ACCLIMATISATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1363, 30 March 1868, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION.

To the Editor of the Herald. Sib,—From a paragraph that appeared in your iesue of Wednesday, it appears that the White-eye, or Blight Bird as it is called, has made its appearance in the Domain. Somo were also Been in lhis neighbourhood about six weeks since; and when at M/itakani, about the middle of last month, I saw abont a dozen of useful birds in some puriri trees on the farm of Captain Walker, so that it ie to be hoped that they will eventually make thi-i Proxince their permanent abode. Now, would not the Acclimatisation Society be conferring a great boon upon the Province, if, instead of introducing mischievous birds like the house sparrow, &c., thty endeavoursd to ret-iin a greater number of the White-eyes? This, I think may be done by trapping a. Dumber of them in the winter, and confining them until the mats of their brethren had disappeared, and about the end of August or beginning of September releasing them in numbers in different parts of the Province. They would probably (.air and increase, and though a few bred here may leave with the mass in early spring, it is more than probable that the greater portion would remain. These birds, being strictly neectivoroue, would prove more beneficial to the cultivator of the soil. Before concluding I must expreffl my admiration of the conduct of the Chairman of the Acclimatisation Society, in oppo.-ing tho introduction of more game, and, ae it appear*, expressing disa: proval of the obnoxious gamp laws. Game laws should never have been introduced in this Province. If the pheasant or any other bird was really useful to tho agriculturist, no law would be required to protect : hem; but aa it is •well known thnt the pheasant is a great enemy to the farmers, that is, to those who endeavour to produce cereal crops, they should be allowed to destroy them when and how they may think fit. I must also express my admiration of your article on the same miiject, and hope you will use your beat endeavours to yet the game laws totally aboliahed. —I am, &c, Oxd Seitleb. Stoke's Point, North Shore, March 26, IS6B.