WEST COAST SOUNDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20087, 2 May 1927, Page 10

WEST COAST SOUNDS.

IN THE COUNTRY OF THE DEER. BIRD LIFE IN THE WILDS. Mr Leslie Murrell was in Dunedin over the week-end. Mr Murrell lives at Manapouri, and spends a good part of the year in the sounds district, acting as guide to the deer-stalkers. On his visits to Dunedin he has always something interesting to tell about his life in the far west. This year the deer-stalkers have not been favoured with the best of weather in fact, in one period of six weeks there were only 10 fine days. Wapiti are very/ numerous in the locality between George Sound and Caswell Sound. Mr Herrick, of Hastings, obtained two fine 15-pointer and a 17-pointer. The M'Caw brothers, of Hakateramea, who stalked the George Sound block, had no luck. In the time at their disposal it was impossible to locate the animals owing to their wandering habits. The Sutherland brothers, of Wairarapa, secured one head. It was remarkable that this head had at one time possessed three antlers, one of which had, unfortunately, been broken off. Without the third antler, it looked quite an ordinary head. Red deer, as usual, are plentiful. A gentleman from Auckland succeeded in taking a heavy antler with 15 points. It is regrettable, Mr Murrell says, that better facilities are not given to stalkers in the way of opening up the various blocks by making tracks, providing huts, and so on, thus allowing them to get over the country easier than they can do at present. As things are now, it is a matter of penetration, and each man has to explore the country for himself. This cuts down a stalker’s chance of securing deer.

Early in May Mr Murrell will visit Supper Cove, at Dusky Sound, for the purpose of reporting to the Government on the condition and number of the moose herds in that district. On his last visit four years ago, the moose were increasing in numbers.

Respecting the general bird life, it seems to Mr Murrell that some of the small birds aro disappearing, such as the robins and parrakeets. The native thrush has quite gone. No specimens of it have been seen for years. Stoats and weasels are numerous in all the sounds. They live in the bush along the edge of the bays. When the penguins came ashore to moult they make their way under logs or other shelter, and fall an easy prey to the stoats and weasels. The kiwi, although a helpless looking bird, is holding its own. It can look after itself very well, and succeeds in bringing up its young ones. Woodhens are also able to defend themselves. One woodhen will give a stoat a good fight, and two of them will kill him. Mr Murrell returns to his home to-day.