50 MAMMALIA 



to be shot as he became dangerous. In 1905 the Tourist Department 

 obtained 10 of these deer, three bucks and seven does (presented 

 by President RooseveU), and liberated them at the head of George 

 Sound on the S.W. coast of the South Island. The country, which 

 is eminently suitable for all kinds of deer, is very seldom visited. 

 But Mr Moorhouse, Conservator of Fish and Game (Rotorua), who 

 was sent down by the Government in February, 1921, reports that 

 these deer are now well established in the neighbourhood of the 

 Sound. In April, 1921, they are reported to have crossed over into 

 the Lake Te Anau district. 



Japanese Deer (Cervus nika) 

 In 1885 the Otago Society received three of these deer from Mr J 

 Bathgate, and they were Uberated on the Otekaike estate near Oamaru 

 Five years later they were reported as "doing well and growing into 

 a nice little herd." In the report for 1892 it is stated that "little or 

 nothing has been heard about these deer on the Otekaike estate." 

 Apparently they have all been destroyed as there is no further record 

 of them. In 1905 Government obtained six Japanese deer and liberated 

 them on the Kaimanawa Ranges, near Taupo. 



Black-tailed Deer ; Mule Deer {Odocoileus hemionus) 

 In 1905, five of these deer, purchased in America, were imported 

 by the Tourist Department and liberated at Tarawera, Hawke's Bay. 

 The Hawke's Bay Society reports them as increasing in March, 1915. 



* Virginian Deer; White-tailed Deer (Cariacus virginianus; 

 Odocoileus virginianus) 

 The Tourist Department imported 18 of these deer in 1905. Of 

 these nine (two stags and seven hinds) were sent to Port Pegasus 

 on Stewart Island, and nine to the Rees Valley, Lake Wakatipu. There 

 is no further record regarding those in the last named locality; but 

 the herd in Stewart Island has increased greatly, and threatens to 

 destroy much of the vegetation, besides opening up the country — 

 which is a reserve for native birds — to deer-stalkers. 



South American Deer {Cariacus chilensis) 

 In 1870 the Auckland Society received three South American 

 deer, probably of this species, from Mr W. A. Hunt. Beyond the 

 mention' of their receipt, there is no further record of them. 



* Moose; Elk (Alches machlis) 

 The first attempt to introduce these animals was made by the 

 Government in 1900, when 14 young ones were shipped on board 

 the 'Aorangi' at Vancouver. Owing, however, to the rough voyage 



