19181] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 329 
Goldfinch. Carduelis carduelis britannica (Hartert). 
Though numerous enough where it occurs, the goldfinch is never found 
far from settlement. Probably it relies largely for food on the seeds of the 
weeds of cultivation. 
Lesser Redpoll. Linota linota cabaret (P. L. S. Muller). 
In 1908 I first saw the lesser redpoll near Invercargill. It is now very 
abundant, though only passing the spring and summer near the town. The 
rest of the year is spent on the coastal sandhills, where flocks may always 
be found feeding on the seeds of Juncus and other plants. In the summer 
this is one of the most common birds just above the forest-line on the 
mountains, but I am unable to say if such localities are frequented through¬ 
out the year. 
• 
House-sparrow. Passer domesticus domesticus (Linn.). 
Little groups of the house-sparrow may be found a long way from human 
habitations, but the species sticks to the edges of the forest and does not 
penetrate to the interior. 
Yellow Bunting. Emberiza citrinella Linn. 
The yellow bunting, or yellowhammer, though known in Southland at 
least thirty years ago, has never become common ; in fact, at one time 
it seemed to have died out completely, but within the last few years it has 
become rather more plentiful. A fine specimen was caught near Invercargill 
in July of this year, and is now in the Southland Museum. It is excep¬ 
tionally brightly coloured, and the remainder of the small flock of which it 
formed a member are said to have all been of the same brilliance. 
Skylark. Alauda alauda arvensis Linn. 
Wherever cultivated fields have taken the place of the native forests 
or plains the • skylark is common enough, but the bird does not seem to 
be attracted to the hill country. I have never met with it on the open 
mountain-land. 
Song-thrush. Turdus philomelus clarkei Hartert. 
The song-thrush does not appear to penetrate far into the big forests, 
nor to spread into unsettled areas. In the coastal forest of Fiord County 
they are seldom to be heard, though plentiful enough about the settlements 
of Tuatapere and Papatotara. Nor does the bird favour the mountains ; 
I do not think I have ever heard one above the bush-line (about 3,000 ft.). 
They are certainly absent along the upper limit of the Titiroa Forest 
(Hunter Mountains), and I have no record of meeting with them on the 
Longwood tops or the Hump. 
Blackbird. Turdus merula merula Linn. 
Unlike the thrush, the blackbird penetrates to the heart of the largest 
forests, and seems to be as common at the limit of arboreal growth on the 
mountains as at sea-level. 
