Drummond. — On Introduced Birds. 251 



New Zealand are sufficieubly striking to guard against thought- 

 less action. It might be advisable to forbid the importation 

 of any more foreign birds without the sanction of a committee 

 of experts, which could be appointed. 



Conclusion. 



My inquiry has not put an end to the controversy, which is 

 one of those things that will continue as long as small birds and 

 farmers exist. The lines oi demarcation are too faint, and too 

 hard to define, to enable it to be said with any certainty that the 

 introduction of small birds into this colony was a mistake. The 

 question rests largely upon speculative opinion, and absolute 

 settlement need never be looked for. 



A great deal of the evidence I have collected is confusing, 

 and a little of it is obviously the outcome of prejudice and bitter 

 enmity. There is, however, less of this than I expected. 



For the most part the conclusions arrived at by the hundreds 

 of correspondents who have returned the circulars are based 

 upon actual observations extending over thirty or forty years. 

 Many of those who went to the trouble of filling in the circulars 

 are in the advantageous position of having known the small 

 birds both at Home and in the colonies, and they are in a good 

 position to make comparisons and note changes that have taken 

 place in the birds' habits. In some cases considerable trouble 

 has been taken, the circulars being accompanied by long letters. 

 By the adoption of this system of seeking information many 

 men have been reached who would never have imparted their 

 knowledge in any other way. Several of the correspondents 

 have been good enough to commend the system. They have 

 expressed their willingness to supply more detailed information, 

 if desired, and they suggest that the idea should be applied to 

 other subjects that interest the agriculturist. 



The evidence has been weighed carefully, and in forming 

 conclusions I have endeavoured to be just to men and birds 

 alike. The summary of the results, at any rate, is impartial, 

 and I think I am justified in claiming that on the prominent 

 points of the controversy a consensus of expert opinion through- 

 out the colony is now placed at the disposal of all who wish ta 

 have it. 



I have to thank Mr. T. W. Kirk for the trouble he took in 

 distributing the circuhirs, collecting them through his Depart- 

 ment, and forwarding them on to me. 



The folloAvang is a list of birds that have been naturalised 

 and established in New Zealand : Song-thrush {Turdus musicus), 

 blackbird {Turdus merida). hedge-sparrow (Accentor modulmis),. 



