BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 53 



AITIERICAIV BIRDS, ANlMAIiS, AI¥» FlimiES FOR NEW ZEAI.AIVDERS. 



[Extract.] 



The persistent efforts of New Zealand in the work of acclimatization 

 deserves the utmost commendation. Half a century ago there were no 

 domestic animals in that country, except a few herds of cattle and 

 horses introduced by the early missionaries at the Bay of Islands, near 

 the extreme north of the northern island. The celebrated discoverer, 

 Captain Cook, had introduced sheep and swine half a century earlier, 

 but the sheep very soon jierished. The swine, however, increased 

 rapidly, and became a nuisance to sheep-farmers after the colonization 

 of the country, rewards being paid for their destruction as if they 

 were noxious vermin. The colony was founded in 1840, and the natives 

 had then barely abandoned their cannibal practices — desolating- inter- 

 tribal wars having lasted till within a few years of that date. Since 

 then, the progress of the country has been the most remarkable on 

 record. It has succeeded in acclimatizing- nearly all the game birds of 

 the old and new worlds. California quail are more plentiful there than 

 in that State. Pheasants, grouse, partridges, etc., afford excellent 

 sporty the several provinces competing with each other in the work of 

 acclimatizing them. The song-birds of England are fully represented, 

 and these, with the native songsters, make mountain and plain vocal 

 the year round. Prairie chickens and mountain quail have likewise 

 been introduced, sixteen of the latter birds out of twenty-two recently 

 sent to Nelson by Eobert J. Creighton, agent of the colony, having ar- 

 rived there. These birds were forwarded from Emigrant Gap by J. B. 

 Chinn, .who took great interest in the matter. Deer-stalking is now 

 possible in many parts of New Zealand, red and fallow deer having 

 been introduced and increased wonderfully. The rivers are full of 

 English and California trout, eastern trout being likewise represented. 

 In the San Francisco Post particulars were published of a cross between 

 eastern and English trout by Mr. Johnson, of Opawa, in the Canterbury 

 province of New Zealand ; the hybrid growing larger and faster than 

 the pure fish of either variety. California salmon have likewise been 

 acclimatized, and are in almost every river of any volume in the islands. 

 English salmon are established in New Zealand, also salmon trout. The 

 latter fish has increased very fast, and is now purchasable in most of 

 the markets of the colony. But the great interior lakes of the country 

 are comparatively without fish; indeed, in several of them and tributary 

 rivers fish-life can scarcely be said to exist. To remedy this defect two 

 attempts were made to stock the lakes with whitefish from Lake Michi- 

 gan. These attempts failed in the colony from local causes. This year, 

 however, another effort is being made on a much larger scale than 

 formerly. Mr. Creighton has arranged for the shipment of over 



