Page:The Kea, a New Zealand problem (1909).pdf/93

Rh sometimes as many as four would be on one sheep at a time. One would give a peck, the sheep would give a bound forward, and they would all come off. They did not seem to follow the same sheep, but just hopped on to the first one they came to. Sometimes when one got on a sheep’s back in a good position—behind the kidneys facing the head—it would keep pecking and so keep the sheep jumping round and through the mob for a long time. I am quite certain that they thoroughly enjoyed the fun of riding on the sheep



and falling off. After about an hour of this sport, I noticed one that had got in a good position on a sheep’s back striking it more quickly and more vigorously than any of the others. It kept the sheep careering in and through the camp in an awful state, until at last it disappeared down the ridge leading down to some overhanging rocks. After about a minute, I heard a Kea call far down the gully. Next day I got a dead sheep at the foot of the rocks where the sheep disappeared. I did not see the Kea come