CHAPTER XII.
KEA HUNTING.
The speargrass crackles under the billy and overhead is the winter sun;
. . . . . .
We lay in the lee of a rock, and waited, hungry and cold, for the morning light.
When it was discovered that the Kea was probably responsible for the annual loss of a large number of sheep, men at once set to work to try to exterminate him.
Incited by the sheep-owner and encouraged by the Government, an organised massacre was begun, and has continued during the last forty years, resulting in the slaughter of thousands of these interesting birds.
At first nearly every shepherd and musterer carried fire-arms, and while going about their work they lost no opportunity of shooting any Keas that came within gunshot. The half-crown per head given by the sheep-owner did much to stimulate the shooting. When, however, owing to being much hunted, the Kea became difficult to approach, the men were unable to afford the necessary time to stalk the bird, and other means of keeping down the pest had to be adopted.
The station-owners then employed men whose sole duty was to kill Keas and rabbits. The position was no sinecure, for only the strong, agile and fearless could undertake the work.
The hunters were usually supplied with fire-arms, ammunition, food, horses, etc., and besides receiving a weekly wage they were paid so much per head for all Keas shot.
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