540 ACCLIMATISATION WORK 



but while the latter have re-established themselves in great numbers, 

 the chaffinches still remain rare birds in most of the lower levels of 

 Otago. In the higher country, however, wherever bush abounds, 

 up to 3000 feet, they are reported as abundant. Their comparative 

 absence in the southern half of the South Island, and their abundance 

 in the north, especially from Lake Taupo northwards, seem to bear 

 out the idea that poisoned grain has been the disturbing factor in 

 the first-named districts. 



Something of the same kind perhaps explains the erratic occur- 

 rence of the cirl bunting (Emberiza cirlus). These birds were intro- 

 duced into Otago about 1871, and became fairly common. Then for 

 a time they nearly quite disappeared, at least from districts where 

 cultivation of the land was carried on, but recently they have been 

 more in evidence. In the north, for example along the coast from 

 Manawatu to Taranaki, they are quite common. These birds, as well 

 as yellow-hammers (Emberiza dtrinella) and red-polls (Linota rufescens) 

 gather in large flocks at certain seasons of the year, just as migratory 

 species do in Europe, but there is no evidence that they leave the 

 country- 



