^°'iok/^'] CiiisHOLM, Introduced Biids in Qncensland. 6l 



In addition to the Sparrow and Starling, the only introduced 

 free birds now in Queensland are the Indian Dove and the Indian 

 Minah. The latter, according to Sir Alfred Cowley, has been 

 acelimati/.ed in North Queensland for well oN-er 30 years-; and 

 Mr. W. D. Armstrong states that Indian Doves were first brought 

 to Brisbane as recently as 1912. In view of this latter fact, it 

 is astonishing to note how plentiful the species is at present ; in 

 seven years twelve pairs have so multiplied as to make the bird 

 the commonest in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens and a decided 

 force in the suburbs. This is further proof that the hardy stock 

 of European birds breeds much more rapidly than native species 

 less accustomed to civihzation. 



The remarks of Mr. Armstrong, a former Speaker of the Queens- 

 land Legislative Assembly, in reference to the Dove are as 

 follow : — " The Indian Dove [Turtur ferrago) was introduced to 

 Queensland early in 1912. My nephew, the present Lord Hunting- 

 field, was then with his regiment in India, and sent me 26 pairs, 

 16 paiis of which survived the journey. I kept four pairs at 

 Adare, Gatton, but the natural enemies exterminated them. 

 The others I gave to Mr. Bailey, the then Curator of the Brisbane 

 Botanical Gardens, on the one condition that they were not to be 

 placed in captivity. This was observed, the birds being liberated 

 in Mr. Bailey's kitchen garden. Food was placed there daily for 

 them, but they soon became independent of this, and made their 

 own living from the various fruits in the gardens. My reason for 

 introducing the birds was chiefly that our beautiful gardens lacked 

 the pleasing music created by bird-life. To some extent the 

 Indian Dove has overcome this, but much more could and ought 

 to be done by the administration. I have since tried to get the 

 English Wood-Pigeon out from England, but failed. I have had 

 two consignments sent, but no bird survived the Suez Canal and 

 the Red Sea." 



Mr. Armstrong adds that the only other kindred experiment 

 of a private nature that he can think of was the attempt of the 

 late Robert Ramsay to acclimatize the Partridge at Eton Vale, 

 this being made in the eaily seventies of last century. I under- 

 stand that Calif ornian Quail were also introduced, but did not 

 long survive. 



' Bearing on the introduction of the Indian Minah {Acridoihercs 

 tristis) to Queensland, Sir Alfred Cowley obliges with the informa- 

 tion that this species, now so well represented on northern cane- 

 fields, was not imported direct from India, but obtained from 

 Melbourne, where a goodly batch was collected in the grounds 

 of St. Patrick's Cathedral and shipped to Queensland. That, 

 says Sir Alfred, was in 1883, and the birds were obtained on behalf 

 of the \'ictoria Sugar Company (since merged into the C.S.R. 

 Co.), the llamlrigh Company, and iJic (iairloch Company, to 

 combat a plague of locusts that was devastating the canefields. 

 Most of the Inrds were released on the Herbert River plantations, 

 some on the Johnstone, and a small batch at Townsville. The 



