60 MAMMALIA 



order to keep the blackberry pest in check. They are usually 

 tethered close to the bushes, and shifted frequently as they eat them 

 down. The total number of these animals registered in the Dominion 

 in 1917 was only 6836. 



*Thar; Himalayan Goat (Capra jemlaicd) 



In 1904 six of these animals were received from the Duke of 

 Bedford, and were liberated near the Hermitage, Mt Cook. In 1913 

 three more were liberated near the Franz Joseph Glacier. Mr J. R. 

 Murrell, guide at the Hermitage, writing in October, 1915, says: 



Other guides and I saw a few days ago a nice "mob" of 13 Thar on 

 the Sealey Range ; these were in the pink of condition and doubtless will 

 become plentiful. Previously a much larger number were seen, but doubt- 

 less there are a number of mobs on this range. 



By the end of 1920 these herds had increased very considerably. 



* Chamois (Rupicapra rupicaprd) 



In 1888 enquiries were set on foot by the late Sir Julius von Haast 

 and the author with the object of obtaining chamois for New Zealand. 

 Dr von Hochstetter of Vienna who was communicated with was 

 hopeful of obtaining some partially-tame animals from the King of 

 Bavaria's park near Munich, and arrangements were made with 

 Hagenbeck of Hamburg for their transmission to the Colony. To 

 meet the expenses of shipment a vote of 150 was placed on the 

 estimates by the Government, and the passage of this vote through 

 the House of Representatives led to a scene of historic interest, and 

 one of the most amusing incidents in the history of the House. The 

 vote was objected to by Mr Kerr, member for Motueka, a goldfield's 

 representative more remarkable for his vigour than for his knowledge 

 or the accuracy of his information. The following is an extract from 

 the New Zealand Times of 28th June, 1889 : 



MR KERR ON THE CHAMOIS 



The vote of 150 appearing on the estimates for the importation of 

 Chamois afforded Mr Kerr an opportunity last night of protesting vigorously 

 against the introduction of more pests into the Colony. Amidst consider- 

 able merriment the honourable member said he was reliably informed that 

 this animal was a cross between a pig and a sheep, and that it bred scab ; 

 and, in case it might be a goat he reminded the Government that there 

 were already plenty of these animals running wild. The climax was reached 

 when Mr Kerr unsuspectingly quoted from the book handed to him by 

 Mr Turnbull (and which proved to be Mark Twain's Tramp Abroad) a 

 remarkable history of the habits of "small deer," under which name the 

 celebrated American humourist concealed the identity of the flea. "Was 

 it reasonable," Mr Kerr asked, "to spend money on the importation of 



