134 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [May 
Then there are some gorgeous Australian Lycaenidae which feed upon 
the various wattles, whilst the common wayside plantain supports several 
species of European butterflies. 
I would suggest as a good plan for increasing the carrying-capacity 
of the country in the broadest sense of the word that the Government 
should undertake the planting of all our main arterial roads with trees. 
In the north puriri and possibly kauri and some eucalypts could be used, 
whilst over the rest of the country various species of Eucalyptus , totara, 
and certain American trees of choice varieties, and in the cooler parts oak, 
could be tried. Careful data of each tree as to age, when planted, &c., 
could be kept, and the whole would furnish valuable information for future 
generations, and would also yield much good timber. In the neighbourhood 
of towns and villages such trees as poplars, Cape silver-leaf, Australian 
scarlet-flowering gum, and in the cooler parts holly, birch, and native 
beeches, would add to the beauty of the landscape, and would provide 
much-needed shelter and breakwinds on country roads, eventually paving 
the way for the further introduction of other forms of animal-life, and 
assisting present species to move from one district to another. 
Enough has been said to show what a vast and important field there 
is for the careful introduction of new forms of life into this country, forms; 
which would not only add to its prosperity, but, what is of equal import¬ 
ance, to its beauty and interest. There has grown up a fear of introducing 
pests; but the larger the variety of life in the country, the less risk there 
is of any one increasing out of bounds. For instance, the introduction 
of more insectivorous birds would restrict the food-supply of the young 
of the grain-eating and fruit-eating species, and would tend to reduce the 
numbers of these. I suggest that the proper course would be to set up a 
small permanent committee of experienced scientific men, whose duties, 
would be to collect information and to investigate suggestions with this, 
object in view, and that some island should be placed at their disposal 
where they could test and watch any species that they had any doubt 
about before liberating it upon the mainland, in order to see whether it 
would actually fill the role expected from it. 
[The question of acclimatization has not only utilitarian and aesthetic 
aspects, but has an intimate bearing on national sentiment. The 
similarity of farm stock and of trees and birds in New Zealand to those 
of the English countryside enables the New-Zealander to enter more 
sympathetically into the moods and thoughts of the great masters of 
English literature. National sentiment has diverged less from that of the 
Home-land in New Zealand than in Australia and Canada, and the similarity 
of surroundings and atmosphere must be an important factor in this 
respect. The further introduction of birds and other animals from other 
parts of the Empire must help to broaden our sympathies. At the same 
time the distinctively New Zealand fauna and flora should be jealously 
preserved in the national reserves. 
Any criticisms or further suggestions in regard to this or other articles 
will be welcomed in our correspondence column. —Ed.] 
