The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1905. ACCLIMATISATION EXPERIMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7741, 17 February 1905, Page 2

The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1905. ACCLIMATISATION EXPERIMENTS.

The letter from Professor Theobald regarding the spill-row pest in New Zealand, published on Wednesday, suggests some remarks on the introduction of exotic animals and plants into this colony without due conspiration of the possible consequences. When the well-meaning persons who first introduced European birds into New Zealand began their sentimental and practical system of free animal immigration nothing was known of the biological laws which are embodied in the expressions " the struggle for existence " and "the survival of the fittest." Darwin had only begun his series of worldmoving works, and even if lie had written was read in New Zealand. it was not regarded as having any practical bearing on the everyday life of the colonists. All that the latter knew was that the introduction of European grains and grasses had given a huge stimulus to the reproduction of destructive insects. The farmers' crops wciv yearly more and more ravaged by caterpillars, with which native birds wpfc unable to cope, and some natural fpes were needed to keep them down. It is not clear whether those caterpillar pests were of native origin, or sprung from imported moths and butterflies, but it is- probable that there was a combination of foes from both sources. The cure for caterpillars was, naturally, birds familiar birds for choice—and therefore there were brought in the lark, thrush, goldlinch, greenfinch, blackbird, and the house- sparrow. There is a tradition that a number of the latter were sent in error for the hedge sparrow, and, being refused by the acclimatisation society concerned, were thereupon turned adrift by the captain of the ship which had brought them. We are afraid that the story is an aftergrowth, and that both varieties of sparrow were introduced at the same time. What is beyond doubt or denial is that people were at first unfeignedly glad to see them. There is a ChrisJ*. church man living relates with what jifcsTtaire! he and other exiles gathered in an interested group to Avalch the performance of two of the newcomers in one of the streets of the young city, and how envious they felt of the lucky (?) man whose tenement had been selected by the feathered new chums as the site of their first nest. Things have changed since then, and the sparrow and most of the other imported birds have long since worn out their welcome. The loss caused to farmers and orchardists annually is largely a matter of guess work and theoretical computation, but it must run into tens of thousands of pounds in each province. In parts of the South Island, notably in Canterbury, many of the local bodies spend large sums annually in tile purchase of eggs and heads of sparrows, blackbirds, etc. Bui, as marking the fact thai in our collective methods men are often more foolish than in their individual actions, most of those payments are made only for a limited time, not covering the whole breeding season, am) are, therefore, practically useless. Again, neither the seasons of purchase nor the carrying out of the system are uniform. 1L is, therefore, not uncommon for [the secretary of a road board to pay for tens of thousands of eggs which he feels sin e have been gathered in neighbouring non-paying districts. Measures of this kind having largely and* necessarily failed, men have for years been advocating the introduction of natural enemies hawks, owls, shrikes, and so on. Apparently the l-'ssoft taught by the failure of ferrets, stoats, and weasels, to keep down rabbits has soon been forgotten Ihe fact that those predatorv animals turned their attention to the extinction of pheasants,- ijuail, and native ground birds, has been forgotten, and it is hoped that natural enemies may bo found to do what men are too careless and unsystenv atic to do for themselves. The rabbit has practically ceased to be a pest in .New Zealand duping late years, and in many cases has even become a source of profit. This lias r 'suited from the enforcement of trapping and poisoning by legislative enactment. Small birds could be. and yet will have to be, controlled by similar measures. Sparrows in the winter time may be poisoned in enormous numbers, and al little expense ; but to produce any good result there must be systematic collaboration. liirds may be induced (o collect at chosen places by regular feeding for a week or two, and on a given dale it would be easy enough lor simultaneous poisoning to be arranged. The introduction of exotic 'natural enemies is a dangerous experiment—in fact, (he importation of any wild fauna |s so. The balance of life which has been established by ages of struggle in other countries cannot be made to exist where sinii)ur conditions are absent. Further, Mi we is no certainty that under new condition* hjrds may not change their habits. Many such inzlances are already known. For pxnnipl/v there is striking and overwhelming evidence in Victoria at present that the starling has become largely ai.d chiefly frugjvorou«, and is practically useless as an insect eater.. The result in a crusade against it in all directions. In the discussion whjeh has taken place regarding this change of habit we have not observed thai anybody has ottered what is probably the true explanation of the poor starling's change of diet. In Europe and New Zealand the stuffing's food consists largely of earth worms, which are found abundantly near the surface of the ground. In Australia, during six months of the year, tile earth worms are driven by tile heat to depths altogether beyond the reach of birds. The same is (he case with many other earth-burrow-ing grubs and insects, Therefore file starling becomes an enforced vegetarian, and earns the orchardists' curse instead of his blessing. There is a lesson in Ibis that may be taken to heart by those who think, and who would look before they leap. The acclimatisation of hawks, and shrikes', and so on, is not an experiment to be lightly made, and, as for the English magpie, obviously the loss said the belief,

PEACE Wll#T3Wfi<nm. | That a settlement has been arrived at between the parties to the action of Seddon v. Taylor will lie hailed with groat satisfaction by all right--1 minded men and women, irrespective of political leanings. Whether or not the charges brought by Mr Taylor against Captain Seddon were intended as a covert attack on j the rremier, it is certain Ural few | people in possession of (heir faculties could possibly construe Air | Taylor's claim in any other tight. The mere fact that a member of Parliament, is able to shelter himself under the shield of privilege should of itself make members pause ere they .stretch their prerogative, too lar. The 'terms of settlement, which appear in this issue, have at least the merit of tinalil.v. Duili sides luay be congratulated on having ar- i rived at the end of a (.miserable business, ami it is to be Imp.*! (hat it is the first and last time that a statesman occupying the highest position in the Government of hi.s country will be attacked through his children. It is this aspect of the case that would naturally tend to arouse indignation in the breasts of all goo-d citizens, and cause the intended blow to react on the striker, l'ossibly the unfortunate incident will in the long run do good. li so the Premier will not have suffered in vain. At all events he may rest assured that the confidence of the people of the colony in his jnintegrity and honesty of purpose is not only unshaken, but rather in-

tensitied. With regard to the liti-1 gation itself, it was practically impossible that, ; owing to circumstances which are patent to everyone, an impartial trial could have been obtained, ami it is equally certain that by the terms of settlement Captain Scddon has obtained a more complete vindication of his honour than could have resulted from any verdict given by a jury. Henceforth we trust that' the Premier will not, have his many cares and anxieties increased by such untoward means, and that his family will not have its peace destroyed to make sport for politicians.