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S. D. Potter—Some British Birds in New Zealand



forehead and vertex being blue distinguish it from the Sharp Tailed

Conure. The orbital skin is white.


White Breasted Caique


Obtained with the Conures. Very intelligent and amusing. At

present caged in the house. Has exercise on the floor daily. My pet

Fischer Lovebirds enjoy chasing him on the floor until rebuked by his

larger beak ! Simply relishes fruit of all kinds ; only touches sunflower

and hemp so far. Enjoys being sprayed. There is another aviary, at

present empty, which no doubt may become full of youngsters if my

wishes become horses !



SOME BRITISH BIRDS IN NEW ZEALAND


By S. D. Potter, Editor Avicultural Society of New Zealand


Towards the end of last century a veritable epidemic set in to

introduce and establish in a wild state alien species of birds.


The principal driving force behind most of these liberations is not

hard to find. With the opening up of the country vast areas of virgin

forest were cleared, and, as nearly all the native land birds are forest

dwellers, they retreated with the forests before the onslaughts of

colonization. Consequently these newly cleared lands were practically

birdless and therefore had no natural checks on the various insect

plagues which periodically descended upon them.


In all, some 130 species were liberated either by Government

Departments, private individuals, or Acclimatization Societies. But

of this total (perhaps fortunately) no more than thirty have become

really established.


Many of these introduced species were chosen for their usefulness, |

but others were to provide sport, or for sentimental reasons, and some i

for no apparent reason at all.


In the maift these feathered aliens have behaved well. They are, I

generally speaking, confined to the cultivated areas and, never pene¬

trating far into the forests, do not encroach upon the somewhat restricted j

strongholds of the indigenous birds.



