128 BIRDS 



or heard of for some time." But in 1885 we read: "About a dozen 

 of the prairie hens, imported about four years ago, have been seen 

 on a farm at North Loburn, in fine plumage and apparently good 

 condition." This is the last record of them. 



The Auckland Society introduced 20 of the birds in 1881. 

 In the following year, out of a very large number shipped at San 

 Francisco, about 40 more were received. Half of these were sent 

 to Otago, and (it is said) the remainder were stolen. I cannot find 

 any report of their liberation in Otago. But neither in the north nor 

 the south did the species succeed in establishing itself. 



Common Grouse (Lagopus scoticus) 



The history of the attempts to introduce grouse into New Zealand 

 is nearly exclusively a record of failure to carry the species over the 

 sea. Only two societies appear to have tried to introduce it. 



In 1870 five were shipped in London by Mr Larkworthy for the 

 Auckland Society; one survived the voyage, then pined and died. 

 In 1872 he shipped 33 birds; two pairs were landed, but one pair 

 died soon after landing. The other pair, a cock and a hen, were 

 liberated at Matamata. In 1873 Mr Larkworthy shipped another 

 lot (the number is not recorded in the Society's reports), of which 

 one pair arrived. These also were liberated at Matamata, and were 

 heard of for some time afterwards. 



In 1871 the Otago Society got Mr R. Bills to attempt to bring 

 some out, and eight brace were shipped in London. When eight days 

 out they all died in the course of a single night. Mr Bills reported 

 that " their legs became suddenly paralysed, immediately after which 

 they drooped away." 



Black Grouse ; Black Game (Lyruriis tetrix) 



The Auckland Society in 1873 made an attempt to obtain these 

 birds through Mr Larkworthy, but they all died before they reached 

 the docks in London. 



The Otago Society in 1879 through Mr Bills, obtained 80 birds in 

 Scotland, but only 20 reached the ship. " It was found very difficult 

 to take the black cock at all from proprietors' lands in Scotland." 

 Ten survived the voyage and were liberated. In 1882 one was 

 seen near Tuapeka Mouth ; and a cock and a hen up the Waitahuna 

 River. There is no further record. 



In 1900, 26 were shipped in London, but only a cock and 

 two hens arrived and reached Dunedin. These were Uberated in the 

 reserve at the junction of the Leithan and Pomahaka runs ; they were 



