•49 
one, they will no doubt, increase even more rapidly than in confine¬ 
ment near Melbourne. Of the red deer (Cei vus Elaphus), the herd 
of six, imported by Mr. Chirnside two years ago, has increased to 
eleven ; and of the fallow deer we now possess twenty-two, and may 
assume the species as perfectly acclimatised. There are several wild 
herds increasing rapidly in various parts of the country. One herd 
is often seen in the lonely district in which one of the Government 
geologist's field parties is at work,and an other of upwards of fifty is 
wild on Philip Island, and several have been encountered on 
the hills between Bass River and Powlett River, so that no doubt 
a great part of Gipps Land will soon be stocked with this deer, 
which affords the finest venison of Europe. The red deer and fallow 
deer, you see by the map, naturally inhabit a somewhat colder lati¬ 
tude than the Sambur and the Axis deer, and we contemplate stock¬ 
ing the cooler southern portion of the colony with the two former, as 
we have imported the two latter for the wanner northern portions. 
Six roebucks were presented to us by his late Royal Highness Prince 
Albert shortly before his death — a calamity which deprived us, like 
so many others, of a powerful friend, who took a lively and practical 
interest in our labours, .and found time toaid in the development of our 
undertakings. The Indian hogdeer we have five of, and are shortly 
expecting more to turn wild in the northern part of the colony. 
Specimens of both these are before you, as well as of the beautiful 
South American deer, the gouazout (Cervus [Ainstocecas] campestrin), 
which we expect with some llamas and alpacas, and which inhabit¬ 
ing, as you see by the map, the same latitudes as the great part of 
Australia, we hope to acclimatise for the more northern parts of the 
country. Thirty-three camels have been introduced, and the society 
has accepted the kind offer of Messrs. Samuel and Charles Wilson to 
allow a great breeding station for them to be formed on their station 
on the Wimmera, where they are thriving admirably. A large number 
have now been born in the colony, and several which escaped from the 
exploring parties have adapted themselves perfectly to the country, and 
have been seen in various parts of New South Wales, Queensland, and 
South Australia. The camelidse of South America also constitute a 
great triumph for the Australian acclimatises. We at present possess 
thirty-eight llamas—of which the fine specimens before you 
were bred in the colony — and two alpacas, and 500 more 
alpacas are expected in a few weeks, to be landed by Mr. 
Duffield, as a portion of 1,500 to arrive. These are all in¬ 
tended for the high cold mountains of Gipps Land, where, in 
a climate like their native one, and with suitable native plants for 
D 
