ON SOME INTRODUCED BIRDS IN NEW iJEALAND. 449 



cawing and wheeling of large flocks reminds one of the rural 

 delights of the old countrj'. 



The Starling, Sturmis vnlgaris, has greatly increased in 

 numbers. Large flocks settle in the sheep-paddocks, where they 

 do good service. In the autumn the Starling aifects the taller 

 trees about the plantations. 



The Chaffinch, Fringilla coelehs, once was common here ; 

 during the past two years it has sensibly decreased. In nest- 

 building it very frequently uses fragments of printed paper as a 

 substitute for lichens where this favourite material is scarce. 



The Goldfinch, Fringilla carduelis, is now one of the com- 

 monest species here. It breeds in our gardens freely, and is some- 

 times seen with Sparrows searching for food on newly-dug ground. 



The Greenfinch, Fringilla chloris, was once one of the worst 

 pests of the corn-fields and fruit-gardens. One of its favourite 

 habits in the winter months consisted in picking out seeds from 

 the large cones of the cluster pine {P. pinaster). 



The Sparrow, Passer domesticus, has become a terrible 

 nuisance to the farmer. At a recent meeting at the rooms of 

 the Agricultural and Pastoral Association the damage from 

 Sparrows was estimated to have entailed a loss of ^50,000 to 

 the Canterbury farmers. Very energetic measures have to be 

 taken for lessening its numbers. Sj^arrow Clubs have started 

 in all directions, and tens of thousands of eggs and young birds 

 are annually brought in for the rewards offered for them. The 

 Sparrow is gregarious in its breeding habits in some instances. 



The Yellow Bunting, Emheriza citrinella, is not very often 

 seen here. It has been introduced twent}'^ years, but its numbers 

 in this part of the country are not large. 



The Skylark, Alauda arvensis, has increased in an astonishing 

 manner. As it annoys farmers by eating ofi;" many varieties of 

 young plants, great numbers are destroyed annually. I knew 

 the English South Downs well very many years ago, but neither 

 there nor in any other district of England have I heard at one 

 time so many Skylarks aloft, pouring forth their melody, as 

 in some parts of this colony — notably in Nelson and on the 

 Canterburj^ plains. There seems to be gradually taking place 

 some change in their habits, influenced doubtless by the altered 

 conditions of life in this country ; although gregarious I have 

 never noticed them packing together in vast flocks. Migration 



ZOOLOGIST. — NOV. 1884. 2 H 



