4152 The Zoologist — September, 1874. 



so prepared and recommended could not fail to have some weight 

 with the various acclimatisation societies of the country. 



It would not be a iiaatter of much regret if the present irre- 

 sponsible system of acclimatisation were stopped before mistaken 

 zeal results in further errors. This is a delicate subject to deal 

 with, and I trust it will not be considered impertinent to question 

 the infallible wisdom of acclimatisation councils. The time may 

 come when the antipodean sparrow controversy may be renewed 

 here; when that grand bird, the black swan, useless or unsavoury 

 as food, a disturber of the broods of less powerful Anatidae, may be 

 regarded as an acquisition of doubtful value; whilst the country 

 might trust, with something like security, that such an ignorant and 

 expensive blunder as the introduction of the weed Anacharis 

 alsinastrum would be avoided. Acclimatisation societies might 

 expend some energy in the re-establishment of the most valuable 

 of our native fauna. This would prove a useful if not a very showy 

 occupation ; dwellers beyond the narrow confines of our shores 

 would take an interest in the progress of such a work ; yet it must 

 be candidly avowed that attempts in the direction indicated would 

 be attended with little of the iclat which now accompanies the 

 announcement of every newly introduced wonder and advertises 

 each local society. 



Nevertheless, by all means in our power, let us preserve our 

 native birds. Let it not be forgotten that within our narrow 

 boundaries are many very singular forms; that our fauna com- 

 prises about a score of indigenous genera, of which not more than 

 two (Prosthemadera and Hymenolaimus) come under the Bird 

 Protection Act. These peculiar forms are of very great interest to 

 naturalists and physiologists the wide world over. We shall justly 

 incur the opprobium of barbarism if we neglect to use strenuous 

 exertions to avert the fate which seems impending over them. 

 No excuse that we could offer for indifference will palliate our 

 destructiveness in the eyes of the scientific world. 



In this, as in former papers, when attempting to describe the 

 habits of several species, I have thought it desirable to point out 

 the utility of many native birds to the agriculturist and the 

 gardener. In fact, the preservation of our birds should enlist not 

 only the attention and co-operation of the man of science or the 

 naturalist, — the subject has a just claim on the consideration of the 

 political economist, the farmer, the gardener, the sportsman, — not 



