INTRODUCTION 33 



of thousands of circulars, Avhich were circulated broadcast. 

 When they were returned, it was found that the mass of the 

 evidence was entirely against the little bird, which was 

 proclaimed a public nuisance, and was wholeheartedly 

 condemned.* 



Many other birds were introduced. It is certainly impossible 

 to defend the introduction of some of them, such as the 

 greenfinch, which was liberated in all the provinces, the 

 bullfinch in Nelson, the Java sparrow in Nelson and Auckland, 

 and the grass-parrakeet in Canterbuiy. Fortunately the three 

 last-named failed to establish themselves. In some instances, 

 sentiment clashed with utility. This is so with regard to the 

 skylark. Sentimentally, it is the same "blithe spirit'' that 

 delighted Shelley in England, but practically, it is far from 

 being an "embodied joy" to the farmers. We could also 

 have very well done without the blackbird and the house 

 mynah. 



The partridge, the turtle-dove, the grey linnet, and the 

 Australian mynah were among the complete failures. The list 

 could easily be added to, but it is only right to say that some 

 birds, such as robin redbreast, did not have a fair chance. It 

 was expected that pheasants would do very well. For a time 

 they increased in both Islands, especially the North. Then they 

 began to decline, and they have now almost died out in many 

 districts. 



The cirl-bunting, the goldfinch, the starling, and perhaps the 

 yellow-bunting spread into Canterbury from Otago. The only 

 cirl-buntings ever turned out in New Zealand were liberated 

 in the Otago Peninsula about 1868. They were not uncommon 

 about Dunedin in 1878, and in 1891 had reached the Malvern 

 Hills, in Canterbury. Goldfinches were abundant in Otago 

 when they were rare or unknown in Canterbury. The same 

 may be said of the starlings, which were comparatively rare 

 in Christchurch in 1880, but were abundant in 1890. Many 

 song-thrushes were liberated in all the provinces of the colony 



'Ouf Feathered IminioiuntN, by .Tames Druuiuiond, published by the Governmeut 

 Printer, Wellington, New Zealand, 1907. 



