330 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
[Nov. 
Hedge-sparrow. Accentor modularis occidentcdis Hartert. 
Though nowhere very abundant, the hedge-sparrow is widely spread. 
I do not remember having met with the bird far in the unbroken forest, 
but it is equally at home in the smaller areas of bush, in the suburban 
garden, and in the shrubby grove at 3,000 ft. on the mountains. The 
majority of nests are built quite low down, often practically on the ground, 
so that the prevalence of stoats or cats is probably a controlling factor in 
the increase of the species. 
Starling. Sturnus vulgaris Linn. 
This useful bird is not nearly so plentiful as it used to be. I am inclined 
to think that one reason for its decrease is to be found in the increasing 
difficulty of securing suitable nesting-sites. When the starling first came to 
Southland large areas of land studded with the larger forest-trees were 
everywhere to be found. The undergrowth had been felled, large fires put 
through it, and grass sown after the burn. Thousands of trees were left 
standing, and the greater part of these provided a decayed limb, a knot-hole, 
or a hollow bole for the convenience of the nesting birds. But now these 
park-like stretches have to a large extent disappeared. Modern methods 
bring forest-land under cultivation in much quicker time. True, there 
are still immense blocks of forest left, but the starling does not penetrate 
far into these. The farthest from cultivation that I have observed the 
bird is the mouth of the Wairaurahiri, where a few pairs are established. 
Here the nearest cultivated land is about twenty miles distant. It does 
not seem probable that these birds fly backwards and forwards to the open 
fields, and it would be interesting to learn if they procure their food in other 
directions, such as the sea-beach or the river-bed. 
It is worth recording that of late years I have several times found the 
starling building in dense masses of dead climbing-plants, such as Muehlen- 
becJcia, also in clumps of ivy. More than once, too, I have found nests in 
the tops of totaras the trunks of which were buried beneath a wave of 
drifting sand. 
Little Owl. Athene noctua noctua (Scopoli). 
The little owl appeared in the neighbourhood of Invercargill about 
June, 1915, and is now thoroughly established in the district. The fear 
that the introduction of this owl is likely to result in the extermination of 
certain of our native birds is, I think, unfounded. I have never met with 
the little owl in the bush itself ; it is always to be found on isolated trees, 
or on those growing near the edge of the forest. There can be no doubt 
that such introduced birds as the sparrow and others which roost about 
hedges, plantations, and buildings will pay a heavy toll; indeed, I have 
reason to think that the thrush, the sparrow, and the starling are already 
diminishing in numbers near Invercargill. Where a pair of owls have 
established themselves, the evensong of the thrushes and blackbirds gives 
place to an incessant chorus of terrified alarm-notes. 
The little owl can see by day far better than the morepork. It is not 
unusual to see one sitting at the mouth of a hole in a tree in the full blaze 
of sunlight, and often, in the middle of the day, they will leave such retreats 
and perch on some bare dead tree. Their flight by day does not show the 
least sign of confusion or hesitation; and once I saw one come out of a hole 
in a tree in broad daylight with what appeared to be a young bird in its 
claws, and fly to its usual roosting-hole. Unlike our native owls, the little 
owl frequently hoots in the daytime, in both dull and sunny weather. 
