WILD I. IFi: IN -\KW XKA1.AXD. 



round Taupo and Uotorua. the West Coast Sounds of the South 

 Island, ami Stewart Island ami these are all increasing. In 

 .:rd to the last-mentioned locality, a conflict has now arisen 

 between tin- would-be sportsmen of the Southland Acelimati/.at ion 

 Society and those who desire to see the rare native bird fauna of 

 Stewart Island preserved. It is to be hoped that no shooting of 

 L r ame will he allowed in the island. 



SAMBTK DEEU, OR SAMBAR (/V ////.< 



This is a handsome deer from the hill-country of India. The 

 stands about ."> ft. high, is of a deep-brown colour, with the hair 

 of the neck developed almost into a inane. It is massively built. 

 and carries great antlers over 3ft. in length, and presenting three 

 powerful points. Above the considerable brow-tine the beam 

 bifurcates high up into two fairly equal snags, and no more, in 

 well-grown antlers. The hind is much less massive, and of a 

 yellowish tint. Captain Kinloch says of the species that " Sambur 

 delights in stony hills where there is plenty of cover, and where 

 they can have easy access to water. They browse more than \i\ 

 and are nearly nocturnal in their habits. During the daytime 

 they seek the most shady retreats, ami old stags especially are most 

 difficult to iind, frequently betaking themselves to almost in;:. 

 sible places, where the uninitiated would never dream of looking 

 for them." 



The introduction of sambur into New Zealand is ditlieult to 

 trace. In |^7.~) the Auckland Aeclimati/ation Society received a 

 buck from a Mr. Larkworthy, and in the following year a doe. but 

 there is no further mention of these deer in the society's reports. 

 However, in the annual report of the Wellington Society for 1S!M 

 the following statement occurs: "The Ceylon elk (sambur deer) 

 imported into the Carnarvon district, Manawatu. by Mr. Lark- 

 worthv have been brought under the provisions of the Animals 

 >:i Act. and are at present under the control of the society. 

 It has been reported that the herd now numbers about thirty." 

 There is no previous rerord of these deer in the Wellington 

 Society's reports. In IIMHI the herd is reported to number about 

 a hundred. " but there i> -ood reason to think that thev an- really 

 more DumeroUfl ..... \ pair i'f antlers was found on the 



