Vol XXXI /■ i cki 



[Q] maence, ' 1 1 .) 



Migration and Periodic Accuracy. 



EDITOH "i ''I'm. \i k.' 



Dem s " In Dr. John C. Phillips' highly interesting remarks on these 

 topics (Auk, XXX, p, 202) he says "li would indeed be interesting if we 

 could subject castrated birds to experimental conditions in order to test 

 the strength of their migratory impulses, bul this could hardly be accom- 

 plished." 



It would be equally interesting if we could take species migrating north- 

 ward for reproductive purposes, and sub j eel them to a reven al of i easonal 

 tences, bj introducing them into the southern hemisphere, and learn 

 then what changes and variations of migratory impulses would follow. 



Sometime ago the writer had occasion to make inquiries concerning the 

 habits of introduced Cervida in New Zealand; the following letter (quoted 

 only in relevant parts) from a well informed New Zealand Government 

 Official came as a reply to these inquiries; 



...."In reply to your question regarding the introduction of deer 

 into New Zealand: The firsl n-d deer presented comprised l'_\ which 

 were the gift of the late Prince Consort to the Ck>lony. These deer were 

 bred in Windsor Forest. Six of them were shipped to Wellington and six 

 to ( Janterbury in t he year L862, bul < hree only were landed alive, one stay; 

 and two hinds. These were senl to Wellington and kept by the Govern- 

 ment in a stable, and after the interest and curiosity of the inhabitants 

 were satisfied, the three deer were put into a draw and carted over the 



Tarania Mountains into the Wairarapa district where they were liberated, 

 ami from that trio there aie now quite 12,000 deer in the vicinity. In 



addition to producing larger antlers than their progenitors in Scotland, 

 they also increased very considerably in general hulk. Rutting occurs 

 generally from aboul the 20th of March to the 1 1th of April. This is de- 

 pendent very largely upon the weather. When the weather is cold, the 

 rutting takes place early, but should it be very mild and warm it does not 

 OCCUr until about the end of March or first week in April. Calving occurs 

 generally in October and November. The stays shed their antlers in 



November. The rutting, calving and shedding of antlers, as you will see, 

 are exactly opposite to the time in which these processes occur in England. 



Jf you take the English dates and defer them for six months you yet the 

 same results as regards the red deer in New Zealand.". . . . 



It is highly probable that these facts concerning the definite reversal 

 of time of rut tiny, etc., have already been published, yet if so, such publica- 

 tion hafi up to date escaped the writer's notice. The facts just quoted 

 constitute a most Striking exposition of the seasonal influence on biologic 

 functions and nutritional processes of great magnitude anil importance to 



the speciee in question. It is possible that parallel alterations in migration, 



including 'periodic accuracy," ovulation, nesting, ami incubation would 



