242 Transactions. 



Smith states that both came from the north. The former is now 

 nesting everywhere on the run, but the latter is much rarer. 



The goldfinch feeds largely on seeds, and it does not seem 

 to have aroused much enmity. Some farmers say that it does 

 more good than harm, as it destroys large quantities of thistle- 

 seed. 



The redpoll is regarded as a harmless bird for the most part, 

 but it has not spread very far. In the North it is reported to 

 be destructive on grass-seed burnings. 



The yellowhammer is classed with the sparrow in descrip- 

 tions of the damage done to seed in the newly-sown bush burns 

 in the North Island. Mr. S. I. Fitch, of Dallington, near Christ- 

 church, who took a keen interest in birds when a boy in York- 

 shire, states that the song-thrush, the greenfinch, and the gold- 

 finch are more numerous in New Zealand than he ever knew 

 them to be in England. 



The house-mynah attacks fruit as well as insects, being speci- 

 ally fond of cherries. 



The chaffinch joins other birds in their attacks upon seeds 

 and berries. 



The lapwing seems to have had a hard struggle at first against 

 this climate. It was not tried in the South Island until quite 

 recently, and it was thought that attempts to introduce it into 

 the North Island had failed. The information supplied, how- 

 ever, shows that its acclimatisation has been successful in several 

 northern districts, where it is highly praised, the experiment 

 of its introduction having given great satisfaction. This bird 

 is credited with having killed large numbers of the wireworm 

 and grubs in the spring, and absolutely no charges are made 

 against it. In January, 1904, thirty lapwings were liberated 

 in the Upper Kokotahi district, Westland, but nothing has been 

 heard of them yet. 



Praise of the little hedge-sparrow is almost unanimous. It 

 is found in fairly large numbers in Canterbury and in some dis- 

 tricts of Otago. It is regarded as a faithful friend of the farmers, 

 who regret that it has not spread as rapidly at its impudent 

 and hardy namesake. 



The cirl-bunting has established itself in several districts. 

 It seems to have created neither good impressions nor bad ones. 



Rooks have been introduced successfully, but they gene- 

 rally remain in one district, and do not spread far. They are 

 fairly plentiful in Canterbury, and in some districts of the North 

 Island, where it is said they do much good and scarcely any 

 harm. Their acclimatisation has not been very successful in 

 Hawke's Bay, although there are several colonies of them there. 

 This bird, however, is not without its enemies, and colonial 



