166 A NEW ZEALAND NATURALIST'S CALENDAR. 



momentary perch on a tree to pursue a moth or a butter- 

 fly in the open, and the rapid twists and tvirns of both 

 pursuer and pursued, the sudden downward swoop of the 

 bird, and the equally rapid side dash of the insect, show 

 that both enter into the struggle very keenly. I have not 

 unfrequently noticed sparrows similarly engaged, and 

 where their prey was some slow-flying moth they were 

 able to secure it, even though their movements lacked the 

 flashing rapidity of those of the tui. It would be interest- 

 ing to learn whether sparrows hawk for moths in the Old 

 Country. I can find no record of the fact, though it may 

 be well enough known. 



In this country sparrows build in all sorts of places 

 cimong others they are fond of cliffs, especially of deep clay 

 banks. Thus, in railway and roadside cuttings, especially 

 where these are fissured by water channels, they are fond 

 of burrowing and of picking out holes in which to make 

 their nests. I can well remember, in my Old Country days, 

 how various birds used to build on the cliffs about Arthur's 

 Seat in Edinburgh, and on the sides of the Castle rock. 

 But the sparrows in such localities were not the common 

 birds. Swifts, stonechats, winchats, and, on the more 

 precipitous and inaccessible parts, various kinds of hawks 

 and other birds of prey were the chief occupiers ; while on 

 sand cliffs and quarries we used to see numbers of the long 

 narrow burrows of the sand-martins. But in New Zealand 

 the sparrow utilises all such localities ; he is the most 

 accommodating of birds in his habits, and his motto seems 

 to be "I fear no foe." In the limestone country behind 

 Oamaru pigeons had formerly taken up their quarters in 

 various parts of the cliffs, but of late years they have been 

 dispossessed by hordes of starlings and sparrows. 



The almost total absence here of enemies may be 

 expected to lead in time to modifications of colour in the 

 birds. Or perhaps it would be more scientifically correct 

 to say, to prevent the suppression of such modifications 

 when they arise. Colour sports are very common, but 

 under the severe conditions which prevail in Europe they 

 are rigorously suppressed. There a white or piebald 



