PASSERIFORMES 149 



I do not know where Mr Drummond got his information, certainly 

 not from the annual reports of the Canterbury Society. Nor does 

 the pretty story tally with those told of the introduction of the house- 

 sparrow (q.v.). The fact is that a number of those who were concerned 

 with the introduction of the small birds in the early days of acclimatisa- 

 tion activity did not know a hedge-sparrow from a common sparrow, 

 and while in later years it was quite creditable to have been concerned 

 with the introduction of the former bird, no one is inclined to claim 

 any credit for the latter. 



A number of hedge-sparrows were brought to Christchurch in 

 1875, some of which were sold, and the remainder liberated in the 

 Gardens. 



A number were liberated in Hawke's Bay in 1876 by Mr Walter 

 Shrimpton, but Mr Guthrie Smith says they are not known at Tutira. 



The Wellington Society introduced four in 1880; 26 in 1881 ; 

 and 20 in 1882. This species has now become very widely spread 

 throughout New Zealand. It is the one bird against which no word 

 of complaint has ever been raised. It is not met vnth in undisturbed 

 bush country, but, according to Philpott (19 18), is equally at home 

 in the smaller areas of bush, in the suburban garden, and in the 

 shrubby groves at 3000 feet on the mountains. The majority of nests 

 are built quite low down, often practically on the ground, so that 

 the prevalence of stoats or cats is probably a controlling factor in the 

 increase of the species. On the other hand it is extremely common 

 in suburban areas near Dunedin, where cats also abound. 



The value of the bird was demonstrated to orchardists in 

 Central Otago at the beginning of 1919. In February, very heavy 

 rain caused an extraordinary outburst of vegetation in the gardens, 

 and this was followed by an invasion of the green fly (Aphis). The 

 outlook for some crops was very serious, till a great number of hedge- 

 sparrows appeared in the orchards, and in a very short time cleared 

 off the whole of the pest in the most perfect manner. 



In Otago the note of this bird is occasionally heard in winter, 

 but it begins to sing regularly in August, and nests are found from 

 September onwards. Some County Councils rather foolishly pay for 

 the eggs of hedge-sparrows. There is no excuse for this, for every 

 boy knows the eggs, and would not take them at all unless a price 

 was offered for them. 



Whitethroat Warbler (Sylvia cinerea) 



The Auckland Society introduced two in 1868, but they were not 

 heard of after liberation. In 1874 another attempt was made to 



