The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-02
kEA BRO
NOT GUILTY
Prof. Brighton Has New
Support OF His
Opinion.

They still stick 10 it down in New
Zealand, all the same. that the Kea
does kill sheep. 1 see papers from
there with notices of reward offered
for killing the bird
Such was the comment of Harry
per's Weekly. on his attention being
called to it. which was to the effect
| that scientific Investigation had exon
Grated the Kea bird from the charge
of killing sheep.
This verdict of mot guilty" at any
rate, came about two years too late
ed to Honolulu by Prof. ". T. Brig
ham, curator of the Bishop Museum.
1t was with great difficulty and con-
siderable diplomacy that Prof Brig
ham procured six specimens of the
bird, on his tour of the Colonies in
| search of treasures for the Museum,
but the birds reputation of having an
Illicit beak for mutton was, at his
rival here, exploited. Accordingly. Ha>
Waii being a sheep-raising country. the
Chamber of Commerce resolved Itself
into a court martial and pronounced
the doom of the whole Kea flock land
ed here.
Professor Brigham did not think the
bird would live in these islands any
way and he considered the alarm over
the specimens he brought here a false
one. It was on this occasion that he
dubbed the venerabIe mercantile guild
of Honolulu as the 'Bedchamber of
Commerce." He repeated the sobri-
quet yesterday when informed of the
article in Harper's Weekly
"Oh, yes. a similar article appeared
in Nature. 1t was taken from reports
in the Wellington papers," Prof. Brig
ham said.
|. "A strict investigation was held by
heads of departments and scientific
men, with the result that not a shred
of evidence was found to show that
the kea bird killed sheep.
''It is a bird possessing a wonderful
curiosity. Hence, when seen peering
into the carcasses of dead sheep, as
probably was the case, the conclusion
was jumped at that it killed sheep.
The bird will peek into trunk, how
ever, in just the same way.
THE Kea is the most intelligent of
the whole parrot family. 1 didn't have
those 1 brought here six days until
they would come and lay their heads
against me to be stroked. You know
-,
shape.
Before [ obtained the birds I had
got the opinions of such experts as Sir
James Hector and DR.. Percy Smith,
who had thoroughly investigated the
habits of the Kea, and these assured
me that the bird was perfectly harm
less"
Prof Brigham stated that he inform
ed gentlemen of the "Bedchamber of
Commerce. at the time of the scien-
tiffc evidence favoring the birds, but
it produced no effect upon their minds.
Continuing he said;
Il really did not think the birds
would live here anyway, as their home
is in the cold ATTITUDES amidst snow
and sleet. However, he said laugh
ingly the weather here the past few
uciSS might nave DeeD quite dSC6edDl6
to them.
But to accuse this parrot of sheep
killing" the professor concluded. lis
almost as bad as it would be to charge
the Bishop of Otago with bloodthirsti-
ness
or the president of Stanford? ?"
"Oh, ohot Wasn't that the most
ridiculous thing ever heard!''
the pavement with an outburst of mer-
riment.
The article in Harper's Weekly. APP
pearing amongst its miscellany. is as
follows:
"A Parrot of Evil Reputatfon.-The
Kea parrot of New Zealand te a very
curious bird. For many years it has
been charged with killing sheep by
pecking holes in their sides. and this
alleged fact has been recorded in many |
works on ornithology and natural his |
tory Accordingly, as the Kea is in |
danger of determination, an investiga- |
ton was recently undertaken to deter !
mine whether this bird really deserved J
its evil reputation. No evidence could .
be found to warrant the statement. and !
it was thought to be based entirely /
upon the curiosity which it manifests
IN looking over the carca sses of dead |
animals.'
Yet. if they still stick to it down in |
New Zealand" that the Kea is a sheep
killer, Honolulu will have to be con-
tent with Professor Brigham's stuffed
Specimens of his whilom pets-at least
until the innocence of the species is
beyond all cavil. to our men Of large
affairs, proved. When that happens.
II ever it does il may not be too late
to obtain some live Fea birds for the
proposed Mckinley park avfa~y. AS
they are Clf-dwelIers. however. a sec
ton Of Diamond Head might have tol
be annexed to the par. for their home
\ small supply of ice to keep theirl
nests cool might perhaps not come too
hlSh-eXcepting to the boy with the
\ ..-.-.-.s -.-. r.i-. = III. .L..1