A FEATHERED STRANGER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 28 September 1907, Page 2

A FEATHERED STRANGER.

AN ENEMY AND A FRIEND. Another enemy to the farmers, yet i good friend to the fruit-growers, f his is a bird a little bigger than a silver-eye, the introduction of which to the ' Dominion is unknown, as fails I can ascertain. The note of this bird, wheii perched, resembles the first note . canary — "sweet.'' When on the wing, the notes resemble ""clatter, clatter." Ihese birds wero first seen iii Stoke about a year ago, oii the rldwiy-sowh fields, and were not taken much notice of, tho nature or habits of the bird being then unknown. But they have be- -^ my mw? ♦ ror ilnp9 ; and I have foliild them to ha "vi>l-} : dflalviittive birds affiolifjst the suldll seeds. They aro liot conteiit with picking up seeds which jnay lie dish-shaped, pole's to get at tlle seed urtdef the earth. Planting a bed .of tuiuip .seeds, and: also other gftrdeii seeds, -I noticed these birds about the beds iv a goodly number. On approaching the birds I got within a few yards of them, and could see the mischief they were doing. On clapping my hand's they flew up into n fruit tieo that was growing close by, where they commenced their note, "sweet:" The.V Wpuld rest theie for a few moments, then fly, dowi) again, and go on Vi-it-h theii seed-mckiiig. . • Oil tlie other haiid, this bird will be a great booil to the fruit growers, for il is not only .the seed they are . after, th*y also ( attack jthe scaly blight. If yoii walch this bird,- you will s»>e it picking the scaly blight off the fruittrees as ; quick as lightning, and devouring it. They are quite tame, but, active in their movements. Killing four of I hese birds for closer examination, I found that the stomachs contained small seeds, scaly blight, and small black flies. Showing them to a friend from England he described them as being similar to the English pea-linnet. Their origin being unknown, I should be glad if anyone can give mo any further information about the stranger. Colour of male bird : — Top colour, a light brown, streaked with grey, running to a faint pink pn top of tail ; breast, a bright pink ; abdomen, a light grey ; win<*s, brown streaked \vi),h white; 10-^s, feet, and eyes, black; bill, yellow; top of head, pink. Colour of female bird: — Top colour, a light brown streaked with grey ; breast and abdomen grey, streaked with dark brown ; wings, Drown ; a black blotch under throat, as in the male; legs, feet, ahd eyes, black; bill ,yellow ; with a faint pink tinge on top bf head. Specimens of the birds lyil be on vi,ew in Messrs Wilkins aud Field's window this (Saturday) evehirig.