ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1562, 20 February 1879, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A Bpecial meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday, at 3 p.m. Present—Sir Cracroft Wilson (in the chair), S. C. Parr (hon. sec), J. T, Peacock, Dr. Prankish, J. R. Hill, and T. Acland. The object of the special meeting was to consider the disposal of the consignment of prairie hens from San Prancisco to the Acclimatisation Society of Canterbury. The order was executed by Mr R. Creighton, on behalf of the society, and the birds arrived by the last mail steamer Australia, and were safely delivered in Auckland, only one having been lost on the passage. Thence they wore forwarded to Wellington, consigned to Dr. Hector, who transhipped them per the Hinemoa, in the care of Mr Burton, taxidermist to the Wellington Museum, and they arrived safely and in good condition in Lyttelton, on Sunday last. There they were received by Mr S. C. Farr, and taken to the grounds of the Acclimatisation Society, pending the decision of the committee as to the locality of their liberation. The secretary read the following letter from Mr R. J. Creighton, which accompanied the birds

San Francisco, January 20th, 1879. Dear Sir,|— I forward per Australia, _ addressed, “ Secretary, Acclimatisation Society, Christchurch, New Zealand,” a pen of prairie chickens, which I procured, as per my former letter, from Topeka, Kansas. Twenty-eight birds were shipped at Topeka, three died on the way, three the day after arrival here, and one on the arrival of the steamer yesterday. The birds had hurt themselves by striking their heads on the top of the cage, my instructions as to packing the roof having been neglected. Otherwise, the utxost possible precautions were taken, and considering that these birds seldom or never live in confinement, the experiment so far is considered a great success. Doubtless the noise and excitement on the train and at the depot had an injurious effect, and I got them on board ship as speedily as possible, paying man at Walls, Fargo and Co.’s expre s for looking after them while there. The cage was closely darkened with paper, which I removed and substituted gunny cloth as giving them more air. I also procured gravel and sand for the voyage and a bag of wheat, and gave them to the ship’s butcher, whom I paid five dollars at the start, and left five dollars with the captain to be given at the end of the voyage should he have taken as much pains with them as possible. If he brings a fair proportion through in safety I think you might send him a small gratuity additional, but I gave him what I considered to be fair remuneration- Captain Cargill takes great interest in the experiment. Hutton, Mr Scotland, and Mr Warwick Weston are passengers, and I have requested them to have an eye to the birds. Ido not know that I could possibly have taken greater precautions. I thought that the cage was too small, bat, after bringing a carpenter accustomed to such work to examine it, concluded that it would not bo well to disturb them, as they had become accustomed to it. I sincerely hope that a sufficient number will get through to breed. This is the first occa.-ion that prairie chickens were brought alive to San Francisco, and if they get through to New Zealand the feat in acclimatisation will be unrivalled. I enclose a letter from Virginia City, Nevada, which I received, to illustrate the public interest created by the event, and the difficulty in procuring these birds. If by any chance this shipment does not succeed, 1 shall endeavour to procure eggs and set them under a bantam hen, have them hatched on the way here, and sent down as soon as they are able to travel with the hen, for I hardly think it would be worth risking the shipment of wild birds. I have written to Owen and Graham requesting them to take charge of the birds on arrival, and to forward to you. I also send them printed card for information of persons in charge of coasting steamers, and have explained the necessity for perfect quiet in transit. To guard against accidents I likewise send telegram with mail agent, to be forwarded to you on arrival of Australia at Auckland,

The correspondence will explain itself. You will perceive that I have a considerable balance on hand, which I will expend in procuring mountain grouse from the Sierra Nevadas, if possible, and other game birds this season. I regret that I have been unable to forward any before this, but I was disappointed in several quarters where I had promise of birds. Yours respectfully, Eobt. J. Creighton. A discussion ensued on the disposal of the birds, and Mr Hill was of opinion that they should be turned out in places where there would bo no danger of their being shot. If care was taken in setting the birds at liberty, the society would probably be laying the foundation of tho acclimatising and propagating of a most valuable breed of birds. At the same time, it was a desideratum that the birds should be set at liberty in the province of Canterbury. A variety of places were suggested, inaccessibility to poachers being one of the first things to be considered. Mr T. Acland proposed that the birds should be liberated at Heathstock, if Messrs Mullock and Lance would give their consent and undertake to take charge of them. The suggestion was put in tho form of a resolution, and unanimously agreed to. TEOUT. Tho Secretary stated that a number of papers on the breeding and treatment of various descriptions of trout had been forwarded by Mr Livingstone, Stone, U.S., deputy fieh commissioner, for tho information of the society. ENGLISH BIRDS. The following letter, dated December 31st, was read from Mr Walter Kennaway : Westminster Chambers. Dear Sir, — I am in receipt of your letter of the 22ud October last, and in reply have to inform you that I shall have much pleasure in acting as treasurer and referee in tho matter of a shipment of birds from Louden on behalf of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Socety. Walter Kennaway. S. C Farr, Esq., Secretary Acclimatisation Society. This terminated the business of the meeting, and an adjournment was made to the gardens for an inspection of the prairie chickens prior to their being sent up the country.