250 Transactions. 



being counted on small areas. They achieved the same success 

 in Otago, where about sixty were liberated from 1866 to 1870. 



Black swans are now found in thousands on lakes, estuaries, 

 and lagoons in many parts of the colony, from the extreme 

 north to the far south. They keep much to the wild regions. 

 In some places they wage a deadly war on the native ducks, 

 taking their food-supplies from them and persecuting them 

 relentlessly. 



Further Introductions Suggested. 



A rather striking aspect of the inquiries is that there is not 

 the same consensus of opinion against the introduction of more 

 English birds as there is against those we have already. Fur- 

 ther introductions are suggested with quite as much confidence 

 as characterized the first introductions, forty years ago. 



The twenty-eighth question on the circular was, " Do you 

 think that any other English birds could be introduced advan- 

 tageously ? If so, state the species you favour." Only a few 

 of the correspondents are opposed to further introductions, 

 although several sound a warning that English birds are liable 

 to change their habits on coming to a new land and living under 

 new conditions. 



It is clear, however, that sentiment must still be reckoned 

 with. This is shown by the fact that many more votes have 

 been cast in favour of robin redbreast than in favour of any 

 other bird that can be thought of. He heads the list of sug- 

 gested importations of the future. The fact that jenny wren 

 is not very far down in the list may be taken as further evidence 

 that sentiment in regard to the birds of the Old Country is not 

 dead. It is expected, however, that robin redbreast will be 

 useful as well as ornamental. The swallow comes next to him, 

 then several kinds of martins, then the plovers, the swift, and 

 the wagtail, in that order. The cuckoo is a general favourite. 

 Other birds named are the stonechat, shrike, snipe, more lap- 

 wings and hedge-sparrows, flycatcher, tits, titmouse, white- 

 throat, nightingale (which, by the way, has only one vote), water- 

 ousels, storks, American flycatcher and kingbird, goatsucker, 

 grouse, partridge (French and English), jackdaw, blackcock, 

 nightjar, woodpecker, winchat, wheatear, pipit, wryneck, crow, 

 and butcher-bird. 



I supply this list for what it is worth, and to give some indi- 

 cation of the feeling on the subject. The advisableness of in- 

 troducing any of the birds named is a matter that should be 

 gone into with great care when definite steps in regard to further 

 importations are contemplated, and it could hardly be discussed 

 here. The facts brought to light in respect to acclimatisation in 



