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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 911, 21 January 1868, Page 3

Acclimatisation.— -The following account of a visit to a collection of English birds about to be sent to New Zealand appears in the Field of Oct. 19 : — " Mr. Bills, the experienced and well known bird fancier, invited a friend and myself to his store-rooms in Brighton, to sec the birds, which were ranged around two large rooms in their travelling cages, containing from two to twenty birds iv each, according to tho different species. He furnished us with the following particulars of his enterprise, with the further information that the order emanated from the Otago Acclimatisation Society of Now Zealand, and that Mr. Thatcher, of Brighton, an old servant of the society, had been commissioned to carry out tlie order. The cages contained blackbirds, 100 ; missel thrushes, 4 ; song thrushes, 100 ; starlings, 150 ; hedge accentors, 100 ; larks, 150 ; linnets, 150 ; robins, 50 ; house sparrows, 150 ; goldfinches, 100 ; yellowhammers, 12 ; and blackcaps, 2 ; partridges, pheasants, swans, &c, to be added in London, making up a compliment of 1500 birds. The quantity of seed, paste, corn, &c, laid in will cost upwards of £135. Special accommodation has been provided for this cargo on board the Warrior Queen, which sails from tho East India docks on the 20th instant, and will be worthy a visit from any of our readers who may be thereabouts on that day. The voyage is expected to be accomplished in about 90 days. I consider it only due to Mr. Bills to add thafc a better choice could not have been made to carry out the spirited and liberal order of the society. His lifelong experience of the habits and wants of the feathered tribe, added to his steady character, are the best guarantee for a successful termination to what has hitherto been found a very difficult undertaking. —W.J.V."