308 zoology. [1840. 



peaches are very fine, but the grapes do not succeed very well 

 except on volcanic soils. 



There being such an excess of moisture in New Zealand, it 

 is quite doubtful whether grain growing, unless it be for home 

 consumption merely, will ever prove very profitable, but for 

 pasturage the climate is decidedly favorable, and the rearing 

 of stock will undoubtedly make handsome returns. 



It is a singular fact, that when these islands were first dis- 

 covered, they possessed no indigenous mammalia whatever ; 

 the only quadrupeds, in fact, being a few species of lizards 

 that were objects of terror and veneration to the natives. 

 The hog, the dog, and the rat, were early introduced. The 

 first was allowed to run wild, and multiplied so rapidly that 

 the islands were soon well stocked. The hogs are very fond 

 of the roots of the fern, which is so exceedingly abundant. 

 When required for food, they are caught by the dogs. The 

 flesh of the rat was esteemed a great delicacy by the natives, 

 and it is now the principal species of game. Cattle, sheep, 

 and goats, were imported by the missionaries, and large 

 additions have been made to the stock of the first two, 

 since the formation of settlements by the whites ; excellent 

 browsing is afforded by the immense thickets of shrubs, where 

 grass cannot be procured, and both appear to thrive unusually 

 well. 



Fish abound on the coast. Whales are taken in great 

 plenty ; but it is said their numbers are diminishing, in con- 

 sequence of the indiscriminate massacre which has been go- 

 ing on for so many years. Smaller fish are taken by the 

 natives with hooks and nets ; they also catch great quantities 

 of shell-fish for food, and there is a clam, called pipi, which 

 they esteem highly delicious. 



Of the bird kind, there are parrots and parroquets, and 

 wild ducks and pigeons, of large size and fine flavor, in the 

 forests ; and there is an abundance of sea fowl on the coasts. 

 Poultry have been introduced, and an; now reared in con- 

 siderable numbers. The principal singing birds are the 

 native nightingale and the tui. The latter is also called 



