172 BIRDS 



Mr Edgar F. Stead, writing me in April, 1915, says : " It is possible 

 that the birds imported were all, or nearly all of one sex. If they 

 were caught during certain seasons of the year, nesting, and perhaps 

 migratory, they may have been nearly all cockbirds." 



Twite ; Mountain Linnet {Linota flavirostris) 



The Nelson Society imported some of these birds in 1862, but 

 only two reached the colony. 



The Otago Society liberated 38 in the Dunedin Botanical 

 Gardens in 1871. Mr F. Deans, the curator, informed me in 1890 

 that he "never saw or heard of them again." This species is a partial 

 migrant in Britain, and I have little doubt that the birds once set 

 free started on a voyage of discovery. 



* Red Pole ; Redpoll {Linota rufescens) 



The Nelson Society were the first to attempt the introduction of 

 this species, but only two arrived of those shipped in 1862. 



The Otago Society introduced ten in 1868, and 71 in 1871. 

 Mr F. Deans reported in 1890 that "some of these were seen, 

 but I do not think they increased." The fact is they migrated from 

 the immediate neighbourhood of Dunedin to the high open ground 

 a few miles away. 



The Canterbury Society liberated 14 in 1868, which, according 

 to their report, migrated in a body and settled at Timaru. In 1871 

 they liberated 120 more. In 1875 Mr R. Bills brought out a number, 

 some of which were sold and distributed, and the rest were liberated 

 in the Christchurch Gardens. 



The Auckland Society introduced one in 1871, and 209 in 1872, 

 and these were liberated in various districts south of Auckland. 



The Wellington Society introduced two in 1875. 



This species is not commonly seen about the towns or in thickly 

 settled districts, but is abundant in both islands, especially in open 

 upland country at moderate elevations. It is common in the back 

 country near Dunedin. 



Mr A. Philpott says : " I first saw this bird in Invercargill in 1909. 

 Since then it has become very common, but it appears to leave this 

 locality during the winter. I have noticed it in numbers, feeding on 

 the seed of the Toe-toe {Arunda conspicna) and resorting to the coastal 

 sandhills, where flocks may always be found feeding on the seeds of 

 jfuncus and other plants. It occurs commonly about the upper edge 

 of mountain forests," that is at an elevation of about 3000 feet. 



The abundance of redpolls is shown from the following : 



In March, 191 1, Mr T. H. Jones of Christchurch caught 70 



