INTRODUCTION 3 



trouble. Apparently no biologist was consulted in connection with 

 the proposal. No one seemed to think it worth while to ascertain 

 what was known as to the life-histories of the Australian swallows, 

 for instance as to what insects they fed upon, or whether the birds 

 were migratory and would stay in the country, if introduced. No 

 particular species was pointed out as the desirable one, indeed it 

 is doubtful whether any one of those who were responsible for recom- 

 mending the step knew one species from another. Further, no one 

 seemed to know that specimens of at least two species of Australian 

 swallows (the Australian Tree Swallow (Pterochelidon nigricans) and 

 the Australian Swift (Cypselus padficus)) visit our shores nearly every 

 summer, and that natural agencies have been trying to achieve on a 

 very large scale what some of our acclimatisation experts proposed 

 to do on a small scale with very little prospect of success. 



Still more recently (1916-17) an animated discussion has been 

 going on in Auckland as to the desirability of introducing the " stubble 

 quail or partridge " (Coturnix pectoralis), as a sporting bird, some 

 persons being keenly in favour of, others just as keenly opposed to, 

 the step, on account of the harm the bird might do to the farmers. 

 Apparently the species has been already introduced three times into 

 the country, nearly fifty years ago, at Christchurch, Auckland and 

 Hokianga, but it did not become established. 



The whole history of acclimatisation efforts in New Zealand 

 abounds in similar bungles and blunders, and while a certain measure 

 of good has been achieved notably in stocking our nearly empty 

 rivers and lakes with fine food- and sport-fishes, yet the record of 

 harm done is enormously greater. So-called acclimatisation societies 

 to-day are only angling and sporting clubs, and it is a question whether 

 the whole control should not be taken up by the Government. At 

 any rate the public wants education on the question, and this work is 

 a contribution towards this aspect of it. 



On entering on this task I did not realise how vast it was, and how 

 fragmentary was the sum of the existing knowledge, but having com- 

 menced it, I had no thought of turning back, or of abandoning the 

 project. Even if the record be imperfect, it will be of some use to 

 future workers to have pieced together the available material. 



In writing some account of the introduced animals I at first 

 thought of confining my attention to mammals, birds and fishes, 

 but this seemed so inadequate that I went on from group to group 

 until I found that my list included over 600 species, commencing 

 with the Marsupials and ending with the Medicinal Leech. The line 

 had, however, to be drawn somewhere, so I have left the microscopic 

 forms for some specialist to deal with. Having launched out on the 



