PASSERIFORMES 173 



in one pull of the net near New Brighton ; Mr C. Bills of Dunedin 

 said he could complete an order for a thousand of them within a 

 fortnight ; while in Southland as many as 500 were taken in a day. 



During the summer these birds eat quantities of the green fly 

 {Aphis) ; while during grass-seed harvest they subsist mostly on seeds 

 of grasses. 



* Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) 



The Nelson Society introduced ten goldfinches in 1862. 



The Otago Society liberated three in 1867, 30 in 1868, 54 in 

 1869, and 31 in 1871. 



The Auckland Society liberated ii in 1867, and 44 in 1871. 



The Canterbury Society liberated 95 in 1871, and a number 

 in 1875. 



The Wellington Society liberated one in 1877, 52 in 1880, 

 22 in 1 88 1, and 103 in 1883. The birds appear to have at once 

 established themselves at all the centres, and to have quickly 

 spread. 



They are now extraordinarily abundant in all parts of New 

 Zealand. They occasionally eat grain and seeds of other cultivated 

 plants, but chiefly confine themselves to seeds of thistles and small 

 seeds. Mr W. W. Smith records them from Ashburton as assisting 

 to spread throughout the district such plants as knapweed {Centaurea 

 nigra) and Scotch thistle (?) {Onopordon acanthium). 



Mr A. Philpott (1918) says these birds are never found far from 

 settlement. Yet it is interesting to note that they have found their 

 way to the Auckland Islands, 230 miles to the south, and the Chatham 

 Islands, 470 miles to the east, and are now established in both these 

 outl)dng regions. 



The goldfinch is a bird vrath a good reputation, and I have heard 

 few complaints of any harm it does, either to farmers, orchardists, 

 or gardeners. But in the Otago Witness of 31st October, 1892, one 

 strawberry grower complained bitterly that this species committed 

 great ravages on the growing fruit by picking out the seeds, and thus 

 completely destroying the berries. I do not know whether other 

 growers suffered in the same way. 



Young goldfinches are not unfrequently killed and eaten by the 

 long-tailed cuckoo and the native kingfisher. 



Siskin (Carduelis spinus) 



The Wellington Society introduced two in 1876. The Canterbury 

 Society report that several were liberated in 1879, "and they have 

 taken up their quarters in the plantations around Hagley Park." 



