162 BIRDS 



At their first appearance in settled districts, their visits were made 

 in the winter months, and they were hailed as valuable insectivorous 

 birds by orchardists and gardeners. When they became permanent 

 residents they discovered the potentialities of fruit, especially plums 

 and pears, and now they are looked upon as great robbers in the 

 fruit season. The good they do for ten months of the year probably 

 far outweighs the toll they exact during the remaining two. 



In 1913 large flocks of them visited Akaroa in the autumn and 

 punished the orchards. In 1914 very few were to be seen. 



In July, 1910, Mr H. Boscawen reported finding seven white-eyes 

 caught on the sticky seeds of Pisonia Brunoniana. 



Mr B. E. Collins of Takapou, Hawke's Bay, reported them (1914) 

 as visiting flowering currants and tritomas when in flower. 



These little birds are more mercilessly attacked and destroyed 

 by larger predatory birds than any other species, perhaps because 

 they seem less suspicious of enemies than introduced finches, and 

 even the small indigenous birds. They are frequently found killed 

 by hawks, kingfishers, long- tailed cuckoos and shining cuckoos, as 

 also occasionally by others 1 . 



Family MELIPHAGIDJE 

 Australian Bell-bird (Manorhina melanophrys) 



The Wellington Society introduced two in 1874, but have no 

 further record of them. 



Family TANAGRID./E 

 Scarlet Tanager ; Cape Cardinal (Pyrangra rubra) 



The Auckland Society introduced two in 1868. They immediately 

 commenced to breed, and in 1869 it was stated that they were not 

 rare in the vicinity of the Gardens. They did not, however, succeed 

 in establishing themselves. 



1 Dr Cleland says of this species in Australia : " The stomach contents of fifty- five 

 Silver-eyes have been examined. Forty-five of these contained vegetable food, 

 chiefly fruits of various kinds. Thirty-two contained insect food. Amongst the 

 insects occasionally eaten were cabbage-moths, froghoppers, psyllids, thrips, 

 aphids, black scale, and plant bug. During the fruit season there is not the slightest 

 question that the Silver-eye does a very considerable amount of damage to orchards. 

 By feeding on the fruits of such pests as blackberries and lantana, and passing the 

 seeds in their droppings, Silver-eyes act as potent disseminators of these and other 

 plants. However, during the season when fruit is not ripe they apparently serve a 

 definitely usetul purpose in destroying certain insect pests. As energetic measures 

 adopted for the destruction of Silver-eyes have never yet been successful in materially 

 reducing their number in any locality, there is little likelihood, whatever action be 

 taken, of eliminating this bird from any particular part." 



