102 BIRDS 



In 1873 tJ^s Canterbury Society had 12 in their gardens kept 

 for breeding purposes, but there is no record of any results achieved. 

 In 1897 this society joined with some others in importing a number 

 from London. 



In 1893 the Wellington Society imported 19, which they kept 

 in their Masterton enclosures for breeding from; and they also 

 distributed eggs. But stoats and weasels destroyed nearly the whole 

 stock. Some placed in a reserve on Mr Martin's run, Wairarapa, 

 increased rapidly however. In 1904 the Society received four pairs 

 imported by the Government; and in more recent years they have 

 reared and distributed several hundred birds. The species may there- 

 fore be considered as established in the Wairarapa, but without careful 

 protection it is not likely that it will increase to any great extent. 



In 1898 the Taranaki Society received a number from one of the 

 other societies, but in four years all the birds had disappeared. 



Mr Dansey of Rotorua tells me that subsequently to 1906, Mr 

 McBean liberated a number of mallard on Lake Okareka, and that 

 they increased to a flock of about 200. Some of these were presented 

 to the Tourist Department, but there is no information as to the 

 disposal of the birds on Mr McBean's death a few years ago. 



In 191 1 the Southland Society inaugurated an identification test. 

 They liberated 100 mallards, which were numbered i to 100 on leg 

 bands. I have not heard that any of these birds have since been 

 identified. 



In 1917 ducks were shot in South Canterbury which were believed 

 to be hybrids between the native grey duck and the mallard. 



At Temuka in the Acclimatisation Reserve a pair of hybrids 

 between the mallard and the paradise duck have been reared. 



Mr W. W. Smith states that the native grey duck hybridises 

 readily with the domestic duck, and that the hybrids are fertile. 



The mallard is a partial resident in Britain, but in many cases is 

 only a winter visitant, nesting in Southern Greenland, Iceland and 

 in Northern Europe. Some of the introduced birds and their progeny 

 may have inherited the migratory instinct. 



American Black Duck (Anas obscura) 



The Government introduced a number of these birds in 1905, 

 giving six to the Southland Society, and four to the Wellington 

 Society. The latter body reared a number of young. They also reared 

 a number of hybrids between this species and the mallard. Whether 

 such hybrids are fertile or not is not stated. As an experiment in 

 acchmatisation it may be interesting, but it is doubtful if it has any 

 scientific value, especially if the results are not collected and published. 



