138 BIRDS 



The Nelson Society introduced some in 1867, but there is no 

 record as to what came of them. 



The Auckland Society received one from Dr Stratford in 1868. 



The Wellington Society liberated 14 in 1876, and one in 1879. 

 One was seen as late as 1885, but that is the last record. 



Colonel Boscawen tells me (December, 1916) that a few laughing 

 jackasses are to be found wild on the east coast of the Auckland 

 district. 



This bird in Australia has been found to feed mostly on insects 

 (beetles, grasshoppers, etc.), centipedes and spiders. 



Family STRiGiDi^ 



Many of the species of small birds introduced by the acclimatisa- 

 tion societies to cope with insects, increased themselves to such an 

 extent as to become a serious pest to the farmers, and steps were 

 taken in some of the districts to introduce a natural enemy in the 

 shape of owls. The following species have been introduced already. 



Barn Owl {Strix flammea) 

 The Annual Report of the Otago Society for 1900 contains the 

 following statement: 



Seven barn owls received from London in December (1899) were 

 liberated at West Taieri, Mr Fulton of Ravenscliff supplying them with 

 food at the homestead until they finally left their cages. Some of them 

 returned to their cages for over two weeks. They are now to be seen of an 

 evening flying about the straw stacks at West Taieri, and as they live almost 

 entirely on rats and mice, we feel sure the public will protect them. 



The italics are mine. The birds were introduced to keep down 

 the small bird nuisance. They do not appear to have established 

 themselves, for they have not been heard of since 1900. 



* Small Brown Owl {Athene noctud) 



The Otago Society in 1906 imported 28 birds from Germany, 

 liberating 14 at Ashley Downs, Waiwera, and 14 at Alexandra; in 

 1907 39 were introduced and liberated at Alexandra; and in 1908 a 

 third shipment of 80 was received and these were distributed in 

 various parts. In this year also it was reported that several of those 

 introduced in 1906 had reared young broods. In 1909 several fruit 

 growers in Central Otago reported them as having proved already a 

 great boon to their orchards. In 1910 72 birds were received, of which 

 14 were liberated, and the remainder sold to farmers and orchardists. 



In 19 1 6 they are reported as multiplying about Wendon in an 

 old quarry, from which they have displaced a colony of starlings. 



