THE PHAIEIE HENS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3398, 1 March 1879, Page 2

THE PHAIEIE HENS.

. ■♦■ Those of our readers who are interested in tho work of acclimatisation, will be please i to hear that the prairie hens have been safely liberated at Mount Thoraa?. Mr S. C. Parr, tho honorary secretary, received a letter yesterday from. Mr J. T. Brown, as follows : — " This morning I sent a spring trap to Fcrnsido station, to convey the curator, with prairie hens, to their destination. On arrival I drove the curator about the estate to see if he could select better ground for turning out than that mentioncd"ub tho meeting, but he could find none so good. We turned the birds out at dusk, in about 20 acres of sliort, uncut wheat, and adjoining a largo area of both oat and barley stubble, all being laid down with English grass and clover. On releasing tho birds, they quietly walked out of tho cages, began ■ to feed, and slowly disappeared. They were all strong, with the exception of one heD, which had lost an eye." Tho fact, of the birds having been successfully liberated in suoh good condition, shows how well the curator has attended to them since they havo been in his charge.