328 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
[Nov. 
outlay in capital. The outlay had to be faced in some urgent cases, but 
in others less urgent the right course was followed in making the best 
of a bad job. Later on, whenever electric-power supply became available 
from some power-supply system which was adequate and reliable, and 
obtainable at suitable and convenient points, the problem of adapting the 
railway for electric working became a comparatively simple one 
The same principles apply not only to railway electrification, but to 
agriculture, industries, and the activities of the State generally ; and the 
need of a comprehensive power-supply system ample and adequate to 
provide for all the requirements of the State, and which shall be available 
at any point or points where, when, and as required, is of the same 
paramount interest and importance in New Zealand as in other countries. 
NOTES ON CERTAIN INTRODUCED BIRDS IN 
SOUTHLAND. 
By Alfred Philpott. 
In this district, as probably in most other parts of New Zealand, the intro¬ 
duced species of birds are now much more prominent than the native kinds. 
Some of the latter, however, are still plentiful enough, and will probably 
continue to hold their own. The bell-bird ( Anthornis ), for instance, is not 
only to be found in every little patch of native bush, but is continually to 
be met with in the public gardens in the centre of Invercargill. The tit 
(Myiomoira ), the fantail ( Rhipidura ), the wax-eye ( Zosterops ), and the grey 
warbler ( Maorigerygone ) also appear to be in no danger of extinction, and 
are all frequent visitors to plantations in the heart of the town, if not 
permanent residents therein. 
Very possibly, if any of these species take to a regular life in artificial 
plantations, their habits may become in some measure modified, and careful 
observation of such cases might yield interesting results. The introduced 
forms also, being subjected to a new environment, will probably tend 
towards some differentiation in habits from those of the stock in their 
original home. The strange waxing and waning in point of numbers in some 
of the species is a most striking and often very puzzling fact, and the notes 
which I have to offer will contain some references to such phenomena. 
Greenfinch. Chloris chloris clitoris (Linn.). 
The greenfinch, though still not uncommon, is not nearly so abundant 
as it was fourteen or fifteen years ago. Probably systematic poisoning and 
egg-collecting have had something to do with this result, but the main 
cause may lie in the wide adoption of dairy-farming and stock-raising in 
preference to grain-growing. 
Chaffinch. Fringilla coelebs coelebs Linn. 
This finch began to appear in the neighbourhood of Invercargill in 1910 ; 
it is now common everywhere, being particularly numerous in the hill 
forests. 
