332 TUTIRA 



Then began a process of emancipation the minah became less 

 dependent year by year ; he outgrew the tie binding him to mankind. 

 At first nests were built in rocky road-cuttings and beneath the wood- 

 work of culverts and bridges, where, at any rate, there was the solace 

 of man's countenance and support if but for a passing glimpse. Later 

 again, even this slender tie was dropped ; the minah became a wild bird, 

 building far from any homestead in the cracks and fissures of dead trees 

 standing in bush reserves. Nowadays, upon the approach of autumn, 

 minahs largely use the roads, closing in on homesteads for scraps of 

 fowl-feed and leavings of the gallows and kennels. The species has also 

 of late developed a vulture-like habit of congregating near any sheep 

 dead on the hills ; in the vicinity of the carcase, awaiting the process 

 of skinning, the expectant birds gather for their ghoulish meal. 



" Australian magpies " (Gymnorhina leuconota) were liberated in 

 Hawke's Bay during the 'seventies. A brace appeared at Tutira in '85 ; 

 they had moved inland from Tangoio, where prior to '82 a small colony 

 had established itself. The migrant pair were accidently destroyed. The 

 Tangoio magpies three seasons later were purposely shot ; their attacks 

 on the sheep-dogs had become so intolerable during the nesting season 

 that the wretched collies dared not follow their owners, who in their 

 turn were unable to muster the run without canine assistance. Since 

 that date, from time to time solitary birds moving north have been 

 noted on the station. 



The evidence of early settlers is unanimous that the acclimatisation 

 by the Hawke's Bay Provincial Council of the yellow-hammer (Emberiza 

 citronella) was an immediate success. The breed was perfectly suited 

 by the multiplication of insect life and the increase of alien fodder- 

 plants and weeds everywhere taking place ; like the goldfinch, it 

 flourished from the date of liberation. In '87 several pair were noted 

 on the run, one at least of them rearing a brood. The history of the 

 breed is unusual in this, that its numbers on the station nowadays are 

 as great as at any earlier period. The yellow-hammer has not, as 

 usually happens, appeared, rapidly increased to a maximum and then 

 with almost equal celerity suffered diminishment. 



The greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris), also imported by the Hawke's 

 Bay Provincial Council, is reported to have succeeded at once. I have, 

 however, no recollection of any specimens on Tutira prior to '90. From 

 the fact, however, that I got half a dozen nests during that year, it is 



