DEER. 25 



In 1905 the Tourist Department obtained six of these deer, 

 and liberated them on the Kaimanawa Ranges, near Taupo. 

 I have heard nothing further about them. 



In 1905 the Government purchased five black-tailed (or mule) 

 deer (Odocoileus hemionug) in America, and liberated them at 

 Tarawera. In 1915 the Hawke's Bay Society reported them as 

 increasing. 



In 1870 the Auckland Acclimatization Society received three 

 South American deer (probably Cariacus chilensis) from Mr. W. A. 

 Hunt, but there is no further record of them. 



The first attempt to introduce moose, or true elk (Alches machlis), 

 was made by the Government in 1900, when fourteen young ones 

 were shipped on board the " Aorangi " at Vancouver. Owing, 

 however, to the rough voyage, only four two bulls and two cows, 

 nine months old arrived in New Zealand. They were liberated 

 near Hokitika, but appear to have separated soon, as in 1903 one 

 cow was in one district, another at the gorge of the Hokitika 

 River, while nothing was known of the bulls. In 1913 the last- 

 mentioned cow was " in splendid condition, and as tame as a 

 kitten." The others seem to have disappeared. 



In 1910 the Government obtained ten moose, and these were 

 liberated on the shores of Dusky Sound. Two years later a mining 

 party found traces of both old and young moose, and the latest 

 reports show that the animals are increasing. 



In 1867 the Otago Society imported seven axis deer, or chital 

 (Cervus axis), which were liberated in the Goodwood bush, near 

 Palmerston. In 1871 another stag was landed and added to the 

 herd, which at that time numbered about thirty. Ten years later 

 the Inspector reported that he had seen over forty. Then complaints 

 began to come in from the settlers round about that the deer were 

 a nuisance, and their numbers gradually diminished. Gradually 

 they were killed off, and none have been seen thereabouts for the 

 last twenty years. 



In 1898 the Wellington Society received a pair of axis deer from 

 the Zoological Society of Calcutta, and placed them on Kapiti 

 Island, in Cook Strait. Four years later they had not increased, 

 and I have not heard of them since. In 1907 the Tourist Depart- 

 ment liberated five axis deer at Mount Tongariro, and in 1909 five 

 in Dusky Sound. No reports have as yet been received regarding 

 either of these latest experiments. 



