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streams or lakes could one now expect a sight of the noble White Crane, 

 watching " with motionless regard," its finny prey, yet but twelve years since, 

 the writer of this paper gave Lake Heron, in the Ashburton country, its name, 

 from the numbers of this majestic bird, which frequented its shores, or soared 

 above its surface with lazy, heavy flight. These are but a few names of rare 

 birds from a list that is annually increasing ; and it is a matter of no great 

 difficulty to point to the causes, which have led to what must certainly be 

 deemed a misfortune to the Colony. 



As the country became occupied, the more remote districts rendered 

 accessible by means of roads, as wide-spreading swamps were drained and 

 brought into cultivation, extensive tracts of country stocked with cattle and 

 sheep, above all, as the whole face of the country became changed by the 

 repeated bush fires, it can be readily understood how these vai'ious incidents of 

 civilization should so soon have effected such considerable changes in the 

 condition of our feathered tribes. To these other minor causes may be added, 

 and, perhaps, contemplated with less satisfaction, the reckless gunner frequently 

 killing for the mere love of slaughter, the self-complacent " new chum," with 

 the inevitable firearms, even the learned savant will sometimes be tempted to 

 destroy both old and young, especially of our rarer birds, a favourable 

 opportunity of procui'ing choice and desirable specimens being too great for 

 resistance ; scientific zeal thus overcomes good policy, and consideration for the 

 future. Would not the re-establishment of some of our rarer species (many of 

 which are excellent as articles of food) form a worthy, if not a noble, object of 

 ambition for our Acclimatization Societies to achieve 1 * The difficulties 

 attending such an undertaking would necessarily be great, there is no doubt, 

 but difficulties energetically encountered are seldom insitperable. To ensure 

 anything like a successful issue being arrived, at, certain conditions must be 

 fulfilled, early action must be taken, an intelligent acquaintance with the 

 habits of birds, would be indispensable, patience to endure considerable trouble, 

 as well as occasional disappointment, and lastly, a small expenditure of money. 

 However, a moderate outlay should not be an impediment to an undertaking 

 of such interest with those institutions, which have been handsomely supported 

 by private subscriptions, supplemented by liberal grants of public money, t 

 The Parliament of New Zealand has taken steps to protect some of our birds, 

 but however well legislative enactments may be framed, the people themselves 

 can alone determine what shall be allowed to exist ; looking at the rapid 

 destruction threatening our noble forests, and in some cases Our fisheries also, 

 it must be admitted that the prospect of the preservation of our birds is the 

 reverse of hopeful. 



As a rule, we appear to live, work, and legislate for to-day, with not too 

 much anxious thought for the to-morrow of those who are destined to succeed us. 

 Whatever may have been the result in other countries which have been 

 colonized by our race, whoever fairly writes the history of this country, will 

 have to record how deeply the Anglo-Saxon settler has implanted his mark, by 

 the alteration of the natural features it presented on his first arrival. Perhaps 

 it would not be considered out of place to offer a few general, but Very brief, 



* ' ' One of the exciting causes of the destruction of every living native animal that can be 

 met with is the pretence of enriching our Museums, while at the same time the overstocked 

 market in Europe render them, for the most part, unsaleable there ; and it is a well- 

 known fact, that the skins of Australian birds, etc. , have been re-exported from England 

 to Australia for sale." — See Dr. Bennett's "Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australia." 



+ Should our Acclimatizing Institutions require a precedent, they may refer to the 

 "Bulletin de la Society Imperiale Zoologique d' Acclimatation, 1864." Among the 

 extraordinary prizes offered by the Imperial Society, February, 1864, may be found, — 

 Reproduction in France of the Pinnated Grouse ( Tetrao Cupido) la Gelinotte, medal of 

 1,000 francs. 



H 



