HISTORICAL RECORD 7 



two species). Mr Best considers the Europeans are responsible for 

 the introduction of the fleas. According to Maori tradition two 

 species of louse (Pediculus) were also introduced by Polynesian 

 immigrants. Mr Cheeseman has pointed out that the Polynesians 

 were great cultivators, and carried their cultivated plants from one 

 part of the Pacific Ocean to another. He considers that they knew 

 of the existence of New Zealand, of the occurrence of greenstone 

 and of the moa, and that their migrations were not accidental, but 

 were conducted on definite principles. 



While it is not possible to fix even approximately the date of 

 introduction of any of the species of animals and plants which 

 occurred wild in New Zealand in 1773, and which were common to 

 this country, and any other land areas, it is advisable to take a brief 

 survey of these common species and see from what region the most 

 recent introductions before that date appear to have come. 



To begin with, it must be borne in mind that the introduction 

 of living organisms has been going on continuously throughout all 

 the ages during which New Zealand has existed as a distinct land- 

 area, and that the process still continues naturally. It is impossible 

 to arrive at any accurate testimony of the results of this process, but 

 certain considerations point to its existence. 



Of the two bats which occur in New Zealand the Long-tailed Bat 

 (Chalinolobus mono) is also found in South-eastern Australia; the 

 other belongs to an endemic genus, Mystacops. 



The bird-fauna contains a number of endemic genera and species, 

 the affinities of many being obscure. Of those which belong to 

 readily recognised types of land birds, the majority have affinities 

 with the Australian avifauna, but as Hutton has pointed out, only 

 with that section of it which is allied to that of Malaysia. 



The lizards do not help us here, for, excluding the Tuatara, which 

 is a survival from archaic times, they belong to genera of very wide 

 distribution, and are probably of very considerable antiquity. As 

 regards the relationships of the land and fresh-water mollusca, Hutton, 

 as far back as 1883, stated that "our closest connection appears to 

 be with North Australia, but there is a considerable generic affinity 

 with the faunas of New Caledonia, Polynesia and South America." 



Taking Suter's Manual as our guide, we find that there are 34 

 genera of land and fresh-water mollusca in New Zealand. Of these 

 13 are confined to these islands; three range into Tasmania and 

 Australia, but no further; 13 are found in Australasia, but are more 

 or less widely distributed outside the region ; while five range into the 

 Pacific, but are not Australian. Closer analysis bears out the general 

 accuracy of Hutton's generalisation. 



