I70 BIRDS 



Mountain Sparrow ; Tree Sparrow {Passer montanus) 



The Otago Society liberated two in 1868. The Auckland Society 

 also liberated three in 1868, and nine in 1871. None of these was 

 heard of again. 



* Chaffinch (Fringilla ccelebs) 



The Nelson Society introduced 23 of these birds between 1 862 and 

 1864, but kept no record of them afterwards. 



The Canterbury Society liberated 11 in 1867, and five in 

 1868; and three years later reported that they are considered to be 

 "thoroughly established and to need no further importations." In 

 1 87 1 a further lot were introduced. 



The Auckland Society liberated several in 1864, 45 in 1867, 

 and stated the following year that they were thoroughly acclimatised. 

 But they introduced 68 more in 1868, and a considerable number 

 in 1869. 



The Otago Society liberated 27 in 1868, six in 1869, and 66 in 

 1871. 



The Wellington Society liberated 70 in 1874, 3^ ^^ 1876, 20 in 

 1877, and a few more in subsequent years. 



Private individuals and dealers introduced them also at all the 

 principal centres. 



This bird is common throughout both the islands, and very 

 abundant in some parts, especially from Taupo northwards. Even 

 up to the present time, some county councils in grain-growing 

 districts (e.g. South Canterbury) are giving bonuses for their des- 

 truction. 



Their occurrence in Otago has been rather curious, and has 

 puzzled observers a good deal. For example, about Dunedin they 

 became fairly common a few years after their introduction, and then 

 nearly altogether disappeared. I attributed this to their eating poisoned 

 grain, for their scarcity dated from the time that this method of des- 

 troying rabbits came into use. But since this method was abandoned 

 in favour of pollard-poisoning, and poisoning generally was substituted 

 for trapping, other small birds have increased very considerably, but 

 the chaffinch is still a comparatively rare bird. 



Mr A. Philpott states that while the species is not common near 

 Invercargill, where it began to appear in 19 10, it is abundant at 

 Queenstown, and common in the Longwood, Waiau and Titiroa 

 (Hunter Mountains) forests. It is especially abundant in these 

 localities on the upper limit of the bush (about 3000 feet). 



An attempt was made in 1879 to establish them in Stewart Island, 

 when 70 were liberated. They were seen for a time at the head 



