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change of habit may go, I will mention the case of the New 
Zealand Kea, a large parrot, which originally fed on vegetable 
prcducts. Some time after the importation of sheep into the 
country, the Kea developed a propensity for eating their 
kidneys, and has proved to be a serious pest in consequence. 
This habit must be wholly of recent origin, for before the 
discovery of the island, New Zealand possessed no native 
mammals whatever, This is, of course, an extreme case, and I 
only cite it to show how sometimes a_ bird’s habit will wholly 
change under new conditions. ; 
In their own country, the animals and birds are kept in 
check by their natural enemies, parasites and diseases. If, then, 
we bring them into a new place, we are liable to find out that 
the results are not what was expected, while at the same time 
they may increase beyond our control. Of course, on the other 
hand, many, if not most, introduced species die out, being 
unable to meet the new conditions of life forced upon them. 
As a few tangible bits of evidence are worth more than 
whole pages of theory, I will give a few cases in support of 
the foregoing. 
The European House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) has been 
introduced inte North America, Australia, New Zealand, 
Argentina, Mauritius, Comoro Islands, New Caledonia, Hawaii, 
Chatham Island, (Jbis, 1893), Bermuda, the Bahamas and Cuba, 
in practically all of which places it takes its place among the 
pests. In fact, it is by some considered in New Zealand to be 
second only to the rabbit. (Report, New Zealand Departinent 
of Agriculture, 1897.) 
The Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) would appear to be rather 
an aid to agriculture than otherwise; for Mr. John Gilmorn 
has shown (Trans. Highland and Agricultural Society, Scotland, 
1896) that its food consists in England of 75 per cent. insects, 20 
per cent. grain (mainly waste), and 5 per cent. miscellaneous food. 
After its introduction into New Zealand, however, it adopted 
largely a fruit diet, and has therefore become a great nuisance. 
(Producers’ Gazette, Western Australia, January 1898.) In 
Tasmania also it feeds largely on small fruit, cherries, and 
wheat. (Agricultural Gazette, Tasmania, November 1897, and 
January J898.) 
The Nima (Acridotheres tristis), an Indian bird, something 
like the Bequia Sweet (Quiscalus luminosus), has been 
introduced into Mauritius (Jerden, ‘Birds of India,’ 1863), 
Andamans, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia. It is proved 
(Finsch, bis, 1880) to drive away pigeons and fowls, and is said 
to destroy their eggs and nests. 
I may also mention the case of the Skylark (Alauda 
arvensis), the Green Linnet (Ligurinus chloris), and the Black- 
bird (Turdus merula), which, although universally considered 
beneficial in England, have proved quite the reverse in New 
Zealand. 
I think the foregoing tends to show the advisability of 
letting the native faunas of these islands alone; for no one can 
properly judge of the effects of a new bird or mammal on 
