RED DEER. 33 



and two royals, each 46 in. in length of antlers; more recently a 

 head 49 in. in length with a spread of 50J in., and either one or 

 two with twenty points, have been obtained. The coats of the stags 

 are generally shaggy, owing, no doubt, to the severe climate in 

 winter." 



In 1895 the Otago Society obtained two fine stags from the Hunt 

 Club, Melbourne, to add to the North Otago herd; but I do not 

 know what special strain these belonged to. Again, in 1913, the 

 society imported a stag and six hinds from Warnham Park, Eng- 

 land, the object in both cases being to introduce new blood into the 

 herds. 



In 1897 the Canterbury Acclimatization Society imported nine 

 red deer from the Warnham Park herd, and liberated them in the 

 gorge of the Rakaia River. They have increased rapidly since, 

 herds of forty and more having been seen from time to time. Some 

 of the heaviest heads secured in New Zealand have been got from 

 this herd. The record length head from this herd is 48|in.; the 

 record spread is 46f in. ; and the record points twenty-four. The 

 heaviest heads shot in New Zealand have been obtained in the 

 Rakaia Gorge herd, a number of dry skulls and horns from thence 

 weighing from 22 Ib. to 23f Ib. Mr. Hardcastle, my informant, 

 states that he does not think more than an odd head going as much 

 as 20 Ib. has been shot in any other herd in New Zealand. 



More recent importations have been as follows : In 1903 either 

 seven or eight fawns from Victoria, presented by Miss Audrey 

 Chirnside, of Werribee Park, were liberated at Mount Tuhua, in 

 Westland. In 1906 four more from the same source were added to 

 this herd; and eight were liberated at Lake Kanieri. In 1903 

 the Tourist Department obtained eight deer from the Duke of 

 Bedford, and liberated them at Lake Wakatipu. In 1908 four 

 were obtained from Warnham Park, Sussex, England, and were 

 liberated at Paraparaumu. In 1909 three were liberated at Dusky 

 Sound. 



The original importations of red deer account for the vast 

 numbers of these animals which are now to be met with in so 

 many mountainous parts of both Islands, for many of the accli- 

 matization societies, as well as the Tourist Department, have ob- 

 tained deer from one or other of these original herds, and have 

 started new herds in other districts for example, in the country 



2_Wild Life in N.Z. 



