cited are horrible enough, the wounds are often more severe; for not only are the kidneys injured, but often the intestines are torn and pulled out through the wound. Sheep have been found with yards of their intestines, all hardened by exposure to the sun and air, dragging along the ground.

In discussing the effect of the horrible cruelties practised on the sheep by the Keas, Sir W. Buller gives the following account.

“On the surgical operation performed on the living sheep by the Kea, an interesting paper was read before the Pathological Society of London in November, 1879, by the distinguished surgeon, Mr. John Woods, F.R.S. He exhibited the colon of a sheep in which the operation known as colotomy had been performed by this parrot, of which likewise he produced a specimen, both having been sent to him for that purpose by Dr. DeLatour, of Otago.

“Mr. Woods was informed by his correspondents that, when the sheep are assembled, wounds resulting from the Kea’s ‘vivisection’ are often found upon them, and not infrequently the victims present an artificial anus, a fistulous opening into the intestines, in the right loin.

“The specimen exhibited was from a sheep that had been so attacked. It consisted of the lumbar vertebrae and the colon, showing the artificial anus between the iliac crest and the last rib on the right side, just in the place, that is, where the modern surgeons perform the operation know to them as Amussat’s; below the wound the intestine was contracted, while it was enlarged and hypertrophied above.

“The sheep was much wasted. The modus operandi was described as follows:— The birds, which are very bold and nearly as large as rooks, single out the strongest sheep in the flock. One bird, settling on the sacrum, tears off the wool with its beak and then digs its beak into the flesh until the sheep falls from exhaustion or loss of blood.