OCR Text |
Show 318 MR. J. L. BONHOTE ON HYBRID DUCKS. [Nov. 18, Dr. Henry Woodward, F.R.S., exhibited photographs of two Stags' heads and read the following extract from a letter written concerning them by Mr. D. Russell, Hon. Sec. of the Otago Acclimatization Society :-" The stag-heads will give you an idea of how the Red Deer of Europe (Cervus elaphus) thrive here. The herd that these heads are from numbers from four to five thousand, and has resulted from the turning out of six hinds and two stags in 1868. Of course, the country is in every way suitable for them, and they have lots of room in front of them to populate. Some of the carcases weigh from five to six hundred pounds. There are similar herds in several other parts of New Zealand as well as in our district." Dr. Woodward also read the following abstract from the Annual Report of the Otago Acclimatization Society for the season ending March 31, 1902, on the same subject:-" The herd of Red Deer on the Morven Hills and adjacent districts is doing remarkably well. We are much indebted to Mr. C. Turnbull for a very valuable report on the herd from personal observations made by him in April of this year. Mr. Turnbull informs us that the deer have greatly increased in numbers and spread far afield since he saw them last some seven years ago, and that the food in the Deer-country has greatly improved of late years owing to the rabbits being much less numerous than formerly. Mr. A. E. Leatham, a visitor from the Home country, has also kindly sent to the Council a report on the deer in the Hunter Valley Mr. Leatham spent a month in the district, and found deer fairly numerous in all the valleys running into the Hunter Valley, some of the valleys being ten and twelve miles long. Thirty miles up the Hunter Valley, Mr. Leatham shot stags, and observed their tracks going still further afield. The outer fringes of the herd will now probably be on the slopes of the West Coast, where they will have unlimited scope to spread unmolested, and will afford good deer-stalking for any number of sportsmen in the future. Owing to the mild winter and early spring the stags this season were in fine condition and carried good antlers. Several were shot with carcases weighing from five to six hundred pounds each, and quite a number of the heads obtained had antlers from 40 to 46 inches long from tip to base, with a width of span up to 41 inches. Mr. Quin, of Tapanui, procured this year four young hinds and two stags from Mr. Chirnside of Victoria. These have been put down on the upper reaches of the Pomahaka River, where the country is suitable for their requirements." Mr. J . L. Bonhote exhibited and made some remarks on four hybrid Ducks which he had bred in his aviaries during the past summer. I he first specimen exhibited was that of a cross between the Indian Spot-billed (Anas pcecilorhyncha) and the V ild Duck (yl. boschas), the male parent being a hybrid between these two species, and the female a pure-bred Wild Duck. The i< manning thiee specimens from two broods represented a cross |