KOTIWHENU 109 
their significance, however, as colonists was negli- 
gible. In no wise did they affect the original 
owners of the soil. As was to be expected, it was 
in the vicinity of the trodden ground in front of 
the huts that most of the alien birds were first 
noticed, and most often noticed. About this 
minute clearing harboured also such stranger 
plants as could withstand the climate, but thankful 
am I to say that none of these foreigners, animal 
or plant, have any chance of increase. Conditions 
were adverse, and likely to remain adverse. In 
other parts the Sparrow has increased. Here on 
our island the five or six pair seen on three or four 
occasions—always observed, moreover, on the little 
space of cleared ground in front of the huts as 
if clinging to the very shadow of humanity—were 
never suffered to remain at peace. Of us even 
they were exceedingly shy, upon our approach 
at once flying into scrub, where they were chased 
and harried by Bellbird and Tui. Nor did at 
night peace bless their rest, for then began the 
customary hailstorm of Petrel. The wretched 
Sparrows must have been jarred from their roosts 
by the fluttering of sea-fowl or struck down by 
their falls. They never attempted nidification, 
we felt sure of that. It was impossible on so small 
an area, searched daily by three experts, that 
nests so brazen in their effrontery could have been 
overlooked. For once, at any rate, Sparrows had 
