T. Kirk. — Displacemcnl of Species in Neiv Zealand. 13 



absorbed the common pheasant (P. colchicus, L.), which was 

 introduced at an earher date, and has added considerably to 

 the food-supply o[ the colony, but, excepfpossibly by diminish- 

 ing the food of certain indigenous species, does not appear to 

 have exercised any injurious influence. The partridge {Ferdix 

 cinerea, Briss.), the Tasmanian quail {Cotiiraix australis, 

 Lath.), and the Australian quail (C. ■pcctoralis, Gould), al- 

 though liberated in large numbers, have not become generally 

 naturahsed, chiefly owing to the ravages of rats and wild cats. 

 The beautiful Cahfornian quail {Ortyx califorjiica, Steph.) has 

 become plentiful, especially in thinly- wooded districts. The 

 white swan {Cygims olor, Gnd.) lias been liberated in several 

 localities, and increased rapidly until the rats and Maoris 

 discovered that its eggs and young birds were good for food, 

 when a speedy diminution took place, so that at present its 

 numbers are but small. The black swan (C. atratus, Lath.) 

 is abundantly naturalised in many localities from the North 

 Cape to Canterbury, and sometimes occurs in tliousands, as in 

 the great lagoon at the entrance to the Opaw-a Eiver, where it 

 seems to have displaced Porphyrio melanotus. Its simul- 

 taneous appearance in so many localities between 1865 and 

 1868 proves that it must have been a spontaneous immigrant, 

 and that its naturalisation is not due in any large degree to its 

 having been introduced by man. 



The self-assertive sparrow {Passer domesticus, L.) is per- 

 haps more abundantly naturalised from the North Cape to 

 Stewart Island than any other bird, and, although it steals 

 the grain of the farmer and the fruit of the orchardist without 

 scruple, makes some return by the destruction of hosts of the 

 cultivator's enemies, especially during the breeding season ; 

 but, occurring in such vast numbers, it must have trenched 

 upon the food-supply of the smaller indigenous birds, in which 

 it has been assisted by the yellowhammer {Emberiza citrinella, 

 L.), the skylark {Alauda arvensts, L.), the hedge-sparrow 

 {Accentor modularms, L.), the gi'ey linnet {Fringilla cannatena, 

 L.), the green linnet {F. cliloris, L.), the chafdnch {F. ccslebs, 

 L.), the goldfinch {F. cardiielis, L.), and especially by the 

 starling {Stcrnus vulgaris, L.), which occurs in immense 

 flocks in nearly all districts. The Australian mainah {JMy- 

 zantha garrula, Vig. et Hors.), with the thrush {Tiirdus 

 musicus, L.) and the blackbird (T. merula, L.), in all pro- 

 bability have been less injurious. I am not aware of any 

 other birds that have become so generally naturalised as to 

 require mention here. 



Mabimalia. 



The indigenous terrestrial mammals are restricted to two 

 species of bats — the long-eared bat {Mystacina tuherculata, 



