242 Transactions. — Zooloijy. 



always followed either by spring or else a long continuance of fine weather. 



It is possible that the fact of these birds' nests being hung to sprays so 

 slender that they will not bear the weight of even a rat, may account for their 

 survival, but certain it is they have suffered very little. Whether the spread 

 of cats will affect the birds or rats most remains to be seen ; but judging 

 from the change produced in this neighbourhood, it would appear that the 

 rats suffer severely from their natural enemies, and whereas they swarm in 

 thousands throughout some parts. of the bush, in other localities food may 

 be left for weeks and remain untouched. This phenomenon has only been 

 noticeable of late years, and points to the establishment of cats at different 

 parts of the forest. 



Before concluding this paper I would briefly notice the action of the 

 Acclimatization Society in introducing useful birds, and it seems hard that 

 a body of men who spend so much time in trying to benefit then' country, 

 should be held up to the execration of their fellow- colonists. The circum- 

 stances in which country settlers are placed must be allowed, however, to 

 be very peculiar, and the irascible tone of the sufferers whose letters may 

 be seen weekly is caused by the following facts, — the sparrows and yellow- 

 hammers which are now devastating the young grain crops, etc, have not 

 yet become accustomed to the country, nor has the habit of feeding on grain 

 which they learnt on the passage out left them ; it may even be handed down 

 from the parent birds to their young. 



Again, grain-producing farmers here are few, scarcely more than one 

 out of six, and these unlucky wights perhaps live in isolated spots, sur- 

 rounded by large wastes or forests, where their feathered enemies breed 

 unmolested, the birds are not evenly spread over the country, but moving 

 about in waves, and always most numerous on their front. A single farmer 

 may thus have to feed a number of bh'ds which in the old country would 

 have been distributed amongst a hundred, and their ravages scarcely felt. 

 I am, however, confident that like thistles, bhght, and many another scare, 

 this of the birds will pass away also, and much good result from their 

 introduction ; caterpillars and other insects have caused more loss than can 

 ever be inflicted by birds, so let us hope that settlers will look past the little 

 inconveniences of the present. 



