ACCLIMATISATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2854, 31 March 1871, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION.

The monthly meeting of the Council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held on Thursday, the 7th mat. —the President, Mr W. D. Murison, in the chair. It was stated that the consign- \ ment of Californian seeds had arrived, and that one half had been given to the Government. A sub-committee was appointed to distribute the remainder amongst members of the Society. Messrs Hepburn and Murison repor'ed that all the trout hatched from the last shipment of ova imported from Tasmania, had been distributed throughout the country, with the exception of those at Captain JBoyd's property, and these had been placed in the ponds at the Botanic Gardens. It wa3 decided that the partridges not then set free should be sent to Waikouaiti, Oatnaru, and the Clutha, which has been done. Votes of thanks were given to Captain Wilson of the Warrior Queen, and Mr Paynter, chief officer of the same vessei, for their attention to the stock during the voyage. The Society also recorded in their minutes their opinion as to the satisfactory manner in which Mi Bills had brought out this shipment. The red deer were sent to Oamaru by the Wallace on the following morning. A few weeks ago three larks were seen on the confines of Green Island Bush at a distance of three miles from where, in spring, a nest was discovered containing birds. With the recent addition of larks set free, it may be inferred that the lark is fairly installed in the district, and that in a few years the woods and meadows will resound with the melodious warbling of this interesting stranger. Last week a few of the Acclimatisation Society's birds were seen and heard on several occasions in this bush. On Sunday, a settler's children who are well conversant with the notes of the native birds rushed into the house with great glee, directing their parents' attention to " a gran' whistler on ; the big totara." From the description, it must have been either a thrush or a blackbird whose carolling so delighted ; the precocious youngsters. "During the month, Mr A. Carrick has, < while on a visit to the Wakatip, liberated . | thirty brace of Californian quail, which i the Acclimatisation Society had sent to < that district, 11