Dbummond. — On Introduced Birds. 227 



Art. XXV. — On Introduced Birds. 

 By J. Drummond, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Cajiterbury, &h December, 1905.] 



My excuse for entering the controversy as to whether small 

 birds are man's friends or his enemies lies in the fact that I 

 have lately collected a great deal of information dealing with 

 the position that has arisen in New Zealand since acclimatisa- 

 tion was commenced in this colony, over forty years ago. 



The introduction of old birds to a new country cannot fail 

 to ijiterest iiaturalists, who will welcome all additions to their 

 knowledge of tlie subject. Besides that, the small English birds 

 have brought about a serious problem in this country, as in all 

 other countries where they thrive, and I feel sure that agri- 

 culturists in New Zealand, as well as in other countries where 

 acclimatisation is contemplated, mil be glad of some means of 

 ascertaining the resxilts brought about here. 



The best plan of collecting the information is to pass from 

 district to district, interviewing farmers and old settlers, and 

 making observations. To do that, however, both time and 

 money are necessary. The next best plan is to send throughout 

 the colony a large number of circulars containing questions 

 bearing on the subject. This was the plan I adopted, and, 

 thi'ough the kindness of the Biological Branch of the Agricul- 

 tural Department, which undertook to print the circulars and 

 send them out to farmers, observers, and others who would 

 be likely to give intelligent replies to the twenty-nine questions 

 contained in the circulars, I have collected a great deal of evi- 

 dence. 



How Acclimatisation Began. 



Acclimatisation began in New Zealand when the Maoris 

 brought their dog and their rat from Polynesia. The rat, which 

 is a rather engaging little animal — for a rodent — is not plentiful 

 now, except in some densely wooded districts ; and the dog, 

 which was a sorry specimen of his order, is quite extinct ; but 

 for five or six hundred years both thrived exceedingly well, and 

 they stand first on a long list of animals that have been intro- 

 duced into this country with a success which, in several cases, 

 is far too marked. 



The first European animals were introduced by Captain 

 (/ook. He let three pigs loose in Queen Charlotte Sound in 

 1773. He extracted from the Maori to whom he gave them a 

 promise that they would not be killed. He believed that in 



