AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3026, 8 April 1867, Page 5

AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The usual weekly meeting of the committee of this Society waß held at 2 o'clock on Saturday, at their office, Canada Buildings. Present: Messrs. A. Martin (Chairman), E. Maclean, W.T.B&ssett Hall, Brighton, Mackelvie, S. Jones, Fleming, Hidings (Treasurer), and Burtt (Secretary). The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Maclean, Mackelvie, Martin, and Burtt, was appointed to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent, with reference to the appointment of rangers, *c, under the Protection of Certain Animals Act. Mr. Mackelvie informed the committee that Mr. James Stewart, C.E., had offered his professional services to the Society, if they would be of any advantage. Ifc was resolved that that gentleman's offer should be accepted with thanks. The Treasurer stated that the amount of money in hand was £821. It was decided that the names of Resident Magistrates should be added to the list of persons whose certificates would entitle the destroyer of hawks to paymeut from the Society. Some discussion took place with reference to the propriety of expending any money at present in fencing, erecting aviaries, &c, in the Domain. It was resolved that the resolution adopted at a previous meeting— which was to the effect that operations should be commenced so soon as the funds amounted to £300 —should be carried out. It was also resolved that the Secretary should write to the gentlemen forming the committee in London that preparations were being made for the reception of birds ; and the Society, having received a suitable place in the Domain, would be in a position to receive contributions of birds, animals, plants, &c. The Secretary read the following letter with reference to acclima- , tisation which he had received from Dr. Weekes : — "North Wyke, Pokeno, April 1, 1867. « Sir,— l beg to call the attention of the Acclimatisation Society to an account of some special experiments made by M. Prevost on small birds, in France, for the purpoie of determining their natural food. The particulars are so fully stated in the enclosed letter to the Times, that little need be added to assist the Society in making a selection from the list j yet it may be observed that the robin is not only entirely an insectivorous bird, but that he destroys a large number of insects' eg»s. Swallows and martins, not mentioned in M. Prevost's list, Drobably from the nature of their food being so obvious, would, if they could subsist during the winter in the northern part of the island, be an admirable introduction. . . "The policy of introducing croaking frogs is to me a doubtful one, but the toad (Bufo vulgaris) would be a most useful insect destroyer m our gardens ; and the hedge-hog might be obtained for the samo purpose. - . '*• Your remarks on the preservation of our insecteating natiVe birds were well-tuned, as their dinunu.. tion is the source of much regret in the country. The oat has been accused, but I fear they have a worw wwmy in the rat, »• rats' neato «c commonly

• mat with ia trees. The great decrease of honeybird* has been attributed by a gentleman from the North to the introduction of bees. I These have become so numerous in the forests as to probably caun^ a scarcity of honey ia the flowers those birds obtain their food from. " The few following native birds should be saved, if possible : — " The kingfisher (Halcyon vagans). "Korimako (Suthornis melanura) : It has a yellowish olive plumage, and is a good soDgster. «• Riroriro : A wren. . " Matata : Swamp bird ; dark brown, with white spotted breast. "Piopio : A thrush. Has a short bill, red tail, yellow breast, and brown back. " Piwakawaka : Fan-tailed fly-oatoher. " The well-known lark. " Tieki (Creadion carunculatum): A bird belonging to the starling family, of a black colour, with a chesnut band across the back and wines. It has also a fleshy lappet on each side the head. '• And probably (for I know little about them) the two New Zealand cuckocm. "One word respecting the introduction of salmon. It appears to me strange that this fish was not brought over from California years ago, considering the trade we have had with that- country. ihe smolt, or one-year old-Balmon, could have been easily taken on its way down the Sacramento to the aea, and conveyed hither in a salt-water tank. From Tasmania, bo short a distance, the young fry even might be brought, although they would of course require to be conveyed in fresh water. — I remain, &c, " Henby Weekes. "J. Burtt, Esq., Hon. Sec, "Acclimatisation Society, Auckland." The committee will meet again next Saturday at the same hour.