18 HARDY — ON PROVINCIAL ACCLIMATIZATION. 



I have before me the Fourth Annual Report of the English 

 Society for the year ending May 31, 1864. A most zealous mem- 

 ber and promoter of the Society's objects, Lord Powerscourt, has 

 successfully imported from a German forest a number of magnifi- 

 cent red deer, much larger than those at present found in Great 

 Britain, and hopes by crossing to improve the breed of English red 

 deer, which Mr. Frank Buckland says have been sadly degenerating 

 in size, weight, and general appearance. Recently received speci- 

 mens of the Wapiti, that magnificent American stag, and of large 

 East Indian deer, are thriving in this nobleman's park. 



Repeated failure seems to have attended the experiment of intro- 

 ducing the Chinese sheep, (the same as may be seen at Mr. Downs' 

 establishment at the N. W. Arm). These animals have been dissem- 

 inated through the country in charge of members, who have nearly 

 all reported unfavorably of the pure breed, though where crossing 

 has been tried there seems to have been more hopes of success. 

 Amongst the birds mentioned as having been bred in the Society's 

 care, are the Honduras turkies, bronze-wing pigeons from Queens- 

 land, and a variety of crosses between birds of the genus Phasian- 

 idcE have been obtained. Many other valuable birds from India, 

 South America, and Australia, have been lately received, but have 

 not yet bred. Amongst the latter are a pair of Australian emeus. 



The most interesting portion of the Report, however, comes from 

 the Piscicultural branch, under the guidance of the indefatigable 

 Mr. Francis Francis. It appears that the cost of the apparatus 

 and working it for one year has been only £300, and the Society 

 has sent out amongst its members over 50,000 ova and fry. 

 Many of these ova have been transmitted to the distant colonies of 

 Australia and New Zealand, where the trout and salmon of the Old 

 Country are now living, watched by anxious eyes, the hopeful pio- 

 neers of the new races which are to colonise the mountain streams 

 of Tasmania and New Zealand. Of all the Societies in operation, 

 those established by our energetic colonists of the southern hemis- 

 phere seem to have been actuated by the greatest zeal, and to have 

 achieved the greatest amount of positive success. That of Mel- 

 bourne appears to be the parent and first importer of the host of 

 new creatures which are being diffused through the neighboring 

 colonies, on the continent across the water to Tasmania, and even 



